Category Archives: Travel

Paris on skates 2017

25 members of Malmö City Skaters went on tour the 15 – 18 June to Paris to join a Pari Roller Friday Night Skate 16 June.

Thursday
One group flew with Easy jet in the afternoon and were picked up by two cars that drove us to the 3 Ducks hostel. On the way to city I noticed a lot of people on three wheel motorbikes with warning light on driving like crazy between the cars on the highway.
After checking in we had some rosé and food at a local bistro.
Took a walkabout to and around the Eiffel tower.

Friday
Some of us walked to the Arch de triumph where we should meet for a surprise lunch, and what a surprise!! Boarding a Bustronome double decker bus where we had a gourmet lunch with a wine meny. Multitasking taking to a new level – eating, drinking, looking at the beautiful views, listen to the interactive guide and talking with the company… A fantastic experience and many thanks to Patrik and Stefan for arranging it (and the other things).

In the evening, before the Pari Roller event, it was wining and dining at A La Tour de Eiffel, next to the hostel. After dinner it was time for the main event – Friday Night Skate/Pari roller. We meet outside the hostel and rolled to the starting point next to the Montparnasse tower. When we arrived, we were more or less the only ones there and thought maybe they moved the starting point or cancelled the event… Finally we met one that told us they started just around the corner.

The tour was about 30 km and took about 3 hours with an 8 min break 10 km from the end. It was a fun and exciting challenge with quite high speed between the many stops. The road quality was limited, at the best. Many parts with paving stone, bad asphalt, many hills (also with paving stone). The reputation said that there could be up to 20.000 participants back in the good old days. This evening we were around 500. As often at these kind of occasions, there were a couple of “show offs” that like to show how cool and good they were, even if it a risk for them that don’t skate that well. We were escorted by two polic men on Vespas in the front and a big ambulance at the back. When the the back blockers and the ambulance were ready, it gave a “symphony” of what all it had in sound and light, fun and loud 🙂

After skate at a local bar next to the hostel.

Saturday
Paris has a good “rent-a-bike-system”, Velib, where you pick up and return the bike at several places. Gisle, Kicki Anders and me biked to Montmatre were we had lunch at a nice and tasty “hole in the wall” Asian restaurant. We walked up to Sacre ceur and had some rosé breaks on the way. Anders and I decided to walk back to city via Forum des halles and Pompidou center.

Evening dinner at restaurant Café De L’Industrie and finishing with after dinner drink at a bar close by, with “people whatching”…

Sunday
5 people joined the Sunday tour that I planned should go along the Seine since it was quite warm and I thought along the water it was a little bit cooler and parts of the roads along the river is closed for traffic on Sundays. The Tour de Seine started at the Statue of Liberty and at Bd Peripherique we turned and went back, A few challenges on the way with walking down hill on cobble stone, but most of the time, very good asphalt and parts even with silky smooth concrete.

The plan was to join a Paris afternoon tour but it was cancelled due to an election. That’s why had decided to go home on Monday. The rest of the crowd left in Sunday afternoon. I got a new room and went out for dinner at the very nice Persian restaurant Mazeh, near the hostel, that was recommended by the receptionist at the hostel.

Monday
Early home bound with metro + bus to the airport…

El Caminito del Rey 2016

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28 August 2016 I had the pleasure of hiking The Caminito del Rey together with Mar, Andreea, Renny and Peter.

Caminito del Rey is located approx. one hour drive from Malaga.

After the drive from Benalamadena, we had a very nice lunch at El Mirador. The restaurant has a fantastic view over the lake. Bring swimming clothes for a dip in the lake, before or/and after the walk.

The total length of El Caminito del Rey is 7.7 km. It’s divided into a 4.8 km long access way and a 2.9 km long walkway that you need a ticket to visit.

The walkway of Caminito del Rey, called El Hoyo, is of spectacular natural beauty, breathtaking and fantastic. The path is more than just a walk in the hills. Parts of the walkway is a hanging footbridge that rises over 100 metres above the river below with steep walls, that can make you feel dizzy. The path is “hazardous” because of the heights and its narrow parts. It was rebuilt so it could be used for active tourism in the natural surroundings. It requires certain level of physical effort and skilfulness. You are not risking your life at all, but be aware of the strong impressions this place might have on you. That’s why this path is so spectacular.

It’s a good idea to book in advance to access the walkway. They let in 50 persons every ½ hour.

Note! The Caminito del Rey is linear, not circular. You need to make sure to come back to the start on your own. There are coaches between the northern access (Ardales) and the southern one (El Chorro), which go in both directions.

History
The walkway was originally built to provide workers at the hydroelectric power plants at Chorro Falls and Gaitanejo Falls with a means to cross between them, to provide for transport of materials, and to facilitate inspection and maintenance of the channel.

The construction began in 1901 and was finished in 1905. The original path was constructed of concrete and rested on steel rails supported by stanchions built at around 45 degrees into the rock face. An extra benefit with the path was that it created great joy for the locals that experienced easier access between the neighboring villages.

According to a local guide (that also was in the construction team for the new version) told us that approx. 200 persons died during the construction of the original walkway (the number of casualties was zero, building the new one).

King Alfonso XIII crossed the walkway in 1921 for the inauguration of the dam Conde del Guadalhorce and it became known by its present name – “The Kings Pathway“.

The old walkway deteriorated over the years and there were numerous sections where parts or all of the concrete top had collapsed. The result was large gaps bridged only by narrow steel beams or other supports. Few of the original handrails existed although a safety wire ran along the path. Several people lost their lives on the walkway and after two fatal accidents in 1999 and 2000, the local government closed both entrances. Even so, in the 4 years to 2013, four people died attempting to climb the gorge. It was known as the “The most dangerous walkway in the world”.

In March 2014, the cornerstone of the rehabilitation project was laid by specialized alpinists. The new walkway reopened on 29 March 2015.

Source: caminitodelrey.info | wikipedia

New York City 2016

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15 June

Arrived JFK – Airtrain to Jamaica – MetroCard – Took subway E to Rockefeller, changed to B “express” – Missed to get of at Columbus Sq. and ended up at 112 st. where we changed and returned to 59 st./Columbus Sq. – Walked 5 min. to 63 st. – Checked in at West Side YMCA.

16 June, DAY #1

High Line Park day. Little bit cloudy, warm.

Walked along Broadway to Ellen’s Stardust Diner for breakfast. They have singing staff, fun. – Times Square – M & M’s world, amazing a small chocolate candy can have 4 floors with a chemically smell of candy on Times Square – Hudson River Parkway – High Line Park, (one of the highlights of the trip and can be recommended) – Visited a cool gallery next to the Whitney Museum – Chelsea Market – Coffee break at FIKA – Madison Square Garden – NYC Public Library – Bryant Park – Grand Central Terminal with the Whispering gallery and we were allowed to stand at the doorway to Campbell Apartment Cocktail bar, admission 21!! (and our dress code was “maybe” not totally correct) – Passing Empire State Building (save the visit for later) and Chrysler Building – Dinner at Five Guys and Fries – Evening stroll in Central Park south end – Ice coffee break at Lincoln Center before heading “home”.

17 June, DAY # 2

Circle Line Landmark Cruise and Battery Park day. Sunshine and warm.

Walked down to Hudson River, booked the Circle Line – Landmark cruise at 11.00. Had a cup of coffee/water. Learned that one reason for long lines could be the taking of photos against a green screen for “tacky” backgrounds… – Lunch at Landmark Tavern, recommended by the guide on the boat. Nice place – Walked 47 st. with lots of small restaurants – Subway from 42nd str. to World Trade Center Station – One World Observatory – “Ground Zero” – Irish Hunger Memorial – Battery Park (Pier A, East Coast Memorial, American Merchant Mariners’ Memorial) – Wall Street – Charging Bull – Visit to a local liquor store. Mickey was told “don’t touch!!!” the bottles, the 21 year syndrome!! – Testing burger at Shake Shack on Murray Street – subway from Chamber st. “home” (59 st.).

18 June, DAY #3

Central Park day. Sunshine and warm.

Breakfast, smoothie @ Starbucks – visit Best Buy (electronics shop) – Central Park, The Mall, Belvedere Castle, Swedish Marionette House – The Metropolitan museum and roof top – Lunch at Tom’s Restaurant (famous from Seinfeld) (Jerry’s Big Salad, nice) – Interesting outdoor photo exhibition by Matt Black, The Geography of Poverty @ St John the Divine, 110th. – Strawberry Fields, Imagine, John Lennon – But where are all the roller skaters in Central Park?

After Centrapark drink @ the “Y”, Gin & Lemon/Lime juice (no admission and no ID required in the room, don’t tell anyone) – Walked Down 8th Avenue to Thai restaurant, Chai Thai – Times Square by night – Soft ice Dessert @ MacD

19 June, DAY #4

Brooklyn Heights day. Sunshine and warm

Subway to High Street st, Brooklyn – Walk Henry St. to Joralemon St. – Breakfast at Pier 6, a fruit bowl, $11 + coffee, same price as 4 big muffins!! …Burgers and fries cheaper… “It’s more expensive to be healthy…” – Walked along Brooklyn Heights Promenade to Brooklyn Bridge (another highlight of the trip and can be recommended) – Lunch at Pier 1, under the tent. Beer (for me), water (for Mickey, 21!!) and fries, “Alcohol consumed under the tent. ID required” – Manhattan Bridge – DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) – Jane’s Carousel – Sunday Flea Market – Brooklyn Bridge – Supreme Court – Chinatown, Mott st.- Little Italy – Pizza at Lombardi’s, first pizzeria in NYC, 1905 – Spring St. – Subway “home”.

“After walk drink”, nice gin/lemon/lime in the room – 6th, Avenue of the Americas, to Empire State Building (did you know it was built in 13 months!!) – Museum at 80th floor – Looong line to the elevator to the top at 86th floor. Walked. Clear sky with stars and full moon, TOTALLY MAGIC!!! Did several laps around the deck (another high light of the trip and can be recommended) – Walked back “home” on Broadway.

20 June, DAY #5

South Manhattan day. Sunshine and warm.

Subway to Downtown – Staten Island Ferry (it’s free) with a nice view of Statue of Liberty – Staten Island Boardwalk – Lunch at the River Dock Café, Salmon salad, yummy – Return Manhattan – Stone Street, many bars and pubs, 21!! – Short visit to a performing art show, River to River at Native Americans Museum, “little” weird – Battery Park for a beer break, “Alcohol consumed inside the roped area, ID required” 21!! – “Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog“, 21!! ID required – Dinner at Chipotle – Subway “home”.

21 June, DAY #6

Check out day.

Luggage label challenge. Label machine no work, WHAT TO DO!!! “Stupid tourist who suggest a solution”… (Mickey overheard conversation between the staff…) – Smoothie at Starbucks (again) – Talked to a girl from Vice magazine about New York music: New York – by John Lennon and what to spend the last ticket on, suggestion was visit the Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum – We spent over 3 hours there + at a Navy school ship + in USS Growler submarine. Very interesting visit – Testing burger at Island Burgers and Shakes – Walkabout in Hell’s Kitchen – Coffee break at Bryant Park – Time’s Square, talked to some “bus boys”, salary 20% commission – 7th st “home”

Collect luggage – Subway “A” to Herman Beach, $2.75 x 2 – Air train to JFK Terminal 1 $5 x 2! “Who said free terminal shuttle?” – Mickey liked to get some special sorts of alcohol, e.g. Tito’s Vodka, St Germain… – For some reason we managed to get “Premium Check In” and “First Class Security Line” – Flight departure was 2 hours+ late and not with a Norwegian flight but with Hi Fly, Portuguese low budget flight. No safety instructions, no information, no inflight entertainment, “nothing!!!”, they served “food”…it was NOT Norwegian standard…

PS:

I bought New York Explorer Pass ($77) with 3 tickets (x 2), that we used on Circle Lines Landmark Cruise, Empire State Observatory and Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
Examples on other New York passes: City Pass and New York Pass
Zagat web site for restaurant recommendations
Apps for finding restaurants Yelp, Foursquare and Zomato
Ulmon app for offline map
Tourist in New York – Danish website

Picasa photo gallery

Berlin Inline Marathon 2015

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Thursday
The trip to Berlin Inline Marathon 2015 started from Malmö at 15.30, Thursday 24 September, with Patrik as driver and Lotta, Stefan, Gisle and myself as passengers. The time of departure involved rush hour on the southern motorway to Gedser. Patrik did a very good job and manage to get “in time” to the ferry. It was probably the tightest timing I’ve tried – 4 minutes before departure at the ticket office. Should mention that Patrik found a Super Duper deal on this specific departure, SEK 130!!, total price, one way for the car and passengers.

We arrived at the Acama hostel, Kreuzberg Berlin, at 22:00. Checked in and went out to an Ethiopian bar/restaurant in the neighbourhood where some tried Banana beer and palm beer served in a calebasse bowl. Finished the evening with a late night photo walk with Stefan to the Sience museum.

Friday
Some of us went “breakfast hunting”. After that Stefan found a green spot on the gps and it turned out to be a nice park called Victoria park. After a photo stroll it was time to head for Tempelhof Airport to pick up start number, chip and check out the different gear.

Lunch at a nice Italian restaurant on Bergman strasse.
Photo walkabout to the hostel with Robert where we passed a super cool shoemaker, totally retro, where it already was after work drinks 🙂

The afternoon was spent with a approx 20 km photo roll about with Stefan. Rollerskates is a great way to go around Berlin. Lot’s of really good bike pathways. Also some that’s not so good 😉 .

For Friday evening dinner, Ceci recommended a Singaporian restaurant, Mirchi, that was really good. Got a doggy bag with the fantastic lamb in coconut I couldn’t finish. Left in the reception at the hostel. Perfect for breakfast 😀

Saturday
The staff couldn’t find the doggy bag and I didn’t get that fantastic lamb dish for breakfast, øv 🙁

Preparing the gear for the Marathon. Lunch at the traditional Italian “around the corner”.
Some of us rolled to the Marathon start.

The race this year was a total good feeling and fun trip all the way. No sore back or anything. Finished on 1.40. Impressed by Torkel who joined the pack all the way after just practice inlines 4 x 10 km before!! (bonus info: he’s been practice a lot of ice skating…)

Some of us rolled back to the hostel, with a beautiful “pre sunset”. Feeling “natural high”…

The after skate dinner was at the same place as last year, at the steak and burger restaurant The Bird, X-berg. Unfortunately the fuse for the ventilation went and we had to wait quite some time for the food in a very smokey restaurant. The staff was friendly and brought starters and shots as an excuse for keeping us waiting…

Finished the night with After Skate Disco at Kosmos. Returning back to the hostel we all decided to take the U-bahn. It was a “interesting” trip but probably not the best decision, time wise, compared to a taxi 😉

Sunday
Returning home…

Thanks Malmö City Skaters and everybody else for a great weekend 😀

Photo album on Picasa

Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt 2014

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Sharm el SheikhThe 25th October Mickey and I returned to Jolie Ville Maritim Golf Hotel & Resort, where we stayed 2012. The resort is still nice but the reef has been a bit worn out coz of some of the tourists. The number of restaurants that serves a la carte has also decreased and the resort cater mainly for the “all inclusive” guests – buffet and drinks.

The daily routine was a couple of laps in the 300 m. long Lazy River and some snorkeling along the local reef. Tuesday and Thursday we went on a boat trip, snorkeling at different reefs at sea. Fantastic experience where we saw a vast variety of fish. Close encounter with a Murray eel and a Napoleon fish. We also saw Lion fish and Sting rays among a lot of other kind.

Wednesday we went on quad bike ride in the dessert. At the end of the tour Mickey and I was asked to leave the rest of the group -” we go faster” the guide said. And we went FASTER!! FUNNY!!

Picasa photo album

Berlin Inline Marathon 2014

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Thursday morning 25 September four people, Johanna, Sofie, Peter and me, from Malmö City Skaters drove from Malmö to Berlin. Arrived at the outskirts of Berlin at approx 16.00 and spent an hour or so in the rush hour traffic before we reached Tempelhof Airport where we should pick up our start number and check out some of the roller skate gear. Compared to last year when we visited the fair on Friday the number of people was very limited at this time. We had late dinner at Steakhouse Asador, Wilhelmstrasse 22, where we had our After Marathon Dinner last year.

Friday was foggy and misty. Met up with some of the other Malmö City Skaters and spent the day on sight seeing. Sea food lunch at KaDeWe . Dinner at an Italian restaurant.

Saturday, roll day, the weather was turning out much better then the previous days with blue sky and sun:-D. The morning was spent walking along the river to Berlin Science Museum.

13.30 we met in the reception area for a group photo with Rolling Vikings. Coach Gisle and I skated with Malmö City Skates flags from the hotel to the start. Unfortunately the flags was not allowed into the starting area due to security reasons. Gisle hid the poles in the bushes and I took the flags to the start area for the group photo that was taken in front of the Reichtag.

Together with 5.600 skaters we were waiting to get rollin’. We started out with a pack of 7 and an average speed around 26-28 km/h. We shrinked to 4. Gabriella and I switched to draw (got some help from Jesper). A few times we heard Gabriella’s husband shout from the back: “GABRIELLA!!, slower, please!!” 😀

The pack started out with a goal at 1.58. I passed finished at 1.49!! Totally happy!! Thanks for great company pack members!! Fantastic feeling rolling the last couple of hundred meters Unter den Linden to the finish line 😀

After skate dinner with 20 members of Malmö City Skaters at hamburger/steak restaurant The Bird in Kreutzburg. Very cool place with great food. Personally I was totally flying from the result, atmosphere and company.

Some of us finished of at the official after skate party at Columbiahalle…

Checked out the Berlin Running Marathon from Gendarmenmarkt Square where Sofie, Johanna, Peter, Gisle and I had some lunch before returning home…

That’s it for Berlin Inline Marathon 2014…

Picasa Photo Gallery with more photos…

Benalmádena, Costa del Sol 2014

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10 sunny days (26 June – 7 july) of the summer vacation was spent in southern Spain, in and around the town Benalmádena where we (Mickey and me) stayed in a very nice flat overlooking the sea and mountains.

The town is located 12 km west of Malaga, approx. ½ hour drive from the airport. It is divided into three separate parts:

Benalmadena Costa – the coastal strip that contains most of the resorts hotels and some apartment blocks.
Arroyo de la Miel (Honey stream)- originally a separate village and is where you will find shops, most of the resorts apartment blocks, and many Spanish bars and restaurants. The towns train station is here, it is home to Tivoli World and the cable car.
Benalmadena Pueblo – the original village located about 3 km inland and at 200 m. above sea level. The Pueblo is like the many Spanish “white villages” found in southern Spain. Narrow cobbled streets with white painted houses and many beautiful flowers on the walls. You find Copenhagen municipal hospital, Montebello, here and hear quite a lot of danish in the streets. There is a bar called Dansk bar and a restaurant Rottehullet (the rat hole)…

The accommodation was located next to a golf course. Fantastic view of sea and mountain.

A 12 min. and 2,6 km long cable car ride start from Arroyo de la Miel. It takes you to the summit of Monte Calamorro, 769 m. Fantastic views over the area. A bird show is included in the ticket. Two falconers showed some tricks with eagles and vultures. After the show we decided to hike down. According to the guide it should take approx. 2,5 hours and “the trail start 100 m. down the road to the right”. After followed the trail for some time it suddenly ended and we looked for something that looked like a trail. Ended up at a VERY steep cliff where we agreed to turn back and try descending somewhere else. Found a not so steep and high spot where we managed to climb down. Mickey tried some “pebble surfing” on the hill side :-). With lunch break and the “detour”, it took us 2 hours and 20 min. to return to the start.

Benalmadena Costa has almost 10 kilometers of beach. From quiet cove, to the family focused beaches with plenty of activities. The beaches are a mixture of man-made, golden sand and shingle. Sales men and women like to sell you sun glasses, football T-shirts, hats, watches, hair extensions, massage etc. We liked the beach at Castillia Bil-Bil. For some reason, less crowded and one day with nice waves. Paseo Maritimo, the beach walk with lot’s of bars, cafes and restaurants to the Puerto Marina, an Arabian style marina that has over one thousand moorings and also with many places to eat and drink.

Parque de la Paloma with it’s large lake, water plume, wild life running free, beautiful trees and landscaped gardens with a large cactus garden with species from all over the world.

Mini golf at Playa Mini Golf Espana where we tried to play mini golf with “normal” golf balls for, what I know, the first time.

Road trip sightseeing:

We learned that it’s a good idea to take the train from Arroyo de la Miel to visit Malaga. One objective was to visit the Museo Picasso, it turned out to be closed on Mondays. Instead we semi followed a recommended “Trail-of-sights” from the tourist office (Malaga in 8 hours): Calle Larios – Plaza de la Constitucion – the Cathedral – the Roman Theatre – the Alcazaba – HC Andersen – Plaza de la Marina – the Lighthouse…

A nice drive south west along the coast way N-340 a few km. takes you to Fuengirola that is a major tourist resort. We visited the Bioparc, a quite small and different zoo. It’s divided into four exhibition areas built to simulate the animals’ natural surroundings.
Near the Castillio Sohail one could rent a boat on the beach filled with sand for 5 euro. This is used for bbq and the very popular grilled sardines.

Inland, a bit up the mountain, 450 m.above sea level, is the small white village Mijas located. Parked the car at the entrance of the village in a big parking house for 1 euro for a day. You can take a donkey taxi or walk around the narrow, cobbled and some times steep streets. Looked at a flamenco show at the town square. Wednesdays at noon. Don’t know if it’s on every day. Other sights we checked out was the El Compas view point and the chapel with small electric “candels”, Plaza de Toros, Calle San Sebastian and the fun (and little strange) Carromato de Max – a miniature museum with a collection of paintings on pin-heads, rice corns and hair, wood carvings on tooth picks etc. E.g. a picture of Abraham Lincoln painted on a pin-head (no photography was allowed).
Further down the coast, after about 2 hour drive from Benalamádena, on the Mediterranean Motorway A-7, is Gibraltar. This 6 km² piece of land is still Brittish tertitory with about 30.000 inhabitants. The Rock, made of limestone, raises 426 above sea level.
After driving around the very narrow streets of La Linea, looking for the border, we finally found a parking place near the frontier. “Quite a few” people preferred to drive across, loooong que. At the frontier we bought tickets to the cable car that included bus transport.
The cable car is from 1966 and takes you to the top in about 6 min. After looking at the stunning views from the top and the many monkeys we walked down, this time on a proper road.
Back in the center we walked along Main Street checking prices on electronics that we heard should be tax free and much cheaper. We didn’t think that was the case. At the coffee break, I was surprised that the staff had limited knowledge of the English language.

Maps

Photo album on Google Photos

Sestriere 2014

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March 15-22 I spent in Sestriere, Italy, together with Patrik, Jesper, Casper, Bo and Martin – Team Holst. Thanks to Casper that arranged the trip through Slopetrotter.

We flew Air Berlin to Torino and SAS home from Milano. 1,5 hours transfer from Torino to Sestriere and 3 hours the other way. A “memorable” moment on Air Berlin was the free “sandwich”…

Sestriere is located at 2035 m. above sea level, 17 km from the French border. It is a part of the ski area Via Lattea (milky way) that has around 145 skiable pistes, that adds up to approx. 400 km.

Landmarks in town are the two round hotel towers that was built in the 1930’s by the FIAT family for the employees at the car factory in Torino to spend their winter holidays. It is still a popular winter resort and the population goes from the 800 inhabitants to approx 20.000 during the winter holidays. In 2006 Sestriere was a part of the winter Olympics.

We had 6 days with sun, blue sky and warm weather. First couple of hours during the day the piste was hard, “wash boardish”. The next couple of hours it was nice and soft, sometimes a bit of spring snow. Some slopes turned a bit too slushy in the afternoon.

Open large piste map

We stayed at the Palace Residence 2 located a bit uphill on the opposite side of the ski lifts. There was local bus transport every 20 min. in the morning and afternoon.
Great after ski at GFC, Wednesday (after pic-nic :-O ).
Station/Refuge Alpette was until 1986 a middle station for the cable car to the summit. It has a large sun deck and is a great place for a rest and one or two drinks…
Soleil Boeuf is another great place to rest your legs. Large sun deck with fat boys and sofas.
Piste #duemila (2000), one of the favorite piste with great snow, through the forest and not many people.
“The hidden restaurant” Ciao Pais. Even if it’s “hidden” you need to book for lunch…

Gallery:

Berlin Inline Marathon 2013

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Around lunch Thursday 26 September four people from Malmö City Skaters, Johanna, Oskar, Peter and me, left Malmö for Berlin. After approx 7 hours drive by Peter and including a pic-nic in the German country side we arrived to the home for the weekend, Youth hostel Aletto. After checking in we looked for a place to eat this late hour. Found a nice Tibet restaurant in the neighborhood. First time for Tibetian food, very nice.

The plan was to do some sightseeing in Berlin Friday. We ended up spending approx 4 hours at the Sport and Health fair at Tempelhof Airport. Picked up the start number, looking at and buying some merchandise etc.

The limited sightseeing in the afternoon included Panoramapunkt at Potzdammer platz with a beautiful sunset with 360 degrees view over the city. Walked to Brandenburger Tor to see the finish area for the marathon. Meet up with Joachim and Jonas for dinner at a small and nice Italian restaurant close by. Had a very nice spaghetti with chantarelle and cream sauce, not much LCHF about that… 😉

Saturday morning we did a “photo walk” around the hood. Back at the hostel we got ready for the Berlin Inline Marathon, that started 15:30. U-bahn to Französiche strasse, brisk walk to Brandenburger Tor where we meet with the rest of the Malmö City Skaters.

Approx. 6.300 participants on small wheels joined this event, the biggest inline race in the world and for the 17th time. After the mandatory and traditional Malmö City Skaters group photo we headed for the starting point. Fantastic atmosphere already, loud music and speaker pep talk. Felt a bit nervous but after start it disappeared and got goose bumps when rolling pass all the spectators that were cheering and making lots of noise.

During the 42 km we passed several sights and lots of people along the streets cheering. Remember especially when coming around a turn and this wide boulevard opened up, only with roller skaters, not a car or other traffic in sight.

Had good company by Jesper behind me during the first 30+ km. Found different “packs” to follow but feel I need to practice that discipline some more to next year.

Got really tired and ache in the lower back after 32 km. Must have been the part of bad asphalt and little uphill 😉

Reaching “Unter den Linden” with Brandenburger Tor at the end was a great feeling and also the last part before the finish line. Tribunes on both side packed with people with bells and a selection of other equipment that could make noise. On top of this loud music and a speaker working hard to boost the “stimmung” to a maximum. My goal was 2:00-2:10 and the time showed 2:02 that I am very pleased with. I like to roll as fast as possible but I also like to get most of the atmosphere and sights as possible. Bart Swings of Belgium set new record – 59:28! Guess he didn’t have time for any sightseeing 😉

Since we were a bit late for the common Rolling Vikings dinner, the Malmö crew decided to meet at Steakhouse Asador, Wilhelmstrasse 22. Recomended by Jonas and turned out to be a very nice place with great food. The company was great too :-D.

The 40th. Berlin Marathon started at 8:45 Sunday. After breakfast and checking out we went to Brandenburger Tor area to see some of the action. Approx. 40.000 runners joined and 35.500 finished. Wilson Kipsang also set new WR with nearly the same time as me, 2:03!

Since Peter had injured himself during the inline race I drove back to Malmö. Thought I should get tired but Peter’s Audi A3 was nice to drive and it turned out not being a problem at all, was a bit surprised. Left Berlin around 16.00 and returned to Malmö around 24:00.

Hope to repeat this event next year, think it’s the same date, 28 September. Registration is here and open 4 November.

Thanks to the Malmö City Skaters crew and well done everybody:
Johanna, Karolina, Peter, Oskar, Björn, Jesper, Joachim and Jonas

London 2013

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Summer vacation 3-10 July.

Easyjet from Kastrup to Gatwick. Hold luggage only, no check in. One hold luggage really means ONE, no camera or “man purse” on the side. I had booked the tickets with Ingo Johansson and that what it said on the boarding pass. It says Ingvar Johansson in the passport, not smart. It cost normally DKK 720 to change it but the assistant was very nice and changed free of charge, thanks a lot for that!

Took the regular train, Southern, from Gatwick to Victoria Station (when we finally found the right platform and train). Takes little longer than the Express but is half price. Buy a train ticket that include day pass on the tube. Approx £15/pers. Continued with the underground from Victoria to Oxford Circus and then it was only a few minutes walk to the flat at Dufours Place (had problems finding that too, tip: get a proper map from the start ;-).

Booked the flat via airbnb.com. It had two bedroom, two toilets, a large living room area incl. kitchen and a balcony. Prime location:

1 min. walk to Carnaby Street
2 min. walk to Oxford Street
5 min. walk to Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and China Town
10 min. walk to Trafalgar Square and The National Gallery
15 min. walk to Buckingham Palace
20 min. walk to Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye

The sightseeing:
3 July [Map over the route] China Town Piccadilly Circus M & M’s world at Leicester Square, 4 floors with M&M’s accessories and the scent of the candy!!! Trafalgar Square. Watching young and old climbing the lion statues etc. The Mall
4 July [Map over the route] Window shopping along Oxford Street Hyde park with speakers corner and chipmunks Walked along Piccadilly (the street) to find a Burger King. Finally, found one at Leicester Square Covent Garden with shops, restaurants and street artists
5 July [Map over the route] Tottenham Court Road where we visited CEX, a second hand gaming and mobile phone shop Homemade chicken sandwich lunch at the lake in Regents Park Baker Street, look at that line to Sherlock Holmes Museum!!! In the evening we took tube Piccadilly Circus to Waterloo Station to meet Roma Dinner at OXO Tower restaurant. Fantastic place, service, food and view. Walked back on Southbank and Huntingdon Bridge, heading home
6 July [Map over the route] Camden Market (Close encounter with black man, he thought I took many photos of his daughters and should publish them on the internet!!. He called the police etc. Puha…I was innocent, he was weird…) Walked along the river to Primrose Hill where we had homemade chicken sandwich lunch (again) with beautiful view over the London skyline Walk through Regent Park with beautiful gardens and large play fields Portland Street and finally Carnaby Street
7 July [Map over the route] The Mall to Buckingham Palace. Watched the changing of guards, good timing 🙂 Westminister with RINGING BELLS!! kept on and on and on… Big Ben Took a River Thames cruise to Tower Bridge and Tower of London Walked the Murder Mystery Trail. Great fun and came around some interesting places Met Sandra and walked back along north bank to Westminister Finished with dinner at an Italian restaurant of Regent Street. Served by nice Swedish waitress called Linn
8 July [Map over the route] Took the buss from Piccadilly Circus to South Kensington Visited V&A museum to see a David Bowie exhibition but far tooo long line… Went to Harrods and looked at all the glitter and fancy electronics Lunch at Serpentine, Hyde Park, (yes, chicken sandwich 😉 and looked at the BST set up Buss to Tottenham Court to pick up the tickets at Dominion Theater Visited a Carphone shop where Mickey found the Nexus 7 for £179 After refreshing at the flat we went back to Dominion Theater for We will rock you, AWESOME!! 😀 (good idea to have picked up the tickets before, another line…)
9 July [Map over the route] Started by visiting the mega toy store Hemley’s Walked along Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus and then to Leicester square for lunch, Pret a Manger Saw Despicable Me 2, 3D, Empire 1, 1000 seats. Great experience Went for dinner at Five guys, Burgers and fries. Good timing, looong line when we came out Watched Hangover in the flat
10 July Mickey bought the Nexus 7 at the Carphone Shop, Oxford Street. Tried to bargain, 2 for £320, but no 🙁 Packed and waited… Tube Oxford Circus – Victoria Station. Got the refund from Oyster cards at Victoria tube station Train, Southern, to Gatwick Plenty of time and the flight delayed approx. 30 min, dep. 17.55 The End

Tips:

Get an Oyster card. Deposit £5. Fill up the card. You get the deposit and the amount not used on the card refunded when you return the card at a tube station.
lastminute.com, discount tickets or buy them at Piccadilly Circus