The Most Awesome Places

I went to the most awesome places and I catalogued it with my horrible Nokia camera phone. Even though the equiptment stinks, some how some of the photos managed to be a little spectacular; purely because of the subject matter.

Rome, you know. JBR catalogued it with his digital camera and I posted 4 of those photos. Rome always wins. Its never a mistake to go to Rome.

Oslo was fulfilling. I made dinner with Gaute and Anne after going to Anne's art gallery. We talked and laughed and I even sang them "My Universe", a song I wrote that goes really well with a work of art titled "The Universe" on Anne's wall. They were a good audience. I was a little sick so my voice was low and I was actually able to reach all of the notes.

Copenhagen . . .

Then Tel Aviv for Christmas. It was sunny and I spent time at the beach and at the market and bought my all time favorite: whole grain pita, cucumbers, tomatoes, bulgarit cheese, hummus. freshly squeezed pomegranite juice. Hanging out with Joon M., a friend who was on the trip with me. We tried to go to Bethlehem but the security at the time would not let us.

And a quick trip to Brazil, Sao Paulo, where it's deadly summer and I spent most of my 10 hour lay over (when not sleeping)at the pool. It was hot and awesome and satisfying. The sun is so strong down there during the summer that I got a tan within one hour. I ate fresh fruit that has the same names but tastes completely different because of it's sun ripened, fresh quality... Its the same with the produce in Israel, actually. You may think of a cucumber as something wax covered, cold, tasteless, fat. its not. Its flavorful, crisp, luke warm and thin.

Copenhagen for new years was one continuous 6-hour make out session of fireworks. Our view couldn't have been any better. New Years couldn't have been more fun.

I went to the Cathedral where Bertel Thorvaldsen's Christus and twelve apostles are. (I actually read about them in the New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual.* ) (For Info on Thorvaldsen, make sure to click on the info link I superimposed on the title of this blog, "The Most Awesome Places") The Cathedral itself is stunning. Fires have caused rebuilding. They have mixed some of the best taste, old and modern, to create the most simple, beautiful Catholic Cathedral I have ever seen.

Then home for 3 days to Utah which, quite frankly, was a drag compared to where I had been, especially because of the disappointment.

Then off to Stockholm for 5 days. I just came back. The first day I met up with Mattias, gave him his tiger coat, and then went to dinner for some excellent swedish meatballs. He was so fun and interesting and nice. He just finished a book with his photography and has an exhibit at a museum in Stockholm from the 15th-? I will return to see it. The other days I spent time with Heidi and Kimberly and myself, walking alone. We went to the National Museum and my favorite sections were the modern art and the old traditional dishes.

I am buying a digital camera this very week. I have no idea how to get the photos from my camera phone onto my blog. I will post them if I do. But after this week, it won't matter anymore

Lisbon is next weekend. I will post my first photos from my own digital camera.
I know, finally, right?

*( pg. 53. . ."Many years ago President Spencer W. Kimball and several other church leaders visited the small cathedral in Copenhagen, Denmark, that houses Bertel Thorvaldsen's famous statues of Jesus christ and the Twelve Apostles. Speaking of this experience, Elder Rex D. Pinegar said: 'As we looked at those beautiful works of art we noted that Peter was sculptured with large keys in his hands . . .As we were ready to eve the cathedral, the Danish caretaker . . .wa standing near the door awaiting our departure. President Kimball shook his hand [and] thanked him for his kindness in letting us visit the cathedral. Then the president began an explanation of the church established by Jesus Christ and of its importance to us. . .Gathering President Tanner, Elder Monson, and Elder Packer closer to him, the president continued. . ."We are living apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. there are Twelve Apostles and three others who are the presidency of the Church. We hold the real keys, as Peter did, and we use them every day. They are in use constantly." ' " This was for Lesson 13, Matthew 15:21-17:9, "I Will Give Unto Thee the Keys of the Kingdom.")