Showing posts with label museums. Show all posts
Showing posts with label museums. Show all posts

Monday, June 11, 2012

Weekend Trip To Stockholm

It takes less than an hour to fly from Helsinki to Stockholm. That (among other things) makes Stockholm a perfect weekend mini-holiday destination.


I love just walking around beautiful Stockholm watching people, buildings and the seaview.

Vasastan
There are many interesting museums, like my favourite Fotografiska, where I tend to visit every time. They have had really high profile photo exhibitions, such as Annie Leibovitz, Anton Corbijn, Robert Mapplethorpe and now Sally Mann

Fotografiska
This time I did two museum visits as I also wanted to see Yoko Ono's exhibition at Moderna Museet. Few weird videos and texts from the book Grapefruit.













Moderna Museet's permanent exhibition includes some interesting pieces like Andy Warhol's Brillo boxes.


















The museum itself locates at beautiful Skeppsholmen and even if one is not interested in the museums (The Museum of Modern Art, The Architectural Museum and East-Asian Museum) it is nice to have a walk around the tiny island.

View from Moderna Museet














When getting tired of museums there is another reason to walk around as Stockholm offers plenty of opportunities to shop.

Tiogruppen on Götgatan












Besides my usual shopping spots (Åhlens, NK, Biblioteksgatan and Södermalm area) this time we also visited Quality Outlet Stockholm at Barkarby. It was very convenient to take a local train from Stockholm Central Station (pendeltåg towards Bålsta) to  Jacobsberg, where you chang to bus 567 and get off at bustop Herrestavägen. The whole trip takes approximately 30 minutes and if you like the brands that are present at the Outlet, it is worth for a fews hours journey.

Stockholm Quality Outlet
After visiting museums and shopping it is nice to sit down and have something good to eat. Dumplings are the new sushi and there are plenty of places to choose from. This time we chose Jappi Sushi & Wok at Drottninggatan and both sushi and dumpligs were delicious.

Sushi

Dumplings
I like this new trend of Asian fast food and cannot wait this kind of dumplings restaurants and Wagamama to land in Helsinki.

Salmon and noodels at Wagamama
We had dinner at Lebanese restaurant Sahara, which was cozy, yet little bit cold restaurant in Vasastan. Would really like to have their lunch buffee as it sounded very versatile yet reasonably priced. Tasted some nice meze portions and my favourites were meat pies (Sambousak Bel Lahme) and Halloumi cheese.

Sahara, Olofsgatan 7B



  













So this trip was mainly museums, food and shopping. What a nice and relaxing weekend!

Museum visits at Fotografiska and Moderna Museet
Wagamama, Klarabergsviadukten 65


Really need to go to Stockholm again soon!


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Spring Weekend In Copenhagen

Long weekend in wonderful Copenhagen was exactly what I needed in order to load the batteries during the April rush. My trip included lots of walking around, eating well, museums, Rufus Wainwright concert and just taking it easy.


All the spring elements were in place: trees were blossoming, birds singing, flowers blooming, the sun shining and the people smiling. 


Somewhat moderate temperatures, but you can say that spring was strongly in the air!


Nyhavn with its canals is always a great place to hang out when it is sunny weather. Either sit on the terraces of the expensive restaurants or bring your own bottle and sit by the sidewalk. Good place for people watching and just enjoying life. 

Nyhavn
There are lots of interesting areas in Copenhagen one of the being multi-ethnic Nørrebro with its vibrant street life and bars. If you like beer and good food then Nørrebro Bryghus is the place to visit!

Urban Camping 48 hour festival in Nørrebro
And you cannot talk about Copenhagen without mentioning Freetown Christiania, which is self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood. Very green, artistic and interesting place to visit.


My new favourite area is Vesterbro, which I just discovered. Located by the main railway station it is extremely convenient when arriving by train from Kastrup airport. Previously this area was known as red light district and for drugs, which still shows, especially in Istedgade. Well, my hotel was located in the same street and I felt completely safe. It is worth exploring this urban area as there are lots of nice houses and restaurants.
 











In a rainy moment it is a good idea to visit a museum or a few. My regular museum is Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, where I go to see the Etruscan and Egyptian sections. There is something really fascinating in those gods, burial chambers and mummies.

















And another great thing about visiting Glyptotek is the Wintergarden and Café.


















Other side of the street there is Danish Design Center, which usually also has exhibitions worth visiting. And if you have few hours you should take 35 minutes train trip to Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, which is pleasant neighbourhood by the sea. Museum often has several exhibitions at the same time, good museum shop, nice garden and cafe. 

Louisiana, Gl Strandvej 13, 3050 Humlebæk
After walking and visiting museums it is time to grab something to eat and Copenhagen is full of interesting restaurants. I was recommended to go and have brunch in Mother in Kødbyen, but as mornings were limited I went there in the evening instead and got propably the best pizza I have ever eaten.



Mother, Høkerboderne 9
















Yet another great and inexpensive discovery was Vietnamese LêLê a family-runned chain.

Lê Lê's menu assortment
Lê Lê, H.C. Andersens Boulevard 8



On holidays I prefer having a brunch instead of lunch and Copenhagen has good selection of brunch places to choose from. When shopping by the Strøget I usually visit Cafe Norden or Cafe Europa. Both are quite expensive ones, but located perfectly in the way to Magasing du Nord department store.

Cafe Europa, Amagertorv 1
This weekend I also tested Barbar Bar in Vesterbro Torv and Cafe Zirup in Stranden.

Barbar Bar, Vesterbrogade 51
Cafe Zirup, Læderstræde 32







My fave bar is located in Vesterbro: Bang og Jensen, which is cozy yet trendy pub full of people. I ended up here every evening and also once for brunch as the location was so convenient and I really liked the athmosphere. 

Bang og Jensen, Istedgade 130
After a bar night the only thing to do is get a hotdog from a Pölsevagn and get a good night sleep after all the activities.