Finally it is vacation time again – and I can spend some precious time with my family 🙂
17th May Celebration
The summer starts (as always) with the celebration of the Norwegian Constitution Day – the national day of Norway – and is an official public holiday observed on May 17th each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as syttende mai (lit. “seventeenth May”), Nasjonaldagen (The National Day) or Grunnlovsdagen (The Constitution Day).
The Constitution of Norway was signed at Eidsvoll on May 17th in the year 1814. The constitution declared Norway to be an independent kingdom in an attempt to avoid being ceded to Sweden after Denmark–Norway’s devastating defeat in the Napoleonic Wars.
The unique tradition of the celebration of the 17th of May brings some complexities. That is the reason why it is often confusing and hard to understand for a new-comer to Norway with all the fuzz during the day. The children carry flags and march together with bands. Ice cream, hot dogs and other goods to eat are abundant. The buildings are decorated with Norwegian flags and women and men of all ages dress in their Bunad, or national costume. Graduating high school students wear their russedress and celebrate the approaching school year’s end. The sound of loud music is heard from every corner. Understanding of all these 17th of May traditions requires some historical and social background knowledge.
Sweden Rock
Working in Sweden, I had the opportunity to attend the Sweden Rock festival. Classic rock, hard rock, metal and even some blues – something for all tastes. Clean and neat, safe and secure. Ocean-near location, cozy grass hillsides and real lavatories. But most of all, a really friendly and good-natured atmosphere. Like one big family, with members from over 50 countries. The best audience in the world, quite frankly.
The festival ran from Wed, 5 Jun 2019 – Sat, 8 Jun 2019, and I had a really great time in one one of the most exhilarating festival in the world. It promises to be a good time.
Tons of Rock
Lagends like Kiss, Def Leppard and Satyricon played at Tons of Rock, and I was overwhelmed to attend this great event!
Dream Theater had a great show, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the masterpiece “Images & Words” with us at Ekebergsletta.
Maintenance and Spring Cleaning
Spring is the time to roll up the sleeves and fix whatever the long winter has torn down or wore out. Painting the house, cleaning the back yard and of course applying antifouling paint on the boat to keep the sea-weed away.
I also took the time to fit out the shed with a hardware lab, so the family and myself can work on mechanic repairs outside. The first task at hand was to fix the injection fuel pump for the boat as this had corroded during the winter.
Sun and Sand in Spain
This year (as always) we will go to Orihuela Costa in Spain. Orihuela Costa is a coastal region situated on the Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante. It sits close to the border with Murcia, near La Manga and the beautiful Mar Menor. Despite its name it is actually around 20 kilometres away from the main resort of Orihuela.
The region covers several resorts including Punta Prima, Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Villamartin, Campoamor and Mil Palmeras.
Orihuela Costa is an ideal destination for those looking for a beach family holiday, with 16 kilometres of diverse coastline. It is also an excellent choice for golf holidays; in fact Orihuela Costa is well equipped for all needs, with lots of amenities, facilities and leisure attractions
Cartagena Roman Theater
The theater was built between 5 and 1 BCE, and for centuries was covered by a cathedral built over the upper part of the the theater’s “cavea,” or seating area. The first remains were discovered in 1988, and the theater underwent restoration, completed in 2003. Today the ancient arena still holds performances, and there is a museum at the site displaying the finds from a series of archaeological excavations.
Alicante Castle
Alicante boasts many treasures. And among its most prominent is indisputably the Castle of Santa Bárbara, which stands on Mount Benacantil overlooking the city. Hewn from millenary stone, this fortress has witnessed centuries of history in this ancient city and even played a leading role in several chapters.
Leisure and Activities for the Kids
Not living the kids out, there would also be fancy events and activities they can do to make them enjoy this holiday. I understand that visiting some of these places can be a bore to them, and some places may even be over exiting..
Music and Entertainment for the Dad
Every Tuesday and Friday I will go to the lunch jam at El Rincon Del Tio Cali where the local musicians will entertain and involve us in fantastic musical experiences. I most likely would be visiting here on my own probably after the kids have gone to other fancy places to catch fun time.
Leyendas del Rock
Leyendas del Rock is a rock and metal festival that takes place in the city of Villena, Spain. Now celebrating their fourteenth edition – and the seventh consecutive year in it current location – the festival has become a respected date in the calendar of heavy metal fans thanks to the lineups of the scene’s favourites.
With more than 60 performers spread across four days and five stages, the high-octane display of hard-hitting rock sounds will this year be headlined by Australian four-piece Airbourne and legendary Irish rockers Thin Lizzy, among others.
So, have a nice vacation everyone – I will see you again in 26th August 🙂
