Sweden, A Taste of Scandinavia

 

My introduction to Sweden came as a child with a few words that may be familiar to many others, “Bork de Bork, de Bork, it is time to put on make up.. it is time to dress up right.. “.Since then it has been Abba and Ikea.

 

 

About two hours after becoming airborne from Frankfurt, I touch down in the Capital of Scandinavia, Stockholm.

 

 

 

 

A short stop at the Tourist Information booth which is very nice and 99SEK (US$15) later I am on my way to the city center.

At a McDonald's just outside of the main train station with free Wi-Fi available, I book a room for the night at City Backpackers a ten minute walk away.

For about 190SEK (US$35) I will have a bed in a 4 bed dorm room. Not bad considering most regular hotels near the city center are north of US$120.

 

 

A stop at House of Kebab for an affordable stomach filling dinner and I am ready for an afternoon nap not too long after checking in at City Backpackers.

 

 

 

 

On a brisk Sunday evening with a light rain occasionally falling I take my customary night time walk around the city. As I walk back to the Central Station, I am a bit disappointed that most of the cities famous buildings are not well lit for nighttime photography.

 

 

 

17th  Century House Of Nobility

 

I do get a treat as a set of stomping feet head towards me as I am standing below the entrance to the Royal Apartments at The Royal Castle. I watch as a group of soldiers are performing some type of nighttime routine.

In Old Town I am delighted when I come across, The Liffey, an Irish Pub. A nice selection of beers, a great atmosphere, live entertainment and “The Broncos vs. The Chargers”.

 

With a tall “Sleepy Bulldog” but unfortunately minus an order of wings, this is still one way to make a “Fantasy Pigskinner” feel right at home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arkansas, Fall Foliage

 

I leave what I still call Little Rock (LIT) Airport and head on 440West to 30East to 40West. My destination, Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway.

As I drive west along the interstate I have a decision to make. I have to be back in Little Rock this evening and I am not sure if I want to circle back from the North or South.

Should I see a part of the Ozarks or the Quachita National Forest. Fortunately, this time of the year I do not think I can go wrong with any choice I make. In the end, I decide to venture in the direction of the Ozarks.

 

 

Just off I-40W I make my first stop at CJ's Butcher Boy Burgers.

Although I am not sure if their burgers are “The Best In The State”, I would definitely give their fresh fries high marks.

 

 

 

Charged up with a tasty burger and fries, I am back on N Arkansas Ave (Route 7) headed north. It is not long before I begin to see telltale signs of why this is one of the most scenic roads to drive in the state during this time of the year.

 

Bright reds, mellow greens, soft yellows and soothing oranges along with falling leaves soon have me pulling off the highway to enjoy some of the things I love about fall. 

 

 

 

The air is fresh and once a car or two disappears in the distance, I take in the delightful sounds and peacefulness of nature.

 

 

 

A Beautiful Swing

 

At one stop I am taken somewhat back to my childhood as I spot a blue and white swing set surrounded by the greens, reds, purples, orange  and yellows of nature. I resist the temptation to trespass and be a child again encompassed by such beauty.

 

I do find a few friends along the way that are just as curious about me as I am about them.

However, I am still not sure what is up with the long faces although they seemed genuinely happy to meet me.

 

 

At one time Route 7 was a popular North-South road through the “Natural State” and some of the history of those days still remain along the highway.

 

 

A Double Decker

 

It must have been a fun time when a “Double Decker Outhouse” was a key attraction.

 

If that was not good enough for you could also purchase “Country Cured Hams” nearby.

 

 

 

 

 

A highlight of my trip is taking scenic views of the Ozarks at “Rotary Ann Overlook”, a historic rest stop along Scenic 7 Byway. Being here alone on a beautiful afternoon with a gentle breeze blowing is simply amazing.

 

 

 

Fall Foliage Ozark National Forest

 

With the threat of rain looming, my scenic journey through the “Natural State” begins to wind down as the sun heads west and takes the daylight with it.

 

I manage to hike a part of the trail towards “Pedestal Rock” but never quite get there.

However, my journey is rewarded by spotting a white tail deer off the trail that is startled by my presence.

 

 

 

As I drive a curving, dark and fun AR-16 back towards Clinton then Little Rock, the promised rain is beginning to fall but it in no way dampens my experience of seeing the wonderful colors of nature in Arkansas.

 

 

Chile, A Valle De Luna

 

From Calama Airport I set out in a rented Toyota 4x4 for San Pedro de Atacama about 70 miles away. My drive towards San Pedro covers some of the same areas that I had previously flown over less than an hour ago.

 

 

One site that peaked my interest from a few thousand feet above the earth turns about to be a memorial dedicated to 26 people executed here in 1973.

 

 

 

 

A brief stop and I am again driving across a desert landscape under clear blue skies. Although mostly barren the scenery with rolling hills and distant mountains is still enjoyable.

 

 

 

Desert Landscape

 

A sign for Valle de Luna and I find myself going down a dirt road where I am soon approached by a cloud of dust which turns out to be a group of cars heading in the opposite direction.The first car stops abeam me and the driver says something to me. My “no hablo espanol muy bien” starts him speaking a language that I understand.

Turns out they have been looking for Valle de Luna but without any luck. Further conversation and a group of us decide to give it a try together.

Parked at the beginning of a blocked off road, we lock our cars and I start hiking with a couple on vacation here from the southern part of Chile. I feel fortunate to have met them as they give me some history and tips of the area and their home country.

 

 

About twenty minutes of hiking and we arrive at the destination that we have been seeking.

 

 

 

 

 

From talking with a local we discover we have come up the back entrance to Valle de Luna. This entrance is closed to cars this time of the year because it has the potential to develop sink holes. 

 

 

We spend some time enjoying the “moon like” scenery with unique formations like “Tres Marias” then leave to watch the sunset from another area of Valle de Luna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tres Marias

 

I watch from the ledge of a “Grand Canyon” type rim as the sun heads west and brushes the landscape with all shades of orange.

 

 

One of the more beautiful sunsets that I have ever seen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chile, It Never Rains In ….

 

 

Having spent a good portion of my life in Southern California where I was often reminded that “It never rains..”

I leave home to visit one of, if not the driest places on the planet.

 

 

 

On board American Airlines I am reminded that for me flying will always be “Something Special In The Air”. Enroute I enjoy AA's inflight services and the views of Chile as we make our arrival descent.

 

 

In Santiago I make a connection flight on LAN but not before being entertained as LAN employees join in Chile independence celebrations.

 

 

 

 

About two hours after lifting off from Santiago International Airport, I touch down at the entry point for most who come to visit the place that will definitely challenge “The Beach Boys” and their notion of Southern California.

 

 

Carnival Imagination, Ride It, Ride It

 

 

 

I send some bocce balls rolling then my almost too intense fight training continues.

 

 

 

 

 

With my hands on my chaps, I learn some moves that will not only be deadly in the ring but anywhere else.

 

 

“Ride it, ride it, ride it”, May Weather is going to be in trouble.

 

 

 

 

 

Next it is more sparing as we pick up a few Bingo cards and I punch out a few numbers about thirty of them to be exact. Pulling some tabs we walk away “Big Winners” with two dollars.

Everyone knows that one way to pick a good fight is talk about someone's momma. If this does not work for me, from seeing the “Love And Marriage” show, I now have another weapon in my arsenal.

Hey, May Weather... “Your wife bends over how do you describe the sight you see?”

 

 

Fall Of The Bone St Louis Ribs

 

After a full day of training with multiple trips to the buffet including the desert station and soft serve ice cream machine, we follow this up with a formal dress up, sit down dinner. It’s lobster night, complimented with ribs and lime sherbet.

Almost full, it is time to enjoy a relaxing evening of entertainment onboard the Carnival Imagination.

 

 

First it's “Shout” a nice Broadway type production show followed by a stroll inside the ship.

A stop is made at “The Taste Bar” then a walk on the Lido deck before returning to the buffet.

 

 

 

This time it is just a light arm lifting exercise with the weight nicely balanced between two plates.

After my workout I get an invitation to dance in the karaoke lounge, “don't you want to dance with me baby, don't you want to dance with me boy”, or maybe I was just mistaken.

Anyway, I stick around and do it my way before we head to disco for me to do some ringside foot work exercises.

Interestingly, in the disco we discovered, “ain't nothing wrong if you want to do da butt all night long”.

 

 

Our night ends in the “Punchliner Comedy Club” where the comedians take jabs and upper cuts at all of us.

No group escapes the pounding blows.

 

 

 

 

Why is it that one group keeps their kids in strollers until they start shaving? Or, why is it that one group electric bill is always in their cousins name?

This stuff has some of us in tears just like what is going to be the case with “May Weather” when I am done with him.

 

 

 

Cruising, Preparing For “May Weather”

 

 

One of the beauties of training in South Florida as a prize fighter is having easy access to a ship load of calories.

 

 

 

 

In the boarding area for Carnival Imagination, I meet my sparing partners for the next three days. Even with just about an hour to spare before we set sail, we are ready for Round 1. Somewhere on the Lido Deck there is a nice burger, fries and diet coconut cream cake with my name on it.

A lengthy safety briefing temporarily interrupts our plans but soon enough the game is back on as we enjoy a sail away drink then make plans for Round 2. This time it is a bigger plate that when filled up makes for a nice arm lifting exercise.

 

 

Our first afternoon and evening session goes well.

Before we know it we up and ready for Round 3 our breakfast set.

 

 

 

 

This time it is pancakes, bacon, slices of banana bread, more bacon, ham, a choice of muffins, more bacon and of course, fruit along with a serving or two of ice cold high fructose juices. Guava Passion Fruit is my favorite. 

I can already feel the pounds coming on as my feet when I stand up and look down are beginning to disappear. Soon we are disembarking in Nassau for Round 4, 5 and maybe even Round 6.

 

 

 

Nassau Harbour

 

 

To get familiar with the ringside bell for next spring, we grab some “Kaliks". Although this is the sound of “cow bells” used here for local festivals, our cold and refreshing “Kaliks” come wrapped in a brown paper bag for secret street walking consumption.

 

 

A $1.25 fare and we are headed west for some beach training along the white sands of Goodman's Bay and Cable Beach future home of what will become the largest resort in the Caribbean.

 

 

 

 

Some “Bean Bag” tossing, “Connect Four” connecting and I am ready to do some “Rum” punches at the poolside bar. Two shared orders of conch fritters compliments the upper cuts and jabs nicely.

 

 

However, Round 4 is becoming an exhausting workout.

After doing a few arm curls in the nearby Crystal Palace casino, it is time for a lengthy cool down in the clear and warm tropical beach waters.

 

 

 

Energized, we set out for Round 5 as we head to the place that I have no doubt will be the precursor of my victory celebration. I might even offer to bring “May Weather” here after I defeat her.

How much more can a prize fighter or anyone else for that matter want from the establishment than to be able to add whatever amount of rum you want to add to your own daiquiri? At “The Daiquiri Shack” we get to do just that.

 

 

The Best Daiquiris Ever

 

 

Soon, I am "floating like a butterfly" and ready to “sting like a bee”. I is ready to take “May Weather”, “Sugar Ray” and “Cassius Clay” all down right now but somehow I don't think I am going to make it to Round 6.

 

 

 

Germany, More Walls To Tear Down

 

 

For me, no trip to Berlin would be complete without a visit to the historic portions of the Berlin Wall near the Check Point Charlie area.

 

 

 

 

This area of Berlin the symbolic and somewhat ideological clash point of East and West during “The Cold War” is for most the place where the new Germany got its birth.

 

Indeed, I think it can be said that here was a turning point in world politics and the beginning of the collapse of communism.

 

 

 

 

Today, the area is alive and vibrant with shops, restaurants and bars but I am glad to see that pieces of history remain. Reminders that around our planet there are unfortunately still more walls to tear down.

 

 

 

 

As we leave Berlin, we make one more stop at the Holocaust Memorial.

 

 

For me, walking through this amazing architectural memorial is a beautiful reminder of the progress of Germany and its citizens.

This is just one more reason why I love this city.