Lady Gaga Born This Way Ball

Lady Gaga is among today's most popular artists. And not just because of her music, but also for her clothes and style. 

Out of curiosity I went to see her Born This Way Ball at Ericsson Globen in Stockholm. 

She entered the stage by riding a unicorn and after that changed her outfit some 20 times.  

As I am not that big fan of her music I took the show more like a musical performance.

Lots of different outfits, role plays, characters and choreography.

Gaga is known for her meat dress at MTV Music Awards 2010 and this time she had a meat sofa.

I just do not understand the attraction to guns (same with Madonna and several other female artists).

No doubt that she is talented artist, who can sing. However, I did not fall into the target group.

If I counted correct Lady Gaga said the word Sweden at least 20 times and she seemed to be a big fan of Sweden.

Been there, seen her, did not buy the t-shirt.

Actually the reason for my Stockholm trip was totally another artist, Coldplay, who played the evening before.

Viva La Coldplay

Coldplay is one of my favourite bands and I love their music, especially the early albums. When the first album Parachutes was released in 2000 it included so many amazing songs that you could not miss this band, especially after the album reached no.1 in U.K.

Following album A Rush of Blood To The Head was even bigger success with great singles such as Clocks and The Scientist. After these two albums there were huge expections for the third one, which the band ensured being even better. X&Y came out in 2005 and was also a huge success. These first three are my favourites and I am not that fond of the two latest albums Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends and Mylo Xyloto.

Coldplay is also a great live band with positive and giving style. And it is such a shame that they have yet not played live in Finland.

Coldplay Stockholm 2012

However, they visit quite often in Sweden and I have been lucky to see them live 4 times now.

Coldplay Stockholm 2012

First time was 2008 at Globen in Stockholm, then the following year at Stockholm Stadion, last year at Where The Action Is festival in Gothenburg and this year again at Stockholm Stadion.

Coldplay Göteborg 2011

They always have massive light show with fireworks (outdoor gigs) and lots of properties such as balloons and confetti. That is impressive, but I think that their music and intensive performance would carry through without all the extras.

Coldplay Göteborg 2011

Coldplay Stockholm 2012

Chris Martin's vocals are beautiful and suit Coldplay songs perfectly.

Coldplay Stockholm 2012

I just enjoy their live gigs so much that would love to see them live again - and this time hopefully in Finland.

Coldplay Stockholm 2012

Concert Trip To Stockholm

When tickets for Coldplay concert in Stockholm on 30th August were released last December I immediately decided to attend. Coldplay is one of my favourite bands and their live shows are always amazing. And this was a good opportunity to make a short visit to Stockholm.

Coldplay Stockholm Stadion 30.8.2012

There are few places I always tend to visit while in Stockholm: department stores PUB with interior stores R.O.O.M and Systrarna Voltaire as well as Åhlens with lots of Swedish clothes brands such as Odd Molly, Hope and Twist&Tango.

R.O.O.M.

Systrarna Voltaire

Designtorget has lots interesting and clever small items and it is always easy to spend some time going through the stuff there.

Designtorget

Bengans record store I usually visit in order to check the latest album releases or just enjoying to leaf through albums.

Bengans

Book stores and the best newspaper and magazine store Press Stop at Götgatan are too tempting for me...

Magazines from Press Stop

And when it is time for a break there are many nice coffee houses such as Vete-Katten and of course Wagamama for lunch.

Wagamama

Vete-Katten

This time the main reason for the trip was magnificent Coldplay concert at Stockholm Stadion and I also got to see Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball at Ericsson Globe Arena the next day.

Coldplay 

Lady Gaga

There are so many great gigs and exhibitions (such as David LaChapelle at Fotografiska) coming to Stockholm later this year so it is about time to start planning the next trip!

Day Cruise In The Aegean Sea

Piraeus port in Athens is accecible by metro from city centre. There it is easy to take a cruise at the sea and for example Hellenic Seaways has many destinations.

I really wanted to visit Hydra, but due to peak season all ferries were fully-booked. Therefore I chose to go on day cruise to three islands: Poros, Hydra and Aegina instead.

We made couple of hours stop on each of the three islands so that one could swim, walk around or just sit on a terrace and take it easy. 

Beautiful white and blue houses in all of the islands.

There are no motor vehicles at all in Hydra so that donkeys were used for transportation.

Narrow alleys and stray cats.

Sunny blue skies and fresh sea air.

 I really enjoyed relaxed day at the sea and visiting these beautiful islands.