Eurovision 2016: Stockholm is the place!

(Photo credit Globen: Johanna Lundberg. Montage: Lilian)

Sooner than expected we got a result from the Swedish broadcaster SVT. The host city of Eurovision Song Contest 2016 is Stockholm and the venue is the Globe Arena. Back to the place where Eurovision was held in year 2000. We can call it "recycling" and a familiar place for those who have attended Melodifestivalen.

Vienna was a wonderful Eurovision-city but how will Stockholm perform in comparison? Quite good, I believe. However there is one area where we can't compete with Vienna. WINE. Doesn't matter how efficient Swedes are, we will not be able to produce wine in the capital region as they do in Austria. Besides that we are rather well off. Here are five examples:

1) In Vienna we had Wienerschnitzel. In Stockholm we will have Biff Lindstrom and Wallenbergare.

2) In Vienna we had Sachertorte. In Stockholm we will have Princesstårta.

3) In Vienna we had Strudel. In Stockholm we will have Kanelbulle (= cinnamon bun).

4) In Vienna we had the Danube river. In Stockholm we will have Lake Mälaren.

5) In Vienna we had the Haus der Musik. In Stockholm we will have ABBA museum.

More to come within this item. Some weeks ago I wrote down 10 reasons why Stockholm should be the hosting city. Read more about my thoughts HERE.

Photos: Lilian, Alexandros, SVT, Kungsörnen

Budapest - love at first sight

Budapest in springtime might be your beginning of a lifelong relationship.... that's what happened to me. When I first set my feet on the ground in Budapest, at springtime many years ago, the beauty of the city hit me and it was love at first sight! The love has grown deeper over the years and I have lost count of the number of visits.

It’s about time to share the reasons for my returning time after time....to help and inspire you to get to know some of my Budapest beyond the tourist guides.

As a first time visitor to Budapest there are five things that you just have to experience. You have to:
•    Take time-out and relax in the thermal baths
•    Experience the atmosphere and local products in the market hall
•    Take a Danube cruise and see the city from the water
•    Enjoy a long stroll in the Old town
•    Visit the museums at Hero Square

There is louds written about all of the above, so finding information is easy but I promise you; Budapest has so much more to offer!

Maybe you are not looking for a love story but.....

...who can resist a beauty? 

...or a run down bath dating from the Turkish period... 

...and the bridges over Danube in various construction styles.

PS: I recommend you to have a look at the website of the Hungarian Tourist board: http://gotohungary.com/about-hungary

Photos by Teija