Paris weekend; Les Halles and Vélib'

Sunday

Last day in Paris. After hotel breakfast, check-out, and luggage storage at the hotel, we went to a nearby Vélib' stand and got two bikes - heading for the city center.

Biking past the opera building.

Walking round in the Les Halles area - found a local market.

Buying postcards.

Have to visit a Starbucks if possible - there's one in the store area at Les Halles. It looks like the traditional and healthy Frappuccino drink...

Lunch at a nice sunny cafe in the Les Halles area. A perfect way to finish the weekend trip.

More pics here.

Paris weekend; Sacré-Cœur and Negro Spirituals

Saturday

After another hotel breakfast we set course for the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur church. Even though it's crowded with tourists, it's worth a visit.

On the way up to the church. Men trying to wrap a piece of string around your wrist and charge for it - scam...

A few blocks from the church we found this quiet local cafe. Perfect for a lazy lunch in the sun. After lunch we walked across the street into a park and found a local jazz band - great after-lunch music.

Time for another Vélib' bike ride - leaving the Sacré-Cœur area for another Notre Dame visit.

Inside Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. Magnificent.

Jenny found posters for a gospel concert when we walked around in Paris. Decided to try it out - Jenny buying tickets to the performance.

Whoa... It was an impressive performance in the old stone church. Gospel, negro spirituals, ...

Jenny after the concert. Feeling happy...

Evening shot from a bridge. We walked around an hour in central Paris after the concert before going back to the hotel.

More pics here.

Paris weekend; Tour Eiffel and Notre Dame

Friday

After a late breakfast at the hotel we took a metro to the Eiffel Tower. It was time to elevate ourselves and get some perspective on the city.

View from under the construction.

Great weather for going to the top of the tower. It's a stunning view.

Beautiful city houses.

After a walk along the Seine river in central Paris, we stopped by a small restaurant; lamb chops, mm...

Walking along the Seine river towards Notre Dame.

Notre Dame, it's an impressive building with interesting decorations.

Jenny and I decided to head back to the hotel after a full day of touring Paris. Checked Google Maps and aimed for the M3 metro line - Réaumur Sébastopol was the closest station. Bought a bottle of red wine and chocolate on our way.

More pics here.

Paris weekend; Hotel Espace Champerret and Champs-Élysées

Jenny and I spending an extended weekend in Paris, France; Thursday - Sunday.

Thursday

SAS flight from Kastrup to Charles de Gaulle, train to city center, metro to hotel. Staying at Hotel Espace Champerret [map]. Not the most luxurious place in town, but it'll do. The metro is just around the corner, line M3, station Louise Michel.

Checking the map before entering the city center.

A walk along the well-known Champs-Élysées. Starting with Arc de Triomphe.

Obélisque de Louxor at Place de la Concorde.

Enjoying a beautiful sunset as seen from Musée du Louvre.

More pics here.

Pay-and-play golf

Me and Jenny playing pay-and-play golf with Eva and Bo at Glumslöv Golf.

Bo tries to score from a "rough" situation.

More pics here.

Miss Maggio at Malmöfestivalen

Veronica Maggio performing at Malmöfestivalen, Malmö, Sweden. Nice synthesizer sound-wall, ok overall performance.

Listened to Miss Li a few hours before as well - a real disappointment; bad sound, dull performance.

Tölting with horses

Me, Jenny, Henriikka, and Peter riding Icelandic horses at Vallerödslunds Islandshästar, Blentarp. We tried both tölt and gallop during the tour.

Mr Pebbles himself, Ugo. More pics here.

Soha at Malmö Sommarscen

French-Algerian Soha making people dance at Malmö Sommarscen. A beautiful mix of jazz, tango, cuban, pop, and soul - Erykah Badu, Buena Vista Social Club, Sade, ...

Jenny and Sara at boot camp

It's time to gather the horses for the day's session at Kädarps Ridskola, Bokskogens Ridklubb.

Jenny full speed ahead.

Countryside tour. More pics here.

Playground lunch and Turning Torso

Light lunch with Tanja and kids at Västra Hamnen's playground.

Turning Torso. Climbers at the mid sections. Jenny on the ground.

This year's first bike wash

Fortunately Kasper helped me. He gave it an aggressive Stockholm-treatment.

It's all in the details... "De e 'muts här"...

Coffee and ladybugs in Mölle

Coffee at Jenny's grandmother's place in Mölle. The view from the apartment is fantastic. And yes, it's a rubber bat in the chandelier.

Refrigerator photo discussion. Memories...

Touring downtown Mölle.

It's a ladybug invasion on the west coast this summer.

Ystad Saltsjöbad, Olof Viktors, Österlen

Lazy day at the beach, Ystad Saltsjöbad; map.

Lunch at Olof Viktors, a few kilometers from Ystad. Great stop for lunches, coffee, ice cream, ...