I need a visit to Vienna

Liebe Österreich,

I would like to thank you for being so kind to my dad and sister who came all the way to Vienna this past weekend. You showed your best side (culture and beauty) and your true side (gray slight rain). As my dad said on the metro before we diverged - you can tell that it's been a long time since we met because we've been interrupting each other all the time...

One of the benefits in Vienna is that you really have a lot to show your guests. My sister and I got our clothes impregnated by smoke in some cozy bars on the Friday before my dad arrived, and then we spent all of Saturday and Sunday exploring the treasures. It was fun to realise how extremely well we actually do this - but I guess ~15 years of getting to know the world together has shaped our travel style after each other. We know each other better than anyone else, and this is what we do best.

It was such an energy boost, to be with people who know me, that I don't have to explain things to. That I can speak Swedish to, even though my dad found it funny that I use direct English translations ("ha en öl") and my sister mixes with Norwegian words, as she's been living in Norway for a while now. To feel excited and making an effort, wanting to make sure they had a good time, but convinced that I would succeed.

Prayer for the weekend

“And what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversation?”

This weekend was much, much needed and actually my first weekend without a visitor, except from my first crazy weekend...

The plan was to go to Amsterdam and witness the famous pride festival with my dear friend Therese, but as the weekend got closer I got more and more physical indications telling me to stay at home and rest. One of my many weaknesses is that I have a hard time saying no to fun stuff, which means that I have been constantly active ever since I got here. Which has been totally awesome, but the stress is starting to manifest itself in my body and demanding some rest. Hand eczema,  fatigue, loosing focus, bad mood, loss of appetite... So I decided to stay at home and isolate myself for the weekend.

Friday evening I spent some time with my very sweet housemate and had beer, cheese and chocolate for dinner. It was fab.

Saturday I decided to finally go to Delft, which is only a few kilometers away by bike. That town is stupidly beautiful! Very very Dutch, very much canals and brick houses and market and I was strolling around on my own until I ended up with an ice cream and my book on the town square, listening to some not so good bands playing at a pop festival that the city had decided to arrange that day. This country seems to be an ongoing festival indeed. In the evening I closed my windows not to hear what was going on outside and entered into the world described on the pages of my book. Escapism at its best.

Sunday I started with a long run and an avocado sandwich, before trying to take control over my housing situation in Vienna. Actually, when Nikos left this Tuesday, I was determined to dedicate the rest of the week to finding a place, and it seems to be paying off - I think I have a nice place on the hook, fingers crossed... So after some struggling with that and other boring stuff, I headed out for a second long bike ride which took me to oostduinen, an area of overgrown sand dunes just north of Den Haag. Pedaling away and then sitting alone in the sand, again with my book, having an afternoon nap in the sun... This was just the weekend I needed. But honestly, I'm not motivated at all to go back to the office tomorrow - I need a proper summer holiday! Can't wait to go to Greece in less than 2 weeks....