View from the hotel restaurant during our breakfast. Sunlight on a distant east-facing mountain but nowhere near us yet; icicles dripping nevertheless.

The Giant Lamp of Malmö.

Our team flew to Malmö yesterday to join our developers in the Malmö office for a julbord. We had some time off in the afternoon and since we had been sitting most of the day (first in a taxi, then on a plane, then in another taxi, and finally in meetings) some of us went walking. Among other sights we saw this giant lamp in the middle of Lilla torg.

A totally tourist-y picture of bananas on a banana plant. I think it is awesome that they just grow there, in huge bunches.

It seemed like bananas were growing everywhere on Madeira. It’s like a combination of apple trees and strawberries: if you grow anything in your suburban Swedish garden, you probably have an apple tree and/or a strawberry patch. Madeirans seem to grow bananas.

From one extreme to the other.

First, Pico do Arieiro, Madeira’s 2nd highest peak. The peak was completely enveloped by a cloud, and therefore so were we. Wet, and no view whatsoever. But the drive there and back was beautiful.

Then, Madeira’s only sand beach, with sand imported from Morocco. Swimming, splashing, and sand castles.

Ingrid was disappointed by the lack of waves. The beach (like all the others at Madeira I believe) was enclosed by breakwaters because otherwise the waves would probably be too hazardous, so we could see them out there but almost nothing reached us.

We rented a car and went for a drive around the island. Incredible views that my photography really cannot do justice. Near-vertical cliffs with waterfalls, winding roads, picturesque white houses perched in improbable spots, lush subtropical forest, vast seaside views, etc etc.

Mountains, greenery and water is an unbeatable combination. And then maybe a touch of fog or dramatic clouds for added atmosphere. All the most beautiful places I can remember combine these. (Past favourites include Cornwall and Scotland.)

We walked around in Funchal a bit and heard incredible amounts of grumbling about having to walk. I don’t think I’ve ever come home from a new city with as few photos as I have from this visit to Funchal.

We went whale- and dolphin-watching along the south coast of Madeira.
If either of the kids has any memories of this boat trip, it’ll be about feeling seasick all the way. Quite luckily they both managed to fall asleep rather than throw up.

We took the cable car up to Monte and walked around in the lush, beautiful, well-designed, scenic tropical garden.

On our way to Madeira.

A few highlights from our two weeks in Estonia.

Not surprisingly, Ingrid most enjoyed outings and activities of all kinds, and playing with her friend Katariina.

Adrian has no friends of his age in Estonia. He was not too interested in those who were of Ingrid’s age, either. Instead he adored Katariinas big brother Artur who is about 10 years older than him. They built legos together.