Where are the Xmas markets?

You can think that one of the great and amazing things of living in the North is to have a White Christmas; so, Santa, Rudolph, lots of lights decorating everything and of course, Xmas markets. 

Well... this 2014 I have not see that much around here. There used to be a Xmas market if we can say so in Sergels Torg, like the center of the Center. Not this year. Only a few places are opened in the street level, but nothing on the Plattan level.

This goes the same for Kungsan. On the first Advent I barely saw a little Xmas market. The real and big enough Xmas market was opened on the 2nd Advent. Why????? 

At the moment I have not been there at Gamla Stan, where the other Xmas market is, but I fear is gonna be so little and be disappointed, well anyway there are always the same little shops there.

I do really miss the German Xmas markets. Lots of lights and decorations, big and well organized, great food and beverage options and well... huge Xmas spirit. Do I have to say more?

So, at the moment: no snow, no Santa (because if he is not having Xmas markets, why bother to come), no Rudolph, duh, and not too much lights.

Hope you are having greater Xmas markets at you city, dear reader :)

Photo from decoration at Sergels torg. Poor reindeer, all alone. C'mon bring him more friends!!!

Stand-up show

Say whaaaat? Is already July 2nd and there is no trace of new posts here!!! Alert!

I like to watch stand-up comedy shows but lately I have not being curious about it. Few days ago I saw the stand-u show of Özz Nûjen, oh gosh, how funny is he! But not only that, he goes directly to those taboo topics, the one that 'we' are not supposed to talk about. Uohhh do not talk about religion, politics, rasism, och så vidare...

I knew of his existence when I saw the movie 10000 timmar. Soooooo freaking funny for the Swedish style, I loved his character there and now as I met him (stand-up comedian) I love him more.

This show is up to date and he has the perspective of an immigrant in Sweden, he even kinda analyses the word in swedish 'invandrare'.  Tyvärr the show is in Swedish, but it seems available around the planet Earth. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Hurry up, it will only be available until Dec 21st. 2014.

http://www.svtplay.se/video/2141708/statsminister-ozz-nujen 

Foto: svt.se

Toys, are us?

When you hear/read the word toy, which one does come up first in your mind?

I would say a cash register, 'cause that one was my fav toy evaaaaaa'. But, what about the toy that first seem to be awkward, useless or kind of tacky? Well, some weeks ago I was at a store called DesignTorget (designtorget.se) and I saw these cutie little toys of... piss and poop!

 OHMAIGAD  HOWCANTHISBE?  HEAVENS!!  QUEALGUIENPIENSEENLOSNIÑOS

and so on... I though it was an oddity, like... who would buy these kinda toys? What for?!?!?!?!

Well, the thing is that I do no have children yet, buuuut maybe there are people out there who use these kind of toys to teach the kids that kind of stuff. When I give a second thought about it, it sounds more hygienic to use these fluffy cuties instead of real stuff xD it just costs 275SEK, yeah, just det!

Kiss&Bajs = Piss&Poop = 1&2

Then, another day I was in IKEA (yeah, because it's Sweden and... why not?) and I saw the cutie little thing called the wolf and the grandma from Little Red Cap (or Caperucita Roja, para la banda). Yepp, the wolf has space to keep the grandma in the belly because... YOLO and... why not?

Aaaaany way,  we are in 2014 and who know what and how the new kids are learning things about life and the way of telling stories of Charles Perrault.

Grandma partially in (or out) of the wolf's belly.

Oh, the snow!

Winter time! (even if I may say, it is still autumn)

Few days ago I took some autumnly pics and was amazed about the yellow, brown, and even some red landscapes... KABOOM!

On Friday, Oct. 26th 2012 the first snow covered Stockholm, yeah, not that much but still, a visual alert that winter is here!

Two years ago, the first snow came on October 22nd, 2010. That winter was SO cold, with so much snow and was like a test of survival skills for me, happily I passed ;-)

Kista alléväg, SE - 2010/10/22

On 2011, the winter was so delayed, the first 'snow' came until December. I was afraid I was leaving to Mexico without watching snow over the town. I had few days of snow, you know, for my winter cravings.

This year, the summer was very short. I can say that as my fan was being used for few time, compared to previous summers. In my head, I thought about a colder winter, forecasting snow in October and yes it happened.

Skytteholm, SE - 2012/10/26

Well, time to get the warmer clothes out of wherever they are, gloves, scarves, jackets, boots, etc. And let's not forget about the Glögg and Pepparkakor! The X-mas markets are going to open soon, I will bring you a post about it. I love X-mas markets :-D

"I'll stop the world and melt with you, yeah"
[Nouvelle Vague - I melt with you]

IT'S ALIVE! :-D

Yes. This blog is alive. I just realised it has been like a year and a half waiting for a new post. So here it is, and yes, it's about food. I have missed to blog about too many stories but I will, someday somehow write them.

>> Kanelbullar Day <<

It was Oct. 4th 2010 when I heard about it. I remember a russian friend from our program brought us cinnamon buns. It was so kind from her. In 2011, I remember I went to a Pressbyrån and bought some, I guess I share them with some people. 

This year I choose 7/11. Actually, the store doesn't matter. It would have been nice to bake some myself and then share them with friends, but surprise! surprise! bakery is not one of my skills, at least not yet. 
During the class and on my Twitter timeline I heard/read comments about "What's the fuzz with celebrating Kanelbulle dag?". It might be just me but I think it is a way to arrange some fika (fika deserves its own post, you'll see) with friends, colleagues, family, etc. and enjoy a bun with coffe, tea, hot chocolate or whatever. Actually, a great idea to "celebrate" kanelbulle day would be to bake them, yeah, look for a receipe on the internet and do it all from scratch with friends. Maybe that would be my story on 2013 :-D.

And meanwhile another year passes by, I will update you with some other stories. Oh, there's so much to write and share...

As a final note I just wanna say that while I was writing this post, I was listening to a playlist form Songza called '90s Dance Hits. If possible, download the App, it's just amazing (no, they do not pay me to advertise them, I promise!)

Any comments? Send a tweet: @Gaby_Chamorro  ;-)

Kanelbullar för mina kompisar - Cinnamon buns for my friends

"Make it last forever, friendship never ends" 
[Wannabe - Spice Girls]

Some days of the week...

What I found amazing of society is the ability to make from actions, customs.

How an event take place in a regular basis and it came to the point that people of that society do it because "it is so".

*All following information is written based on Stockholm experiences.

Wednesday

People go to pubs. It is considered as a "little weekend" and yes, most of the coffee places, bars, pubs at Universities, open more time than on Tuesdays, for example. The environment of a Wednesday is visible while walking on the streets of places like Söder (Södermalm) or Medis (Medborgarplatsen) or even at the subway. I think is like a break, to take a breath and get to Friday in a smooth way.

Thursday

Pea soup and pancakes day. I noticed that all Thursdays at the Restaurant of the University is offered this dish. Was it something happening there or what is offered in other places too? Yes. Thursdays are for the pea soup with pancakes, it is just so. I have the impression this has a more deep and interesting history behind but so far I have not heard any that is truly convincing.

Friday

I read in some blogs from foreign students that they knew Fridays are for family get-togethers but as I have not heard that and usually a Friday looks like a Wednesday but more crowded, I won't affirm anything yet. I might come up with some interesting facts later.

Saturday

Ramdomly, I have heard that the Saturdays here are for kids to get candies, maybe that is the reason of seeing children and teens with smiles on their faces specially on that day of the week. It is not only "Lörsdag", it is "Lörsdagsgodis". All this came from the result of something called Vipeholm experiments (1950's). These experiments aimed to provoke dental caries in order to get knowledge about it. 

So, after all the experiments and results, guidelines related to caries control lead to "educate" children and parents to get candies only one day of the week. This practice overcome the years and so far I can notice how the candies disappear on Saturdays.

Sunday
Actually, I do not know something specific about activities on this day, I just know that after 5pm all stores are closed (or most of them) and the city became more quiet. 

This post has a "further research" part and it is to investigate the histories behind the costums, and will be glad to get more knowledge on this.

"It's just another manic Monday, I wish it was Sunday, 'cause that's my funday"

Manic Monday - The Bangles

20101015 - El otoño ya está aquí

"El otoño es una segunda primavera en la que cada hoja es una flor" -Albert Camus

Aaaaah... el otoño; amarillo, naranja, rojo, café... hermoso!

El otoño comenzó exactamente el jueves 23 de septiembre de 2010 y con ello se arremolinaron un monton de hermosos paisajes. 

Con el paso de los días, de las semanas, he visto como esos colores van cambiando en los mismo arbaolitos, como através del tiempo los follajes y panoramas van transformandose, anunciando que se acerca el invierno.

Pues bien, no hay mejor prueba de lo hermoso de la naturaleza que unas fotos.

Apenas comenzaba a cambiar..

Yellow natural carpet

Rojo o amarillo?

Amarillo!!

Hermoso.

Rojo bajo el cielo azul

20100915 - Viva México!!!

Viva México!!!

(ajuuuuuua)

Celebraron? Se quedaron en sus casas? Leía yo en diversos medios de comunicación que algunos alentaban a no celebrar porque decían: "Qué hay que celebrar? El país como está y uno celebrando...."

Yo lo vi de otra forma.. el país como está, nuestros ánimos como están y lo que somos: MEXICANOS.

Era talvez para algunos una celebración que no podíamos perdernos, cierto que no es lo mismo que hace 200 años pero nos recuerda que si hace 200 años pudimos hacerlo, porqué no ahora? 

El mexicano/a es buenón, le entra a todo y sabe lidiar con los problemas del día a día... si pudimos con el Chupacabras, la Influenza, etc... que no salgamos adelante... Vamos México!!! :-D

Y bueno, para ocasión como esta les comparto estas fotos de la Celebración [con Mariachi incluido] del Bicentenario de la Independencia... (y falta el Centenario de la Revolución!)

La barra de salsas... yom yom!

Mexican Charro

El Mariachi Loco quiere cantar..

Un pedacito de México.. para no olvidar!

"Lucky to have been where I have been, lucky to be coming home again..."

[Lucky :: Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat]