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Take me to Church (or a chapel)
Two weeks ago, the Netherlands won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with the song ‘Arcade’, performed by Duncan Laurence. This was arguably the best song in the competition, yet the highlight of the final was Madonna’s somewhat pitchy but poignant performance of her classic ‘Like a Prayer’. Released 30 years ago, it remains an iconic song. Sometimes I wonder how it’d feel if Madonna performed ’Like a Prayer’ in a church. Although (or perhaps because) I am not a religious person, I enjoy going to a church not for religious purposes but for cultural ones. I particularly enjoy listening to music (from classical to country, and from jazz to…
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How to spend 24 hours in Ålesund
Exactly a year ago, I was ready for my trip to Norway. I had already planned my itinerary, booked my flights, hotels and train tickets, and I was looking forward to returning to the country I’d last visited 20 years prior. Of course, I had wanted to visit Oslo and Bergen again, but Ålesund was the city I was most excited about. And, it certainly lived up to my expectations; the two days I spent there was the highlight of my week in Norway. This beautiful port town on the west coast of Norway may not be the most famous city in the country, but it’s the birthplace…
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Beyond Eurovision: A musical journey in Europe
I have to admit that the Eurovision Song Contest is one of my guilty pleasures. Every May for several weeks (before and after the contest) all I listen to is europop – quite a departure from the music I usually enjoy (jazz, country and indie). Today, however, I’ve decided to embark on a musical journey around Europe, and listen to music (not necessarily Eurovision songs) from different European countries. I’m starting this journey with classical music from 12 different countries, but I’m also going to visit countries with a huge tradition in music (albeit not in classical music). Some Eurovision pitstops have also made it to my itinerary, and…
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Bergen: the city of the Seven Mountains
Surrounded by seven hills and seven fjords, Bergen is also known as the city of the Seven Mountains. Norway’s second-largest city is located on the southwestern coast, and should definitely be part of your itinerary. So far, I’ve visited Bergen three times: once in 1998 and twice in 2018. Here are my top 7 tips: 7 tips for Bergen: Go to the (Stave) Church Start your sightseeing by visiting the Fantoft Stavkirke (Fantoft Stave Church). From the city center, take the Bergen Light Rail to Fantoft or Paradis; the church is a short walk from there (open every day 10:30-18.00, admission NOK 60). Once present in many parts of…
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My Happy Place(s): London, Greece, Norway
I recently visited the ‘Edvard Munch: Love and Angst’ exhibition at the British Museum in London. Already a fan of Munch, I wanted to learn more about the renowned Norwegian painter – his life as well as his art. The British Museum is only a few minute walk from Russell Square, which is where I got off the Tube. Stepping onto the platform, I noticed a larger than life advertisement of Emma Bunton’s new album ‘My Happy Place’ (released on the 12th of April 2019). Baby Spice’s fourth studio album consists of ten tracks; two are original, whilst the rest are cover versions of older songs. My favorite is ‘Come…
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Oslo: Nesbo, Munch, Music, Opera & More
Last year, a devastating earthquake shook Oslo. Built only a decade prior, the Opera House was one of the many buildings seriously damaged by the seismic activity. As the Norwegian capital’s skyline collapsed like a house of cards, only the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel stood tall. Also known as Oslo Plaza, this is not only the tallest building in the city, but also the second tallest in Norway (Trondheim’s Tyholttårnet is the tallest in the country). It is also where an elderly assassin positioned himself on 17 May 2000 in an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Norway’s Crown Prince on the Norwegian Constitution Day. Gladly, life in the Scandinavian…
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LOVE + FEAR, Love and Angst, & Meaning of Life
A couple of weeks ago, I attended ‘Life Lessons with MARINA’, a conversation between two influential women: Marina Diamantis, a Greek-British singer-songwriter, and Professor Tanya Byron, a clinical psychologist and writer. The event was organized by The School Of Life, a global organization headquartered in London. It took place on the day that ‘LOVE’ (the first half of ‘LOVE + FEAR’, Marina’s fourth album) was released. The School Of Life offers a range of services, including classes, workshops, and events, such as the one I attended. They also offer therapy services and publish books and educational videos on YouTube. A common denominator of all these services is the focus on…
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Vienna: Music, Psychotherapy & Coffee
Last year, I took part in the Guardian’s competition ‘10 great Greek islands: readers’ travel tips’. I was so excited when I saw my tip ‘Hiking in Amorgos, Cyclades’ published that I did not realize that it’d been the winning tip. A few months later, I decided to spend the prize, a £200 hotel voucher, on a weekend break in Vienna. The Austrian capital has recently been named the best city in the world to live in – for the tenth year running. According to the annual Mercer Quality of Living survey, Vienna topped the list of 231 cities around the world. The ranking was based on a number of…
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Vienna: Search for Meaning & the Mozart Effect
I recently visited Vienna for the fourth time in my life. During a previous visit, I went to the Opera and saw Giuseppe Verdi’s ‘Nabucco’. This time, I opted for a rather more low-key concert with music by Wofgang Amadeus Mozart. The concert took place in St Peter’s Church (Peterskirche), a beautiful baroque church situated in the heart of Vienna, not far from the famous St Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom). Built at the beginning of the 18th century, it provides the perfect backdrop for the music of the famous Austrian composer (concerts start at 8 am; tickets from 29 euros). I also visited the apartment where Mozart lived between 1784 and…
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Island-hopping around the Cyclades
The Cyclades. A group of 24 inhabited islands (and many more uninhabited). But which one to choose? Hedonistic Mykonos, romantic Santorini, or a lesser known one? Or, perhaps, island-hop? A Greek travel enthusiast myself, I definitely prefer island hopping, as this allows me to explore more than one islands each time… but, of course, I still have to make a choice! A couple of years ago, I followed a 13-day itinerary from Santorini to Amorgos, and then to Koufonisia and Mykonos. Certainly, a good place to start (that was my first ever holiday in the Cyclades)! I have been back to the Cyclades several times since, and here is another…