Stockholm with a client

Though we have our colleagues from Scandinavian Image that are specialised in business travel, one of our Italian clients we usually work with for our leisure groups wanted us to organise a sort of incentive tour to Stockholm. As this group wanted to be accompanied by an Italian speaking guide I flew to Stockholm at the end of November. I arrived already a day before the group where I met for the first time my colleagues from our Stockholm office. It has been a long time ago when I had been to Stockholm last time to visit my aunt when she was still living there. So one of my Swedisch colleagues gave me a guided tour through the town. Combined with a city sightseeing super crash course and some extensive reading in the days before I was prepared for the weekend with those 42 Italians.

In order not to show that until 24 hours before I knew as much about Stockholm as they did, I avoided being a permanently photographing tourist and took most pictures during my guided tour through the city and not while they were around...

..starting with the Stadshuset, Stockholm's City Hall, place of the annual Nobel Prize celebrations.



















Dramaten, the dramaturgic theatre


The Grand Hotel












In Saluhallen, Stockholm's delicious food hall in the district of Östermalm with many different food stalls and cafés.




And here the programme:

Friday, 26th of November:

Arrival of the group at Stockholm Arlanda Aiport. Pick up together with a local city guide for a 2 hours panoramic tour by bus around the city including biscuits and coffee on a beautiful lookout over the city by night.
After check-in at the First Hotel Amaranten at around 19:30 apéritif in a private corner before going over to a 4 courses dinner.


Saturday, 27th of November:

After breakfast pick up again by a local guide for a 3 hours guided city sightseeing tour including the entrance into the Royal Palace, the "Kungliga Slott"...




...and and a stroll through the narrow streets of the Old Town "Gamla Stan".






A great 3 courses lunch follows at the Dramaten-Restaurant.



The afternoon was at one's own disposal, thus with free time in which I showed them the prestegious shopping malls or the Christmas markets (which - as compared to the German ones - are just rediculous).

After meeting again in the hotel lobby at 8 p.m. we drove to the Absolut Ice Bar where we made the unique experience of drinking a cocktail out of glasses made of pure ice. Freezing cold in there... and indeed, access is only granted after putting on some special coats and gloves.
Highlight of the evening though was a 5 courses gala dinner at the City Hall.





Sunday, 29th of November:

Still a bit drunk from the evening before not every one made use of the free time offered the next morning. Of course, I had to get up: I took about a dozen of people back to the city centre and brought them whereever they wanted to go, mainly to the main shopping district.

After a mediterranean lunch buffet the tour was nearly over. Last point on the programme was the drive back to the aiport where I assisted them with the check-in before taking also my flight back to Oslo.

This has been a really basic and technical description of that trip, remaining very superficial. But if I'd written the whole story of all that happened I would still be writing in 3 days. I only say "Italians... Oooooooooh my God!"
And some of you already heard the detailed version of this chaotic weekend with even more chaotic Italians. So they know and understand perfectly well what I mean when I say and write "Italians... Oooooooooh my God!"

Goodbye Marie

Next to leave our office after Céline Marie and Mélia (they left while I was on the trip with a group in August so I haven't been there for their farewell party) is Marie, another German student that had the chance to learn from and spend some great time with Elisa in the individuals department. A good reason to have a glass of wine/beer and some ice-cream.

(Stéphanie, Kelly - a new Dutch trainee - and Marie)


(Elisa, then Wiebke, Sara and Maria from Scandinavian Image, Egil from the outgoing department and Trude from Authentic Scandinavia)


(Elisa, Egil, Maria and Sara)

Germany - holidays at home

My first real holidays, i.e. trip I haven't done for work, was the week in Bologna with Marco at the beginning of October. Now, beginning of November, I finally flew home to Germany. My first time back home since I've started here at Terra Nova (well, let's not count this adventurous trip at Easter)!

Though I stayed much longer than just that 1 day at Easter, time passed so quickly and I had planned so many things to do while being home. The highlight was definitely to see our huge beneficial dancing show. The jazz-dance group I used to dance in for many years annually organises a great beneficial show in November. Different from all those other years when I've been abroad I managed to be home this year and it was a great pleasure to be able to attend this event. I still trained with that group until my departure in March, thus knowing most of the choreographies it was hard to keep sitting still on the chair. It was a great success and so nice to celebrate on the after-show-party with my (former) fellow dancers and friends.

But also my holidays at home come to an end and it's time for me to take my flight back to Oslo.