TheLosAngeleno – Page 41

The King & Queen of Sweden arrives in Småland to spend time in their summer castle on Öland

I can highly recommend for any U.S. citizen that want to broaden their views to travel to Europe, spend some time in Spain, Italy, France and of course don’t forget Scandinavia. I just arrived in Sweden form southern Europe last night, and this morning I boarded a flight that essentially replicated my first flight (see earlier post). It was a different plane and a different airport in Stockholm, the old Bromma airport was the airport then, today Arlanda is the big commercial airport in Stockholm. As it happened, I found myself on the flight on the small Saab 2000 (50-58 passenger 2 engine turbo-prop)

with the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf and his Queen Silvia. They were on their way to their summer castle on the island of Öland off the coast of Småland (birthplace of Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA) to spend some time there. I even had the chance of wishing them a relaxing time off at the castle. They are both very nice people and Queen Silvia has a most engaging smile – she is a beautiful Queen!

Here is the Queen in the passenger seat and the King driving for their trip over the bridge to the island and their summer castle.

King Carl XVI Gustaf in their Volvo wagon

The security detail followed in the standard issue black Volvo sedan.

My first flight

I am sitting here at Arlanda airport outside of Stockholm waiting for my flight to Geneva and I just started thinking back to the first time I was on an airplane as a young kid back in 1961 or so. The plane was a Douglas DC3 operated by Scandinavian Airlines and I remember that when you boarded it, there was a steep climb up to your seat because the plane was leaning heavily. Low at the aft and really high at the nose.

SAS operated Douglas DC3 late 1950's early 1960's — SAS operated Douglas DC3 late 1950’s early 1960’s

Douglas DC6 interior, but from what Iz recall it was very similar with curtains and all. — Douglas DC6 interior, but from what I recall it was very similar with curtains and all.

SAS Advertising material with hostess from as early as 1948 — SAS Advertising material with stewardess from as early as 1948.

“It’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”

This young lady has the coolest tattoo on her back. She was enjoying “Rootvälta” at Liljan in Borlänge Sweden on Saturday June 29th. This weekend should have been the finale of the famous “Peace & Love” festival 2013, sadly the festival organizers went into bankruptcy about a month ago or so after 14 years of successful festivals starting in 1999.

Rootvälta is a local band that play reggae music, they perform lyrics in both Swedish and English and they certainly know how to rock the house. Very enjoyable music and tons of fun!

Rootvälta with singer guitarist - frontman Mattias "Matte B" Björkgren. — Rootvälta with singer guitarist – frontman Mattias “Matte B” Björkgren.

Diversity in Art in Atlanta

The High Museum of Art in Atlanta was founded in 1905 as the “Atlanta Art Association”. In 1926 the High family, for whom the museum is named donated their family home on Peachtree Street to be used to house the collection. An additional building was constructed in 1955. June 3 1962, 106 Atlanta art patrons were on a trip to France to, among other things see “Whistler’s mother” at the Louvre, and on the way home the plane crashed on takeoff from Orly airport in Paris and everyone on board died. Including crew and other passengers, 130 people parished in the crash, the worst in aviation history at the time. The French government donated a Rodin sculpture, “The Shade” in honor of the victims.

Here is a picture from Atlanta”s High museum of art. I think it illustrates very well the diversity you can find in Atlanta, both in Art and in other things…

A statue by Auguste Rodin (French 1840-1917) called "The Shade", in the foreground, Roy Lichtenstein's (American 1923-1997) House III and part of the Museum building in the back designed by Richard Meier (American born 1934) in 1983 and a remodel 2003-2005 designed by Renzo Piano (Italian born 1937). — A statue by Auguste Rodin (French 1840-1917) called “The Shade”, in the foreground, Roy Lichtenstein’s (American 1923-1997) House III and part of the Museum building in the back designed by Richard Meier (American born 1934) in 1983 and a remodel 2003-2005 designed by Renzo Piano (Italian born 1937).

The High museum of Art in Atlanta Georgia is well worth a visit, in fact – if you like art and are in Atlanta you must see it! The collection spans art from long ago up to today and you can see some of the great masters at the museum as well as folk art. I really like the diversity of the art, you can start at the bottom and work your way up and via bridges reach the different buildings. Do not miss Roy Lichtenstein’s “House III” outside.

A poster on the wall of the Museum building advertising a coming exhibition of Dutch masters (F.ex. Johannes Vermeer Dutch 1632-1675 or Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, Dutch 1606-1669) "Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis" June 23 - September 29 2013. In the front is a sculpture by Alexander Calder (American 1898 - 1976) "Three Up, Three Down" from 1973. — A poster on the wall of the Museum building advertising a coming exhibition of Dutch masters (F.ex. Johannes Vermeer Dutch 1632-1675 or Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, Dutch 1606-1669) “Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis” June 23 – September 29 2013. In the front is a sculpture by Alexander Calder (American 1898 – 1976) “Three Up, Three Down” from 1973.

The High Museum of Art

1280 Peachtree Street, N.E.

Atlanta Georgia