Generals and soldiers

What was shown was of course but a small selection, of highly individualized faces and features of the Chinese emperor's army.

Terracotta army

The autumn's most breathtaking exhibition here in Stockholm must have been the Museum of East Asian Arts showing of selected pieces from the Chinese terracotta army, in a former military shelter underground - all in downtown.

Happy holidays!

Finally they came - Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate! I have worked to the last and have a few days left after the weekend before taking more time off - and in our line, holiday season not rarely means still keeping a lookout for trouble in the world.

I wish you all a peaceful holiday season!

Marcel Khalife!

Another concert highlight, but this already from September, Lebanese oud virtuoso Marcel Khalife played in Stockholm! It was a magic event really.

Medieval concert

We went to a lovely concert this afternoon, medieval music sung by some friends, at the National History Museum in Stockholm. They also had a historic Christmas market and sold handicrafts and jewelry. Usually, the highlight is the Gold room with historic treasures - Sweden has hidden troves of Islamic coins for instance.

Uppsala Light Festival

This event took place in November, featuring light installations in a range of downtown locations. I spent a Saturday evening with friends looking at a few of them - this one below was in the stream running through the town.

Oud special

Re:Orient treated us to an oud festival here in Stockholm in November, featuring Kamilya Jubran, Wadie Bouhassoun and Naseer Shamma!

December sunshine

There is actually such a thing - these are from Karlberg train station on the northern edge of downtown, showing the buildings of Vasastan and Karlberg itself.

Christmas kitchen endeavors!

Spent the afternoon baking with the family children and can proudly show the results here!

Undecorated gingerbreadhouse.


Same house, beautifully decorated


Assorted cookies - see the camels and the bunnies? Not to mention the spitting image of Sniff himself!


And last but not least - the Moomin house!

Swedish Institute in Alexandria 10 years!

We celebrated the 10 years anniversary of the Swedish Institute in Alexandria tonight, with a lecture at the Museum of Near Eastern Art. Interesting talks and many many friends were the highlights of tonight, with frank exchanges and discussions on ideas, challenges and possibilities.

Lovely weather

Nordic summer can offer lovely warm and sunny days also.

Back up in the daylight

The pointy buildings are typical of Northern hanseatic-style medieval downtowns.

Blogging on

I seem to apologise endlessly right now for late and intermittent blogging. With moving, a new (if very familiar still) job and family and friends much closer, as well as fewer travels, my time just never seems enough for even showing you my backlog from earlier this year. Some UAE photos are still aiting, as well as Sweden in the summer. For winter coming, Cairo looms again - so keep the hopes up and keep checking back!

And you have new articles and reading recommendations personally selected by me almost daily in the left-hand column!

Tunnel interior "decoration"

Each room was made out to represent on time and one usage of the tunnels 300 year history.

Tunnel details

Still details of the tunnel construction.

Still Tallinn Underground

Back down in the fortification tunnels, you see wellbuilt sturdy walls and vaults!

Oud virtouso

We heard Iraqi oud player Naseer Shamma last night in Stockholm - magic! Especially when joined by a Swedish folk musician joined him with his very traditional instrument.

Quick trip to London

and I didn't have time for more than my meeting, but passed the Royal Academy of Aart on Sunday afternoon and was a little tempted by the exhibition "Treasures from Budapest". Have a range of London museums I would have liked to go to had I had more time...

Under the hill

One of the most interesting things we did was visit the under-hill fortification tunnels starting under Kiek in de kök - the construction started by Erik Dahlberg under Swedish rule in the late 17th century. They were in various uses up until the early independence days of modern Estonia in the 1990s, as Soviet bomb shelters or as housing for homeless. Each section was prepared to represent one usage, walking backward in time through history - very professionally done! I appreciate good museum productions, as you know.

Tallinn fortifications

Defense towers are a fascinating topic - the 3 lower photos are all of medieval Kiek in de kök - coming back to that shortly!