Lisa's Happy Hour

2008 Update

2008-01-15T07:14:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone, sorry it has been some time since I have updated my blog.

I have been quite busy finishing some commission paintings and organizing for our big move back to Canada. Yes, my husband and I will be moving back to Canada in early February and unfortunately, I will not be updating my blog until I move back home. I will continue my blog when I move to Canada and at that time it will be "Lisa's Ottawa Happy Hour."

We have enjoyed our 3.5 years in Copenhagen and beautiful apartment by the Oresund Bay. We also met some very nice friends during our stay. Thanks so much to all my readers who have stopped by my "Danish Happy Hour Blog" to see what I have been up to in Copenhagen. All my best wishes to you all.

And now it's time to say good bye. I am really looking forward to moving back to my beautiful native Canada.

Our New home in Canada

Rainbow before the Storm

2007-11-08T07:30:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone, the other day I was busy varnishing some paintings in my kitchen when all of a sudden the sky became very dark over the water and out popped a beautiful rainbow over the water.

Then it began to come down in buckets and hail. It was really something to see. I have never seen a rainbow before the rain storm???

Wishing you all a nice day

Featured Artist on Imagekind.com Homepage

2007-11-05T15:46:00.001-05:00

I am so happy and proud to announce that I have been selected to be on Imagekind's homepage as one of the Featured Artists of the week!

Please visit: http://www.imagekind.com/ and you will see my name and a pic of my Colours of Nyhavn painting.

When you click on my painting image, your are brought to my print gallery at Imagekind.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to look. Wishing you all a great week.

Email from Imagekind:

"Lisa,
Congratulations! You have been selected as a Featured Artist of the Week at Imagekind!

We have selected an image from your gallery to be placed on the homepage of Imagekind.com, along with a short artist’s bio, which links to your Imagekind profile. This will stay in place for at least a week and sometimes, dependent on its popularity, may continue in place for another week. This cycle usually takes place on each Wednesday. You don’t need to do anything, you’re already on the homepage! However, this is a great time to update your galleries with any new work and to ensure that all your relevant details are in place.

It is our privilege to showcase your work as being outstanding amidst a field of so many other great artists and photographers. Our success is entirely about you, our creative community. Please tell your colleagues, friends and family about the #1 place on the web to discover and purchase original art.

Have a great day and we wish you continued success!

Cheers,

Travis Young
Director – Artist Relations
Imagekind
One Community for Creating, Buying, and Selling Art
3134 Elliott Ave, Suite 220 ~ Seattle, WA 98121
fax 206.299.3416 ~ www.imagekind.com"

Fine Art America

2007-10-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, I am now part of Fine Art America, a social network and e-commerce marketplace for fine artists, art galleries, and fine art collectors.
You can view my artist profile here:

You can also purchase prints of my work thru this site:

Wishing you all a great upcoming weekend

Which Flower are You?

2007-10-24T07:13:00.001-04:00

I love flowers and found this site that tells you what kind of flower you are based on your answers to a few questions.

I am a daffodial: You have a sunny disposition and are normally one of the first to show up for the party. You don't need too much attention from the host once you get there as you are more than capable of making yourself seen and heard.

I am a
Daffodil

What Flower
Are You?

Find out what flower you are.

Back from Wonderful Canada!

2007-10-15T07:57:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, We are finally back home in Copenhagen after a beautiful, busy trip to Canada. I am slowly getting back to my daily routine but unfortunately caught a bad cold coming over.

We had a wonderful vacation and the weather was just gorgeous--a real Indian summer with all the trees changing colour.

The big event of our trip was my sister’s wedding, which was just amazing and she looked so beautiful and radiant. My new brother-in-law Martin was also dashing! I am so happy for them both!

We did so much, and I have not had chance to sit down and write a good post, so in the meantime I leave you with this little post and a few pics. I will write more soon.

It was so great to see all my family and friends.

A few pictures from the wedding

My beautiful Sister and I in the bridal suite getting ready.

My handsome brother Peter before the ceremony in the ChapelI was my sister's maid of honour The new Mr. and Mrs. The Radiant, Beautiful Couple
Mary, Lisa, Mom and Dad

Lisa & Andreas - the Master of Ceremonies in his red bow tie!

I also celebrated my big 40th birthday with my close friends and family! Thanks so much to all of you for coming and sharing in my big day and your wonderful gifts. I also had my first Thanksgiving Dinner in Canada in 12 years with yummy turkey and all the trimmings. It was such a wonderful Trip!

A few pics from my Birthday Party

Wine - always a good gift for Lisa

I hope you all have been doing well and enjoying the beautiful Fall! In the meantime, I wish you all a great week!

My Latest Painting - Tuscany Delights

2007-08-28T11:59:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, Woohoo, I am very happy and having a big glass of vino right now listening to my fav guy "Mr. Dean Martin". I am toasting my new painting! It's just off the easel and I am very happy with my first still life. So here is a picture of the latest painting:

"Tuscany Delights", 60 x 80 cm

My Colourful Art Cards - Some Proofs

2007-08-23T09:14:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, I just received my cards from my shop at Greeting Card Universe. The shipping was very fast and the cards were very well packed with matching envelopes in a nice box.

I was really delighted with the quality of the cards and the print! The cards are big 5 x 7 and the paper is nice and thick and woohoo the colours are just gorgeous. So I thought I would share some picture with of you my cards. I think I will be own best customer...lol

Tuborg Harbour Sailboat Show

2007-08-23T09:02:00.000-04:00

The other night Andreas and I walked down to see the sailboat at the newly vamped up Tuborg Harbour by my home. I tell ya, there were some magnificent boats to see.

All I could hear in my head was that song: "If I had a million dollars...."

Here are some pics from the show:

The new Yacht Club - Just finished a few a month ago

And some other pics

Andreas and I as Cartoon Characters

2007-08-22T07:29:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, have you ever wondered what you would look like as a character on The Simpsons? Well, I found this hilarious site: http://simpsonizeme.com/ and had a blast this morning making Andreas and I as Simpson characters. I think they turned out pretty good based on our photos.

So D’oh…here we are as cartoon characters:

and on the Itchy and Scratchy Show...lol

My Paintings in Tara & HJ's New Beautiful Home

2007-08-08T03:36:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, I was very pleased to recieve some great photos of giclees of my paintings hanging in the lovely Mrs. Tara's (my best customer) new home. She purchased them from Imagekind and hung the 4 florals in a row in her kitchen/dining room area and I think they look wonderful with her beautiful table and hanging light. It was a real treat to see my art work hanging in her home. Thanks so much Tara! And congrats to you and HJ on your new smashing home! I can't wait to come for a visit.

Pics of the giclee prints in ther Dining Room:

And the lovely Tara with the paintings

Our Beautiful Weather

2007-07-30T08:38:00.000-04:00

Here is an idea of the beautiful weather we have been having for the last month in Copenhagen! With some hail too. Its pouring cats and dog as I write this post. Have a great day! and Enjoy your Summer..LOL

My Colourful Art Cards On Sale

2007-07-29T16:05:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone,
I am pleased to announce that my floral paintings have been accepted and are now available on cards at Greeting Card Universe. The cards and printing are of excellent quality and very competitive prices of $2.49. If you are interested in purchasing any of my colourful art cards, please visit my gallery at

http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/LisaLorenz

Please note my colourful travel series will also soon be available on cards at Greeting Card Universe.

Many thanks and wishing you a wonderful Sunday

Best wishes
Lisa

Zinnia Fiesta - Need some Sun Here

2007-07-29T08:14:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, Still having some lousy, rainy weather here still in CPH.
So I needed some colours and sun and just finished my latest painting. Its all about Mexico and its beautiful pottery and zinnia flowers

Zinnia Fiesta, 40 x 50 cm in acrylics

What Would You Do?

2007-07-26T10:09:00.000-04:00

It's 2:30 pm and I head off on my bike for a ride and do some grocery shopping before it starts to pour rain. I go to Super Best (the biggest grocery store near my home – if you can call it big).

Head over to the bread section and pick up some hamburger buns. Now on to the meat section--What? No mince meat left? There’s some mince lamb? But no beef! Oh well, I guess they ran out on a Thursday afternoon at 2:30 pm? So then I think, okay chicken breasts. Guess what? No chicken breasts left. So I think turkey—yep, you guessed it,--No turkey left! All I could see were some wings, legs, and a whole chicken.
I guess, I could head off to Super Brugson (another big one not too far away which usually has more meat). But the sky is getting black and it’s going to come down in buckets and I am on my bike so I head home very frustrated.

So I get home and unpack my 120$ worth of groceries (which fits in my Knapsack – to give you and idea of the outrageous prices).
I pop an aspirin because I have a headache (I always get headaches when I go grocery shopping here) and I call Andy and ask him to stop by at Aldis (a ½ super market that carries some products but not everything) to see if he can get some chicken or beef. He will most likely have no luck because he works later then most people and everything will be sold out by the time he gets there. So I will head out tomorrow, this time to super brugson on my quest to get my beef and chicken.

Weird, strange, unbelievable you are probably thinking???.
Yep, it sure is! But this is not new to me! I have had this happen to me time and time again: One day I was making a spinach cannelloni for a girl’s dinner night and I had to go to 7 stores on my bike to find ricotta cheese. When I want to make a pizza, there is no more pepperoni, sauce or even pizza dough left. My favourite 6% cheese is always sold out!

And the golden rule here is if you see something special, buy it now, as it will be gone and they might not have it again for a long time or ever!.

I could go on and on, but I am just too tired!
Grocery shopping here Totally Stresses me Out & Makes me Agro!

Have a Great Day! I am going to pour myself a nice drink now...lol
and take the good with the bad!

Dezine Design - I am one of their featured painters!

2007-07-25T06:43:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone, I am really delighted to announce that I was selected as one of the featured painters at Dezine Design, a wonderful Design Site with great animal designs and also helping out very creative artists without any computer/internet access.

I was referred to as:"Lisa Lorenz - the Queen of Color - need I say more? (...wonderful flowers & stylized cityscapes...)"

To see the Raw Talent Section please click this Link: Dezine Design's Raw Talent page which showcases a selection of artistic people around the world who (in our unashamedly personal opinion!) are doing exceptional work in their respective creative fields. The purpose of Raw Talent is to inspire...nothing more, nothing less...but if you love the work of these artists, as we do, why not buy some of their clever creations? They are selective about whom they choose to partner with, and only select Partners whom we believe are doing something truly original, and whose work will compliment that of our other Partners who are already published on this site. So, if your work stands out above the rest, please email us your web link and we'll take a look, and hopefully add your link to our site! We maintain the sole right to select Partners at our own discretion. To visit their website click this Banner:

New "Colourful Travels" Calendar Available

2007-07-25T02:05:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, I am pleased to announce that I have just completed a "Colourful Travels 2008" calendar available in all sizes from small, medium to large – starting at $17.95. I also won the "Todays Best Award" for my product!

Keep your months up to date with this beautiful calendar with my colourful travel paintings.

The link to see the inside pages of the calendar and to purchase:

http://www.zazzle.com/LisaLorenzPaintings*/product/158788875743362606

Colourful Travels 2008 CalendarbyLisaLorenzPaintings

Lubeck Getaway

2007-07-23T05:14:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, I am back in Copenhagen and I had a really nice little trip to Lubeck, Germany.

It was a relaxing break from painting and the daily routine. We really enjoyed this little picturesque city near the East Baltic Sea. We stayed at the SAS Radisson along the canal and had a wonderful view from our hotel room.

Despite the weather being pretty lousy, we had a great time. We took a boat tour, explored pretty much every inch of this charming city and ate some wonderful food and did a bit of shopping. The marzipan store was wonderful to visit and Andreas loves it, so he bought quite a bit of this sweet German Treat.

A few pictures from our little getaway:

The St. Marien Church
Andreas outside the Marzipan Store. Everything is made out of this sweet German Treat

View of the Untertrave from the Hanshafen Canal

The Beautiful Holstentor

Our Good-Bye Dinner

Pansy Parade Painting

2007-07-10T04:45:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, the weather has been quite dull and grey here and in many areas of Europe, and I needed a colour boost so I thought I would share with you my latest painting.

" Pansy Parade"

Happy Birthday Cutie!

2007-07-05T02:11:00.000-04:00

Today is my wonderful Husband's Birthday!

Poor guy, he has to work late tonight so we will not be going out. But for a late dinner I will make him one of his favourite meals: Pork Tenderloin in a mushroom sauce over egg noodles and of course some Bubbly!

Canada Day Celebration in Copenhagen

2007-07-05T02:04:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, has been awhile since my last entry. Not much has been going on lately and we have been having some pretty lousy weather. Oh well, hoping to get some nice weather soon. I have been quite busy working on many new paintings, revamped my webpage, and made some new products at my Zazzle shop.

We had a wonderful Canada Day celebration last Sunday in Copenhagen. The picnic was held at Leslie and Dave's private home. They were wonderful hosts. There was lots of yummy foods made by Canadian expats that reminded me so much of home along with a wonderful grill of hamburgers and sausages and of course Canadian Beer. We had a super time and it was the nicest day that we have had since my last post on June 20th...lol.
Here are few pics from the Day!

A Lovely Evening - Finally Some Sun

2007-06-20T04:13:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, well the sun finally came out yesterday evening - just in time for Happy Hour like it often does...LOL. The weather has changed so drastically from a week ago so it was nice to see the sun out and some warmer weather. Andreas came home early and I marinated some nice shrimps and made some shrimp brochettes for the bbq along with some fried rice and aspargus. I love aspargus. The nice evening weather also brought out many sailboats. What a beautiful site. Nothing like having a bbq and looking at sailboats....ah la dolce vita!

I also had my regular little guy "Pretty Boy" come by to see us. You know he brings me worms now. Can you believe it?? He still drops by sometimes up to 5 times a day to see me and sings away. Andreas says he has taken me as his girlfriend. It is just so cute!

"Pretty Boy looking in at us"

Here he is with the worms...LOL! I can't believe it!

Wishing you all a great week!

Hellerup Sky

2007-06-03T08:49:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, this was the sky last night..Something spectacular to see. The nights are staying bright long now. This shot was taken at about 10 pm. Can you belive it?

New Funky Floral Calendars

2007-06-01T09:27:00.000-04:00

I am pleased to Annouce that my Vibrant Funky Floral Painting Motifs are Now on Calendars in several sizes at Zazzle.com

Small - 7 x 11 inches - With Cropped Floral Images
Click this Link to see the pages and layout

Single Page Calendar - 11 x 17 inches with Full Floral Image
Click this Link to see the pages and layout

Medium Two Page 11 x 17 inches with Full Floral Image
Click this Link to see the pages and layout

And Large Two Page Format - 14 x 22 inches with Full Floral Image
Click this Link to see the pages and layout

Funky Florals 2008 Calendar 7 x 11 inche
by
LisaLorenzPaintings

Get this custom calendar at Zazzle

http://rdr.zazzle.com/img/imt-prd/pd-158556962833088147/isz-m/tl-Funky+Floral+2008+Calendar.jpg

http://rdr.zazzle.com/img/imt-prd/pd-158021063703686425/isz-m/tl-Funky+Florals+2008+Single+Page+Calendar+11+x+17+in.jpg

http://rdr.zazzle.com/img/imt-prd/pd-158107173131440363/isz-m/tl-Funky+Florals+Two+Page+Calendar+11+x+17+inches.jpg

http://rdr.zazzle.com/img/imt-prd/pd-158751050915085269/isz-m/tl-Funky+Florals+Large+Two+Page+Calendar+14+x+22+inch.jpg

Beautiful Budapest

2007-05-27T15:08:00.000-04:00

Andreas and I recently escaped to Budapest (May 24-26th). We stayed at the beautiful 5 star Royal Corinthia Hotel and Spa. The hotel was goregeous and we also enjoyed a sap day. Budapest is well know for its water, spas and bath houses.

Budapest has so much history and beautiful architecture. It is easy to fall in love with this beautiful city. I just loved the Széchenyi Chain Bridge that crosses the beautiful river Danube and divides the city into sections. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with the unification on 17 November 1873, of right-bank (west) Buda and Óbuda (Old Buda) together with Pest on the left (east) bank.

My fav section was Buda and the beautiful castle. Our hotel was located in Pest and it is also beautiful and contains famous buildings such as the Hungarian Parliment and Heroe's square.

We also went to the Casino one night in Pest - and I won about $250.00 cdn playing black jack. It was a wonderful trip.

The Bridge I loved - reminds me of Paris.

View of the Bridge from the Tour Bus

Hungarian Parliment in Pest

New Gift Ideas at Zazzle

2007-05-23T15:15:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, I have been very busy creating many new “affordable” gift ideas at my zazzle shop. I have cropped the paintings and made macro images of the florals on many items. New items include: Funky floral magnets, key chains, stylish bags, and mugs with my funky floral designs. I think they make great little gift ideas.

Take a look at my gallery at : http://www.zazzle.com/LisaLorenzPaintings

Thanks so much for your support and taking the time to visit my little shop!

Wishing you a very great week ahead
Lisa

make custom gifts at Zazzle

My Updated Gallery - Prints for Sale

2007-05-16T04:16:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, I am quite happy to say that my "print" sales of my art work have been increasing at Imagekind and Sistino.com

Please do visit my gallery at Imagekind to see new prints now available. Thanks so much and have a great day

A Little Update from CPH

2007-05-15T09:49:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, it has been quite some time from my last post and I have not been writing on my blog that much as I am just not feeling so happy these past months here in Copenhagen, DK. I am really longing to go back to my own Country. Also my best mates, Sue and Tom have recently left us and have moved back to Vancouver! Lucky ducks! We were very sad to see them go. Sue and I still chat daily on msn and I give them a call sometimes, but it is hard not having them in the country with us. I will really miss our dinners and get togethers! Also the 9 hour time difference between us is quite difficult. Oh well, one day we will be home soon again.

Anyways enough of my complaining, here is a bit of my news: I was recently away on a little trip to Iceland. My husband was there for some business and I went to join him for a long weekend. It was an interesting trip and the country was much more different than I imagined. I thought there would be many cute little harbours like Peggy's Cove or like the ones in Gaspe and NewFoundland. The harbour in Reykjavik had little to be desired and I was not impressed with it at all. I thought it was quite ugly. The city was small and quaint. However, for a small city they sure did have some beautiful shops and some good restaurants. We ate some wonderful scampi’s at a very nice “cozy” restaurant one night.

For spring the weather was quite cold and extremely windy. After visiting the entire city, we decided to rent a car and tour around some of the island. There are so many tours one can do by car, or by bus, etc, but it is quite vast and many of the tours take like 10 hours or more. So we did the golden circle tour which took us about 7 hours. It was long and driving around some of the country side was a strange experience as there are hardly any trees in Iceland as it is basically a volcano. It is very barren and there are volcanic rocks all over. It really felt like I was visiting another planet...lol. On our tour we saw some geysers and beautiful waterfalls. One of my highlights of the trip was to swim in the Blue Lagoon - the Thermal Baths. We stopped at the lagoon on our way to the airport. Most of the tourists do this on their way home as it 20 mins away from the airport. The water is so warm and a magnificent blue in color. I tell you , we felt so refreshed after our swim.

It is also a very expensive in Iceland as everything costs a small fortune. A coffee and beer was almost 24$ Cdn. A very plain hamburger at a pub was almost $30.00. Overall, I am glad I went but I don’t think I would go back. These country, vast wilderness tours are really not to my liking. I rather go to Monte Carlo or Italy - Porto Fino. And also coming from Canada, we are quite spoiled with a beautiful, large, wilderness country with much cheaper prices.

A few pics from Iceland

Driving on the Highway - the volcanic rocks

One of the Geysers - Andreas and I at the Falls
The Blue Lagoon Water I have many more pics, but I was not in the mood to post them all.
I might most them on my msn spaces.

A Trip to Berlin
Then my in-laws were here for a visit and we took them to Berlin to celebrate their 50th Wedding anniversary. They had a great time. It was my first time to Berlin and it was very interesting. We stayed at the Westin Grand in the old East part. The grandious hotel for the Soviets. It was very nice and decorated in old Vienna decor. The staff were also very friendly. It felt so strange to have nice service. It has been a long time that we were treated so nicely as the service here in Copenhagen is often really poor!

Overall Berlin was worth a visit but in my opinion it is never as grandious and nice as Paris and London. I could imagine before it was bombed in world war II it must have been impressive. But one can see that Berlin is really changing and they are constantly rebuilding, and modeling the city since the collapse of the wall in 1989. There is also lots of great shopping in the city and I was told a great night life. We did not have a chance to do any clubbing on this trip. I really loved the big department store KaDeWe...which is similar to Harrods in London. They have a super food courts and restaurants on the top floor. So that is my news. My in laws have left and I am back to my studio working on my next project. You can see what I am up to by visiting my studio blog. Wishing you all a great week!

A few Pics from Berlin

Having Fun at Check Point Charlie These fun Bears were all over the City and painted in different colors
with various Motifs. I really liked them!

The Beautiful Portraits in My Bedroom

2007-04-24T06:18:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, I just finished hanging up the new portraits in our bedroom. I think they look so awesome that I had to share this pic with you all. They have a new home and we just ADORE THEM! We look like movie stars! LOL…I cant thank you enough Kim!

Astonishing Portrait Paintings!

2007-04-24T03:16:00.000-04:00

What a great day!!!! After all the terrible problems with the Crazy Danish Post Office. Mr. Postman finally delivered Kim's gorgeous portrait paintings of us! And we are completely ecstatic! They are just out of this world! To see them in real life is something else. The size is huge and fits so well with the series. Andreas and I were so excited opening the packages! It was absolutely priceless to see the look on his face when we opened his package first!

The Big Packages

Andreas Opening his Package First

Her work is just astonishing. She is on very talented artist! They are truly remarkable portraits! This series is just so Hot! With just minimum color and strokes - it is just amazing how much she captured us! They are just so dazzling to look at! She also prepared some awesome certificates of authenticity! So professional Kim! Letter and Certificates of AuthencitiyMy apartment doesn’t have any big walls big enough so that I can hang them together – except for the bedroom. So I am going today to remove my tulips over the bed and set up the hooks and spacing to hang my new babies! I will post a pic of that as soon as I get that done! I am so thrilled, I can’t stop looking at the paintings. I can’t wait to show them off to my family and friends. I will cherish these forever and it is so great to have original Kim Barker’s in my home! It was so great to work and swap with you Kim!

A very Happy Lisa and Beautiful Portrait

Andreas and His Masterpiece!

The Stunning Portraits side by Side

A London Spring Visit

2007-04-04T04:07:00.000-04:00

I just got back from a wonderful little trip to London to visit my sister Mary and her fiancé Martin. I had a super time and they are wonderful hosts. I arrived Wednesday late afternoon and Mary greeted me at Gatwick airport and we took the train back to her apartment. Gatwick airport is so much better then Heathrow and the train ride was very quick and so much cheaper then a long cab ride.

We were so busy so here are a few highlights of our trip: When we arrived at the apartment we popped open a lovely bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne and sat on her balcony toasting and chatting. Afterwards we set out on the River Thames for a walk and I stopped and admired the London Tower Bridge, which I love so much. I have so many photos of this beautiful bridge. I just can’t get enough of it. It is truly remarkable. We then ended up at All Bar One for a little apero. Martin met up with us and then took us out for delicious Italian dinner at the Don (a cozy restaurant near their place). It was a great evening!

The Wharf - Shad Thames Areas where Mary lives

Me and My Favourite Bridge The sisters hit the waterfront

Thursday and Friday it poured rain and we decided to venture out to Notting Hill to walk around the Portobello Market. We had a great lunch at a cute little café. I even went to the little Travel Book Shop (the one from the Notting Hill Movie). It is a real little adorable store with so many beautiful books. I really enjoyed my tour around Portobello road browsing the antique shops and markets, along with the quaint, colourful houses aligning the street. I bought a shawl and an antique flask for Andreas.

Mary at Portobello Road Market - Notting Hill

The Travel Book Shop in Notting Hill

Afterwards, we walked up to Kensington and Knightsbridge areas which I love and got in a black cab and told the cabbie to drive us to Kensington Palace. So as we got in the cab, the cabbie asked us again, “Did I hear you ladies correctly? Kensington Palace?” Or do you mean Kensington Palace Hotel?” I said, no the palace, where Diana lived. He said I know Diana lived there…LOL. Then he said “Well I can bring you ladies close to the palace - the park but you are not allowed inside the palace grounds!” “It is not a palace for visitors”. We informed him there was a tour going on to visit the royal apartments and Diana’s beautiful photos by Mario Testino and her dresses. He was not aware of the tour and did not seem to believe us.

Nevertheless, he drove us right down the private road to the palace laughing his head off and stopped at the main gate. Of course the guards came up to the taxi waving their hands saying to us “No entrance!” They looked stunned to see a black cabbie pull up at the castle and two ladies getting out with their Woolworth shopping Bags…LOL! Anyways there was a tour but not in that part of the palace so we just kept laughing. It was so funny to see Mary and me getting out the cab at the front gates of the palace. The guards seemed to be even laughing too and they were very nice and guided us in the right direction. We paid our cabbie who was still laughing and we headed back from where we came then thru the park towards the wing of the older part of the palace that had the Diana exhibition. I really enjoyed the exhibition and beautiful photos of Diana. It was very interesting to see her dresses which are now about 20 years old. Then the tour continued with the Royal Ceremonial Dress collection from the 18th century. It was just amazing to see the clothes and fine details. The people in that period must have been so small. The shoes and clothes were so tiny – even for the men. I tell you, I would not even be able to fit in the men's costumes...lol. Then there was a viewing of the Royal apartments where Princess Margaret lived and the room where Queen Victoria was born and later reined in that palace before moving to Buckingham palace. The palace was also home to William III and Mary II, Queen Anne, George I and George II. I really enjoyed my day and still chuckle to myself about our cab ride up to the palace gate and think of what that cabbie must have been thinking.

Mary at the Kensington Palace Entrance

Me at the Palace Gardens - So beautiful

Afterwards we headed back to Mary’s and then met up with my friend Veronique from Paris and her cousin who were also in London visiting her friend Valerie who just moved to there. We had a great evening chatting and laughing at the various pubs we pub-crawled.

The Girls at the Pub

On Saturday we walked along the Thames river admiring all the views and then to Hays market and stopped for a nice lunch at a French Bistro. It was a lovely afternoon despite the strong winds.

Mary and Martin

The Tower of London

Saturday night Mary and Martin made a fabulous mixed grill bbq with all the trimmings of wonderful salads. Mary and Martin are wonderful hosts and Mary is an amazing cook. They invited their closest friends over for dinner and it was great to finally meet them. What a great bunch. Their friends are so interesting in character and very friendly.

Her Freinds brought some nice wines and a beautiful cake for dessert that had Mary and I in fits of laughter when we opened the box. It was a beautiful chocolate, mocha cake with a big Fleur de Lys imprint on the top. So, you can imagine they did not understand our laughter, till we told them it is our Quebecois emblem - which when we see it, we think of the fanatical separatists in good ol' Quebec. It was just funny to see it on a cake in London.

Well, starting with the cake, we had so many laughs, then the party hats came out and we played some Texas Holdem. I did very well and lasted to the end, but I still could not beat Martin. However, he told me that I am becoming a much better player and he was impressed.

Mary & her Great Friends

That Wonderful - Funny CakeLisa & Mary - look at all my poker chips..

It was such a great night! I really enjoyed myself and it was so nice to meet their friends. They will really miss them when they leave. Well the night ended quite late, so Sunday was a day of relaxing. We ended up chillin and realxing and ordered pizza - which I love from Captain Tony's!

On Monday I left and Mary took me for a super lunch on the Thames and the weather was so nice out. Of course the day I leave is the nicest day of all. So we sat outside and had a terrific lunch at Pont de la Tour. My favourite restaurant in London.

So I am back home now and getting ready for Easter. My time just flew by in London. I can’t believe it. I had a super weekend full of laughs and special moments. Thanks Mary and Martin for a super little vacation. I will miss you both when you leave London. It has been so great to have you close by over on my side of the ocean.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2007-03-17T06:45:00.001-04:00

Fun Gifts at My Art Shop

2007-03-11T03:51:00.000-04:00

Since I opened some Art Shops at Zazzle and Cafe Press, I have been quite curious to see the merchandise with my paintings motifs on the items; so two weeks ago I made some coasters on my Café Press Art Shop and placed an order. I took close up crops of my funky floral paintings and had them printed on ceramic coasters. I also ordered a value t-shirt with my Nyhavn motif as a little surprise gift for Andreas. I thought since, I am paying all these shipping prices, an extra t-shirt would not break the bank…LOL.

Anyways what a surprised yesterday when the door bell range and the post woman gave me my parcel. The delivery came in a nice small box and the items were wrapped very well with lots of bubble paper. Andreas naturally, a very curious chap, ran out and was also very eager to see the merchandise. It was like Christmas morning..LOL. So when I opened the box the bag was on top and I knew it was the t-shirt. So I told him…here you go”I ordered you a little surprise too!” and handed him the bag. His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, it was so cute! He pulled out the t-shirt and said “Ah wow, Nyhavn for me…this looks super!” I was quite impressed with the way they printed the motif on the t-shirt. It was actually a print right in the fabric and not one of the rubbery print motifs. The colors were a bit dark for the rooftops of the buildings and the water. So I had a look at the pic I submitted and realized it is a bit dark. So I think if you want to submit art work for printing on material, I will lighten up the pictures and exaggerate some of the dark colors in Photoshop. It would be much better like that.

So now I open my coasters and I was very impressed. The floral prints were really full bleed on the coaster top and well printed and sprayed with some shiny varnish or something on top. The only thing that was off, is that some of the dark flowers (violet purple and dark hot pink) did not print as well as the lighter color florals. We could not see the variations in hues. But hey, they are not bad at all, and for the price you really can’t complain. And as Andreas said, I am the artist and I know the original work and I am far too picky…LOL. He thought they were just great! So, I must say we were both quite impressed and it was so fun to see my art work on the items. I am also very pleased with the coaster quality too: Heavy weight ceramic with some little felt cushions underneath not to scratch the surface. The t-shirt quality for 8.95$ was good too. But next time we will order some better quality cotton – made in the USA.

Now, Andreas wants to order a Sydney t-shirt and another Nyhavn shirt for his mom but this time from Zazzle…So I will keep you posted on the results!

So here are some pics of the coasters and t-shirt. I know some of you were thinking of ordering some items so you will be curious to see the results.

Texas Holdem Junkie

2007-03-11T03:01:00.000-04:00

While I was in Canada over Christmas holidays I played quite cards quite a bit and I just love playing Texas Holdem Poker now. My brother Peter and my dad showed me the ropes and now I am quite hooked. I played on pogo games, played with my brother and some friends at a real poker night. Then we got back home, I played some nights with Andreas after dinner. Then he was pretty much hooked and he bought a nice case with all the chips, cards and table cover.

So when Mary and her fiancé Martin were down recently visiting on a little trip we also played. I had wanted to play with Martin and it was really great to finally play with him. Martin is one of the best poker players I have ever seen. We just could not beat him! One night he even played with half the amount of chips and still kicked our butts…LOL. Sue and Tom even came over and played. It was a great night of pizzas and poker. It was the first time for Sue playing and she did really well. They both also liked the game and enjoyed the many laughs we had that night with Mary and Martin.

Mary had on my fun Brian Johnson (ACDC) leather cap and some shades...She looked so cute! So last Sunday, I was really in the mood to play and I invited Sue and Tom over for a Quebec style BBQ chicken dinner– with our delicious St. Hubert Sauce. We even made some poutine. Tom and Sue had poutine for the first time and loved the poutine, chicken and sauce! I think they would really enjoy living in Quebec with the fun, crazy Quebecers and all its yummy, comfort food.

So after dinner we played some Texas Holdem and I got out some cowboy hats and glasses for Sue and me. We had a good laugh and the game got started. First, Sue started off on a big role winning most of the hands. I was eliminated first and then Tom caught up and pretty much then eliminated Sue, then Andreas and was our big poker winner that night.

Pics from the Sunday Night Poker with Sue & Tom

My New Art Shop at Zazzle

2007-03-03T08:24:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,
I have just opened a new Art Shop at Zazzle.com. It is quite similar to CaféPresse but they have many different items. I particularly like the beach bags, coffee mugs, mouse pads, etc. I am also selling a few prints.
Please have a view of my shop at: http://www.zazzle.com/LisaLorenzPaintings

My colorful, lively paintings motifs are available on a variety of items to enjoy! Thanks for visiting. If you think of a particular painting you wish to see on a certain product that I may not have in my shop, please let me know and I can have one made.

Many thanks for taking the time to view my shop and for your past support.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Happy Birthday Mama

2007-02-22T02:39:00.000-05:00

Wishing my Wonderful Mother a Very Happy Birthday!

Some Flowers for You on this Special Day!

What Car are You?

2007-02-20T08:03:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone, This is a fun little test and it reveals what type of car you are.

I'm a Porsche 911!

You have a classic style, but you're up-to-date with the latest technology. You're ambitious, competitive, and you love to win. Performance, precision, and prestige - you're one of the elite,and you know it.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Happy Valentines Day

2007-02-14T04:53:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all a Very Happy Valentine's Day

Full of Love, Romance and Snuggles

Smashing Portrait of Andreas

2007-02-11T15:27:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone, well what a wonderful surprise we got this Sunday from Kim in Australia. She finished Andreas' portrait in blue in her "Energy Series" and it is just so FANASTIC. We are so pleased. Andreas is just beside himself with delight! We can't thank you enough Kim! Wowee! we are some very happy campers tonight!

Here we are side by side! Just Amazing Work - so Original and Stylish!

My New CafePress Art Store

2007-02-09T11:14:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to announce that I have opened a new Art Store at CafePress.

Looking for Paintings to Brighten your Home, Office or for creative, colorful gift ideas.

My colorful, Lively, Paintings are available on a variety of items at CafePress to enjoy!

Click this Link: Come visit my store on CafePress!

And Thanks for visiting my little Store.

Prints of my Paintings now on Sale

2007-02-06T14:49:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone, Well after very much work, I am very pleased to announce that my art work has been accepted for printing at Imagekind.com and prints of my paintings are now being sold at their company.

The prints are of highest quality and are available in different print sizes, paper quality, with an array of optional stylish frames, and they are also available on gallery wrapped canvases (giclees) in very affordable prices with a money-back guarantee.

Please click this link: to visit my Gallery (LisaLorenz - Colorful Canvases Print Gallery

Please note that as new work is completed, my gallery will be updated.

I really appreciate you taking the time to look at my Gallery
Thanks so much

A Wonderful Surprise

2007-02-01T08:27:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I painted a little “get well painting”, beach colours for my Andreas and my wonderful artist friend Kim from Australia really liked it and wanted to know if she can have a print of it. I decided to paint her an original one and in exchange she said she would also paint me a painting and that said she would do my portrait.

Well this morning, what a surprise to get an email from her that she had already completed my portrait in her smashing style for her acrylic “portrait” series. I am no 9, yellow number 2. She choose yellow for me because she said I am the sunniest gal ever! She is so nice and I am so touched and overwhelmed with delight! I just LOVE it!

If you have a chance please do look at Kim’s wonderful wepage http://www.laketrees1.com/ and blog: http://laketrees.blogspot.com/ .She is an award winning portrait artist who paints in a unique style that I just adore!

I am slow and I am still working on Kim’s little painting. Hopefully I will be finished by the end of the week so I can send her the painting.

SnowBall

2007-01-30T03:45:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone, hope you all had a nice weekend. On Saturday night, Andreas and I attended the LINK (Ladies International Network in Copenhagen’s) Snow Ball and had a nice time. The venue for the Ball was at the Beautiful Hotel Angleterre located in downtown Copenhagen at Kognens Nytorv. The hotel is very nice and decorated in renaissance style. I thought it was just a beautiful place. The reception area and the hall were set up beautifully and the buffet was very good. There was also live band and they played great music and got the people up dancing. Andreas and I danced most of the night and we had a nice time. The highlight of the evening was winning the 2 hour Luxury facial & massage at the Arndal Health Spa in the hotel. My mom says I should get some lotto tickets here because I have been quite lucky winning door prizes at the past events..lol. Have a great week everyone.

A few pics from the evening. I did not take too many.

And My Prize

African Queen

2007-01-24T11:20:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone, I have been quite busy these days and I am happy to say that I finished another flower painting for my Funky Floral series. This time its all about Violets - African Violets.

Thus my title "African Queen", Acrylics, 40 x 50 cm canvas.

First Snow

2007-01-23T07:03:00.000-05:00

It has been awhile since I have posted on my little blog. Things are back to normal since Andreas is home and his eye is healing very nicely. We had some stress when he got back home and we had to deal with the Danish Health System. It's a long and frustrating story and I dont want to get into all the details here. Let's just say it's a good job we had some connections so that Andreas can see an Eye specialist.

Well, I have been very busy painting and researching. I have so many ideas in my head that sometimes I am just too busy..LOL. Well, it was our first snow fall yesterday and early this morning the sun was coming out and the buildings and sky were glistening on the water from the new white snow. I thought it was a beautiful view so I took a pic and thought I would share it with you.

A Get-Well Painting for my Sweetie

2007-01-13T05:29:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone, I just finished a “get well” painting for my sweetie. He loves the beach and bright colours, so I thought this would cheer him up.

Some of you may know but Andreas was away on business and got some nasty liquid soap in his eye and suffered a very bad infection to his cornia and had to be in hospital for a few days while he was there. His eye is doing much better and the doctor said that there should be no permanent scaring, so that is wonderful news. He is supposed to come home this Sunday night if he can get a flight out. I really miss him and look forward to seeing him.

I think he will like this little painting. “Beach Colours” is done in Acrylics and measures 20 x 40 cm – long rectangle. I have framed it in a box frame. I attach two pictures..one in higher resolution and a pic of it framed. Have a wonderful weekend.

Framed in a nice silver box floating frame

Who's That Girl?

2007-01-08T10:59:00.000-05:00

Playing more with some quick portraits and having fun!

So who's this girl?

Experimenting with my Self Portrait

2007-01-07T14:05:00.000-05:00

Well it is a lousy day here today and my hubby is on a biz trip.
I was feeling creative this afternoon and I decided to do some experimenting on self portraits, as I have never done one before. Phew...ket me tell you it sure was a big challenge. Geez, I have never even painted a face before. I really admire those portrait painters. Anyways I had some fun - an that's what counts!

P.S. I think I will stick to my usual work...LOL. Anyways, here are my results:

So here are my attempts. By no means, was I going for a realism painting..LOL. Just my usual little style:

1st in water-soluable pencil colour:

Then done over in a fine acyrlic wash:

Colours of Venice

2007-01-06T06:38:00.000-05:00

I have been really busy painting since I got home and I am happy to announce that I finished my Venice painting, 50 x 60 cm done in acrylics. I absolutely loved Venice; it is a beautiful place with so much to see and its beautiful buildings and colours inspired me to do this painting. Andreas really likes this one and will bring it to his office to join the Colours of PortoFino. Have a great weekend everyone!

Colours of Venice

Happy New Year!

2007-01-02T06:54:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all a Very Happy New Years

And all the best for 2007!

We had a wonderful view on New Years Eve of the fantastic fireworks in Hellerup over the Oresund Bay!

The Danes sure can bring in the new year with a bang!

"It's Poinsettia Season"

2006-12-01T06:55:00.000-05:00

Finished my Poinsettia painting this morning, which will be part of my Funky Floral Series. Just in time for Christmas, as I will be leaving for Canada this Tuesday to celebrate Christmas with my Family!

"It's Poinsettia Season", 40 x 50cm done in Acrylics

Wishing you all A Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Lucky Winner

2006-11-29T03:39:00.000-05:00

At the Amcham Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday night, there were several drawings and I was the lucky winner of this Elizabeth Arden Makeup ensemble prize. When I first one, I thought it was shower gel and body cream, and don't get me wong, I was really happy to win! So when I opened the package last night I was really quite surprised to find some beautiful makeup in colours that I like. Oh and the turkey was absolutely delicious!

The Kit

Kitty Babushkas

2006-11-25T04:05:00.000-05:00

My friend Sue went to Russia and brought me back these adorable stacking Kitty Babushka Dolls. They are all hand painted and signed by the Artist. I have never seen these dolls done as cats before, and it was the perfect choice for me being such a cat lover.

I think they are the cutest things and I know many of my readers love cats too, so I thought I would share this picture with you.

Well, we have a busy weekend planned: Today we are going to the American Chamber of Commerce Thanksgiving dinner Buffet at the Marriott hotel and afterwards we are meeting friends at pub for a birthday celebration. I am really looking forwarding to eating some yummy turkey with all the trimmings.

Wishing you all a great weekend everyone!

New Painting Studio Blog

2006-11-25T03:57:00.000-05:00

Well for over a year now I have been keeping a personal blog about my daily life in Copenhagen, recipes, and our travel adventures; and I have really enjoyed keeping such a journal. It has been nice to look back upon and share such moments with my close friends and family.

I recently noticed that there are so many artists keeping painting blogs now about their ideas, sketches, daily paintings, and other studio news that I thought I would also start another blog this time dealing with only my painting activities in my Studio here in Copenhagen.

So if you enjoy and are curious about my new ideas, painting progress and other art related news, please do drop my Studio Blog to see what I have been up to.

The Perfect Warm Winter Meal

2006-11-21T06:35:00.000-05:00

In Canada and in Copenhagen our winters begin early with short days and long cold winter evenings. As the bbqs are put away, I find I tend to cook more during this time of the year, and I’m always looking for different things to make for dinner. One of my favourite things to make during the winter time is Boeuf Bourguignon. It is so easy to make and so delicious. It does take time to stew, and the longer the better.

Well, it has been almost a year since I made this recipe so I made it the other night. This time I added some fresh fried mushrooms at the end to the broth and then thickened. It was delicious! I really do like making this meal as it is hassle free.

My Boeuf Bourguignon

Isn't this Adorable?

2006-11-20T10:07:00.000-05:00

I saw this cute little Christmas decoration the other day and had to buy it. It is a little Danish “Nisse” candle holder. A Nisse is a mythical creature of Scandinavian folklore, believed to take care of a farmer's home and barn and protect it from misfortune, in particular at night, when the housefolk were asleep. In the 1840’s the modern nisse became the bearer of Christmas presents in Denmark, and was then called "julenisse".

Dinner in less that 30 minutes

2006-11-16T03:12:00.000-05:00

Last night I prepared a similar recipe I saw on the Rachel Ray show. She has all these great recipes you can whip up in 30 minutes or less and many of them are Italian based which I love!

I made whole wheat penne tossed in a chicken and mushroom, cream wine sauce. It was absolutely delicious and took me less than 30 minutes to make. I had some leftovers for Andreas and he was also impressed with the meal.

If you want the recipe please send me a note and I will send it to you.
Have a great Thursday everyone!

Penne with Chicken & Mushroom, Cream Sauce

Part of the 50x50 Project

2006-11-12T05:24:00.000-05:00

Some time ago on the internet, I came across this artist, Mark Cotton, who's putting together an installation of artwork from different artists world-wide. In his project, all the paintings have been resized to 50x50 pixels and displayed in a collage. I submitted one of my paintings and he emailed me yesterday that it was accepted and added to his collection. Here's the link http://www.markcotton.com/50by50.html

My Sunflower painting is located on the top row, third thumbnail from the left. You can also click on the thumbnail and a new window will open displaying my painting in full, the title, my name and a link to my website. I am pretty excited to be part of this project and it is also some good advertising for my work.

My Latest Painting

2006-11-10T06:55:00.000-05:00

I finally finished my Gerber daisy painting. I was so busy this fall with traveling and visiting I did not have too much time for painting.
This is the latest piece added to my Funky Floral Collection.

Pretty in Pink, 40 x 50 Acrylic

Beautiful, Breathtaking Venice

2006-10-31T07:46:00.001-05:00

Well, it has been a week since we are back from our beautiful 3 1/2 day trip to Venice and I finally had a chance to sit down and gather my photos and thoughts from our stay in this truly amazing city.

I have lived in Europe a long time and we finally decided to visit Venice this Fall. It was the perfect opportunity to celebrate our recent 10 year wedding anniversary and also have a chance to travel with Mary and her new fiancé Martin who are now living in London.

In the past, I have always wanted to visit Venice and before we left Switzerland for Korea in July 2001, we decided to do one more travel destination to Italy and at that time it was between Rome and Venice. We chose Rome as it was summer time and we had heard about the hot busy months of wall to wall people in Venice. I am happy now with my decision and that we chose the fall to visit. I have only one regret, I wish I would have gone to Venice perhaps every fall while I was living in Basel. Nevertheless, we went, saw and enjoyed every beautiful aspect this city has to offer.

We arrived on the Wednesday night at about 8 pm and I had arranged a water taxi for us at the airport with the kind lady that rented us the apartment. She said we would have to take the shuttle to the darsena (docks) and that our taxi boat would be waiting for us. We thought this was quite exciting and little did we know that shuttle meant a walk way to the docks. So here we are, Andreas and I looking for an actual shuttle bus to take us to the docks. We saw a pathway that read “to the darsena for water taxi – 8 minute walk”. So we decided to forget about the shuttle and just take the walk.

As we are walking along this pathway semi-covered in fiber glass, we asked one of the airport men we met along the path if this was the right way to the docks and we did not see the shuttle bus around. He told us “Si Si” – to the boats – darsena…Si, Si shuttle. So the pathway was actually the shuttle…LOL. So we continued on our journey and had a good laugh.

We finally got to the dock and there many taxi boats waiting in line. I did not see anyone holding out a name card for us, so I began yelling our name “Lorenz – Taxi Boat”. The young chic Italian taxi driver, who actually looked more like an Armani jet-setter, yelled out to us “Si Si – Lorenzi” and waved to us.

The boat was really nice and was made of beautiful wood and had an eclosed section. The waves were rocking the boat and I had visions of us falling into the water while boarding. The Taxi driver jumped in his boat so easily and then motioned to Andreas to pass him our luggage. Andreas was all excited and kept saying “this is so cool”. He got in the boat first and then it was my turn. Geez, the step from the dock was quite away and I had my purse over my arm and my knapsack on my back and was in some cowboy boot and was quite nervous to loose my balance and land in the water. The taxi driver “said Madame Lorenzi – no problemo” and held out his hand and just like that I was on the boat very easily.

Andreas boarding the Taxi Boat

Andreas and I entered the covered area of the boat as it was drizzling and inside there were post seats and curtains. The boat sped along crashing the waves and it was really an interesting feeling to be taking a boat from an airport. At this point we did not see anything but as we got closer the city and the rain stopped we were going thru some canals and we went out to the back of the boat and stood up leaning against the roof admiring all the sites. It was dark but we could clearly see this was going to be one hell of a visit. Imagine this beautiful city in the day light, I said. We were so excited and our smiles let up the back of the boat.

We arrived at the “San Marco Vallaresso” water stop and got off the boat. For some reason I thought it was easier to get off the boat then got on. We met Mr. Amedeo who brought us to the apartment located right behind the Piazza San Marco; we could not ask for a better location. We arrived at the apartment building and there was a little elevator for one person so Mr. Amedeo put our bags in and sent them up to the 4th floor. So after our 4 large flights of stairs, we finally got up to the apartment and it was very clean and modern with a nice cute kitchen with a little table and chairs and a very nice living room. The kitchen was even supplied with all the coffee, tea, milk, cream sugar you needed and there was a basket on the table filled with Italian biscuits and croissants. There was also 4 little bottles of prosecco in the fridge with some water and coke. I was very impressed. There were 2 bedrooms, one upstairs and one downstairs along with 2 bathrooms; a bigger one downstairs and one upstairs. It was clear that one bedroom and bathroom was nicer than the other. Naturally I wanted to stay in the bedroom downstairs and so did Andreas. Andreas suggested we offer to pay more for the bigger bedroom, so we would wait and see what Mary and Martin would decide.

About 1 1/2 hours later, it was our turn to go meet Mary and Martin at the same dock. Their flight was about 1 hour after ours; so Andreas and I headed out towards the Piazza San Marco and were just blown away by the size of the square and the majestic buildings all around the busy square. Tables and chairs were set up, orchestra music was playing and there were artists lining the square with their easels and paintings to sell. I was in paradise!

Just around the square, we saw Harry’s Bar which I had read about during my research of Venice a few days before, so we decided to go in and have a drink while we waited for Mary and Martin. Harry’s Bar is a historical bar which was opened by Giuseppe Cipriani in 1931 in a small warehouse near San Marco that soon became one of the most famous restaurants in the world. Many artists and writers such as Hemingway and politicians and monarchs have appreciated Cipriani’s cooking, all of whom then contributed to the bar’s legend. Arrigo Cipriani, the inventor of the Bellini (a cocktail made from white wine and peach juice) made Harry’s famous across the ocean too, and reached New York.

Well, the Bar/restaurant bistro was packed and decorated very quaintly in wood and yellow. It was like 9:30 pm and people were just ordering dinner. It was a crowded little place with posh Italians and the Maitre’D got us a little round table and we sat there soaking in the atmosphere over two glasses of Prosecco “Italian Champagne”.

Then we got our call from Mary and I went outside the bar to answer and there she was standing right in front of Harry’s Bar laughing. I said “how did you know we were here?” She told me she saw the bar when they got off the boat and saw the name Harry’s Bar across the canal she said to martin, “Lisa is in there”….lol. She was right. Well we did not stay at the bar as we did not think it was all that great and it was too croweded for us all to sit. So we brought Mary and Martin back to the apartment with their bags and they entered and were impressed as we were. They too, saw clearly that one room was going to be better. We decided not to deal with who would get the better room right away and instead headed straight out to the Piazza San Marco to sit in the square and have a bite to eat and something to drink.

We went to a typical Venetian Café, The “Quadri” and there was an orchestra playing music outside in the piazza. We ordered a bottle of Prosecco and it was presented to us in sheer elegance along with some little snacks and olives. It was quite impressive. Salute to the “La Dolce Vita” and we all toasted to our arrival in Beautiful Venice.

Lisa & Andreas at the Romantic "Quadri Cafe" in Piazza San Marco Mary & Martin
Italian Style

Let the Tour Begin

A little History of Venice:
The first human settlements on the Venice Lagoon islands date back to the 5th and 6th centuries, when the inhabitants from the mainland came to this semi-swamp area to escape the barbaric invasions that followed the fall of the Roman Empire. The populations coming from mainland Venice settled in the lagoon, fighting as hard as they could to survive: little by little this group of pieces of land surrounded by water took on the semblance of a real town, a town that was so unique and special that it would become the only one of its kind in the world.

In 1797, Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Venice, and sacked the whole area, just as he did in the rest of the country. A short while later the Emperor handed over the city to Austria, a ruler that was never accepted by the Venetians: in 1848, the Austrians were run out of the city by a group led by Daniele Manin, and the second Republic of Venice was proclaimed. This new republic did not last for long, however, as Venice was annexed to the new Kingdom of Italy in 1866.

The old city center is divided into six areas known as “Sestieri”: the divisions are Castello, Cannaregio, San Marco, Santa Croce, Dorsoduro, and San Polo. Some islands are also part of the city: Giudecca and San Giorgio, that can be seen from the islands of Murano, Burano, Torcello and the Lido, home to Venice’s beaches and where it is possible to go by car, taking the ferry from the Tronchetto.

The best way to get around Venice is by foot and by boat. There are many water buses and motorboats to take you quickly to any place in Venice. The vaporetto lines 1 and 82 travel along the Grand Canal from Piazzale Roma to the Lido, allowing passengers to view the wonderful buildings that stand alongside the Canal until it reaches the San Marco Basilica, where it is possible to catch a glimpse of the wonderful, majestic Piazza San Marco.

By foot, however is in my opinion, the most efficient and charming way of getting to know the city. So we started our 1st day off by foot.

Our First Day
We all got up a little late and headed straight to a little Trattoria to have a pizza for lunch. After the pizza we went out to Piazza San Marco to properly see and visit the surrounding monuments of the square.

When one arrives in the square you can’t help but feeling overwhelmed with joy. The huge San Marco Cathedral sits at one end of the square with the San Marco Bell Tower to its left and on the right the Palazzo Ducale. Opposite the Palace is the Old Wharf and at the far end of the square are the “Procuratie” and the Napoleonic Wing which is now the home of the Correr Museum, where our apartment was located.

The Piazza San Marco is the biggest space in Venice which contrasts with the maze like streets in this city. This is one of the busiest places in town. In the square you will find orchestra cafes, many shops, people from around the world and so many pigeons. People actually feed the pigeons and they land right on your shoulders and heads. I did not like those birds to much and was constantly avoiding them and kicking them out of my way. “The rats with wings” as Andreas calls them. I don’t think Mary and Martin were too fond of them either.

Piazza San Marco

Lisa, Mary & Martin with all the pigeons Sisters in the Piazza

Sometimes during the fall months of October and November the tide rises and the water overflows the banks of the canals, flooding the city and the square is also flooded. The city builds little elevated walkways from planks of wood thru the square to the Basilica. I saw the walkways and there was a little water in the square but I was happy it did not flood when we were visiting.

The Basilica of San Marco is a wonderful, majestic church which was built in 829 when two Venetian Merchants stole the remains of Saint Mark in Alexandria. It contains the remains of Saint Mark, the city’s patron saint and was consecrated in 1024. It has been renovated and decorated several time over the centuries and the Basilica is most certainly the most spectacular church in the city. Its main façade is unique. It has five arched doorways, a long terrace that is home to four bronze horses that came from the booty from the 4th crusade of the infidels. Its bas-relief work is in Byzantine style. The interior is just as sumptuous as the outside. The marble floor has a striking geometric pattern and there are splendid mosaics on the walls that tell stories from the New Testament.

Lisa & Andreas infront of the Basilica

Gorgeous Facade with San Marco's horses

San Marco Bell Tower - The Torre dell’Orologio – my favourite building in Venice was built in the 9th century. It was originally used as a lookout tower and as a lighthouse. It was rebuilt in 1100 and it was then completed in the 16th century. It was rebuilt in a Renaissance style while maintaining the original structure. In 1902, the bell tower fell down but fortunately there were no tragic consequences. Venice decided to rebuild it “as it was and where it was” and 10 years later the new bell tower, an exact copy of the original, was ready: the tower is square and built in brick. The clock is a work of Giampaolo and Giancarlo Ranieri (14th century). The clock marks the 24 hours (not 12), the season, the moon phases and the zodiac. The tower is topped by a terrace where there is a large bell and two bronze statues known as the “Mori”. The clock is underneath the statues. The clock face is gold and blue enamel. On the top there is a golden angel about 2 meters high. At the foot of the bell tower there were popular wine sellers who moved around to stay under the bell tower’s shade depending on the time of day. This ancient custom is where the term that the Venetians use for a glass of wine comes from: Ombra (shade in Italian).

The Beautiful Bell Tower

The Procuratie and the Napoleonic wing
There are now several shops under the porticoes, the famous Café Florian and Café Quadri, where we had some drinks the first night and there are also some luxurious Venetian jewelers. The third side of the square, the one that face the Basilica, is taken up by the Napoleonic Wing. This is a building in Neo-classical style, built on the wishes of Napoleon in 1807 and is now the home of the Correr Museum (our apartment was right behind the Correr Museum).

Orchestra Playing at the Cafe Quadri

Opposite is the Palazzo Ducale – the Doge’s Palace
This exceptional building was the center of Venice’s political, social and economic life right from the beginning. Palazzo Ducale was the private residence of the Doge, but it was also the home of the Government’s and the Courts’ main offices. There is some proof that the original building dates back to the first half of the 9th century, a building that was then changed through several renovations that were carried out over the centuries. In1340, the building took on a truly grandiose size when the Gothic style wing was built that faces the San Marco bay, where the Greater Council meeting were held. The rooms inside the palace are full of frescoes depicting the history of the Republic by Masters such as Tiepolo, Tiziano, Veronese, Bassano and Palma il Giovane, all kept in valuable golden wooden frames.

Palazzo Ducale and Tower

After our visit in the beautiful square, the sun was coming out and we decided it was the right time to take our gondola ride. Gondolas are one of Venice’s most famous symbols worldwide. This typical Venetian boat is extremely ancient and is the result of a series of extremely complex craft techniques. A gondola is 11 meters long and weighs 600 kilograms. In spite of its considerable weight it is quite ease to maneuver by just one person using a single oar.

Beautiful Gondolas

We headed to the back of the Basiclia where all the gondolas were lined up along the Canal San Marco and arranged a private gondola ride. It was quite a funny site to see us getting on the gondola. Geez, I thought getting on the boat was hard, my gosh try getting on those gondolas. I got in first and then Mary, then Martin and Andreas. We were not sitting properly and our gondolier was a little stressed. He re-arranged us to find his balance and off we went. It is amazing to see these gondoliers handle these boats. Our gondolier was also quite a character and even sang to us “O sole Mio”. Also, every time he saw another gondola pass he would tell the gondolier, one of his colleagues, he had a heavy load…lol. Oh did we laugh.

Sisters enjoying the gondola with our gonolier "Edmondo"

The bridge of sighs one of the most popular tourist sights in Venice. The bridge connects the Palazzo Ducale, where prisoners were tried, to the prisons known as the Piombi. The bridge was built on the orders of the Doge Mario Grimani and was made in stone from Istria. It was decorated on the outside with Baroque patterns. The beauty of the structure has given the bridge a romantic connotation in complete contrast to its actual use. The sighs that the bridge inspired were definitely not sighs from people in love, but from the prisoners who had just been sentenced to years in jail in the terrible “piombi”.

Under the Bridge of Sighs

A few picture snaps along the way of our Gondola tour.

Beautiful Moments and views on the serene canalsThe boys enjoying the ride

I was also truly in love with those striped red and blue poles along the canals. I asked our gondolier what they were called and he told me “No name” just poles to tie the boats and differentiate the docks. “Why you wanna know?” he asked me. I told him I love them. He laughed and looked at me weird…lol, I don’t think anyone ever told him that about the poles.

My Poles

Well, it was a wonderful experience and the four of us were thrilled to bits with our gondola ride. I strongly recommend if you visit Venice to take a gondolier ride. It is pricey but worth the experience.

After we got off the Gondola we walked along the narrow streets crossing many bridges and canals towards the San Polo area to visit the beautiful Ponte Rialto. We got a glimpse of the bridge on our gondola tour and I was very anxious to see this bridge closer up as I painted it in some time ago while I was in Korea.

Mary in the narrow alleys full of shops

Crossing many Canals and Bridges

When we arrived at the Rialto bridge it was almost dusk and the lights were coming and it was a beautiful site. The Rialto Bridge was originally the only permanent connection between the two banks of the Grand Canal. It is said that in 1172, a bridge made from barges was designed, which was then replaced with a bridge with wooden columns a few years later. This bridge was destroyed in 1310. In 1444, a new wooden bridge was built that was much bigger than the previous one and which even had shops on it. The final stone version of the Rialto Bridge, as we know it today, was built in the period 1588-1591 by Antonio da Ponte - now we know where the word Ponte or Pont originates..lol. Building the bridge was difficult due to the instability of the site and its height (8 meters).

The Beautiful Ponte di Railto

Since horses were forbidden in Venice (1392), the access, the activity and even relationships take place all on the water. In Venice there are no big avenues nor streets. You’ll only find small streets and squares here. This is what makes this city so special. There are other cities with canals in the world, but there’s no other where all communication is exclusively made through its water canals. The Grand Canal is about 3,800 meters long. And the width is between 50 and 70 meters with a depth of 5 to 10 meters.

Inside the bridge there are the Ponte di Rialto shops. This is one of the most popular places in the city of Venice. Thousands of tourists come here every day, and shops don’t miss this opportunity to sell them souvenirs. Probably the most typical souvenir from Venice is a mask. Venice has one of the most famous carnivals in the world, and one of the most typical things in the Venice Carnival is the mask. Later we’ll take a closer a look at the Masks and shops.

After our visit we decided to cross the bridge and visit the Canal Grande and eat dinner on that side. This bank of the Grand Canal, at the foot of the Rialto Bridge, is a very touristy place, full of crowded little restaurants. It used to be the docks where wine was delivered to the city.

View of the Canal Grande

Although a very touristy place, we did have a good meal at somewhat reasonable prices. I can't remember where we ate but it was right along the water. We ate outside and it was very romantic. We had some good laughs with Andreas. He was in full spirit and making his Andreas jokes throughout the entire meal. Anyways half way thru our meal some police and ambulance boats were zooming by and what followed were big waves which raised the water above the canal bank and came rushing in all over Mary’s feet. All we could hear was her screaming. Everyone in the restaurant got up and poor mary was all wet. Never a dull moment when we are around…lol. Well, all kidding aside, poor Mary’s feet and the cuff of her jeans were drenched along with her Gucci purse. Good job it was quite mild and she did not get too cold.

Dinner on the Canal Grande

Well after dinner, we were all so tired from our busy day we walked home via all the little alleys back to our apartment. Once we were back home, we all got a spruce of energy and all dediced to go to the Casino of Venice, which is located in a beautiful old Palace located right on the Grande Canal. We took a pricey water taxi there and pulled up right outside on the docks. We all felt like millionaires when we arrived. Until Andreas and Martin had to rent jackets to enter the Casino. It was so funny to see them in these rented old jackets. Andreas’ was old and all in polyester and Martin's was even older as it looked faded and the pockets were torn. When I slapped him on the back one time, some dust came out from the material…lol. Mary and I could not stop laughing.

Although the Casino is small it is very interesting and worth a visit. Martin and Mary were winners that night!

Day 2 - A visit to the Island of Murano – Venetian Glass Making

The next day we all were hungry and decided to head out to the San Polo area again and eat a pizza for lunch by the Ponte di Rialto at a place we saw that looked liked they had great pizzas. Well the pizza was better then the day before, but still not a Montreal "Miss Italia pizza"..lol.

After lunch we found out that we had to head to the Fondamente Nove in Castello to take the boat to Murano. It was a good chance for us to walk thru another part of the city. Along our way thru the Castello area we saw two beautiful churches: The Cathedral of San Pietro di Castello and the very beautiful St. Mary of Miracles. I think this was my second favourite church after the grandiose San Marco. It is located right behind a little canal and bridge and built all in marble which shimmers in the sun and moonlight.

The inside of the Church was just as beautiful with its walls all covered in the finest marble and gold with fabulous paintings on all the walls and wonderful carvings.

Church of St. Mary of Miracles

Then we got to the docks to take the boat to Murano. It was a short trip and we saw lots of many interesting sites along the way as the beautiful San Michelle Island Cemetery which was quite spectacular. After about 15 minutes we arrived on the beautiful little island of Murano. Murano is a tiny island mainly known for its glassblowers and we were just on time to see a demonstration of one of the master making some glass. The origins of the glass in Murano go back to the century preceding the millenary. Some excavations have brought pieces proving there was such activity already happening in the 7th century.

The oven is heated to over 900 degrees and the glass which is shaped in a ball is removed on a long metal tube and then blown into shape by the Glass Maker. The glassmakers spend 20 years as an apprentice before becoming a Master of glass. It was a wonderful experience to watch the Glass Maker in action. He made two pieces for us. A long vase and a little horse. The making of the horse was quite spectacular to see. He was finished in matter of minutes.

Master Glass blower at work

The little Glass horse he created

We then toured the shops of the factory and Andreas bought me a beautiful “one of a kind” Murano glass bowl. It is signed by the artist with a certificate of authentication. It is just beautiful and fits perfectly on my dining room table, along with my decor. A picture of my glass Murano bowl.

I also bought some Murano glass earrings and a matching pendant. I just need to get a nice sliver long chain now for the pendant.

Afterwards we wandered the quaint quay of Murano entering all the little shops admiring all the glass pieces and works. One can really go crazy shopping there, and Andreas and I did and bought another bowl. This one is more funky and perfect for fruit on the kitchen table and quite a bit cheaper. We fell in love with it and had to buy it. Here you can see the shop with Mary, Andreas and I in the back deciding on the bowl..lol.

Mary inside the Glass Shop

My second bowl - oh so colouful.

We found a little coffee shop and sat along the water having some coffees and then some nice Ombra rosso and a few beers for the guys. It was getting late and we did not have time to take the boat to Burano, another island a little further from Murano, so we decided to head home. As we walked home through Castello to San Marco we came across a lovely little place to have dinner – Ristorante Marco Polo on the Castello – S.Lio.

The view from the Cafe of Murano with all the colourful buildings

We remembered our steps and all the little winding streets so we could head back there for dinner. It is quite difficult to remember where you have been as all the little streets and canals look the same, but Mary and Martin remembered the way and we found our little restaurant and had a fabulous dinner.

Mary and Martin at the Marco Polo Ristorante Lisa and Andreas having fun

Day 3 – Our Last Day
It was Saturday now and the city was really busy. It was raining and the tourists were pouring in with all their open umbrellas and poor Martin was constantly getting hit by all the short people and their umbrellas. We had enough and decided to tour another part of the city: Dorsoduro Area. The Dorsoduro is famous for the Zattere walk. It is one of the most romantic and prettiest in Venice. The Fondamenta delle Zaterre begins at San Bailio and continues along side the Giudecca Canal which runs parallel to the Grand Canal and ends at the old Sea Customs House. It is truly a charming and a panoramic place where you can see the whole San Marco Bay and San Giorgio Islands.

You can go by foot or by boat. We still had time left on our 24 hour pass from Murano so we took the boat. As we crossed San Marco we saw the beautiful Santi Givoanni E Paolo Cathedral located on the island of San Giorgio.

View of the Cathedral

It was a prefect day to go to the Zaterre because there were barely any tourists in that area. They were all at Piazza San Marco where we left them.

Andreas on the Zaterre

It was a rainy day and I was tired of carrying my umbrella so I bought a Venezia Gondola hat. The funny thing is I wanted a red one and the man said I had to buy a blue one as blue was for the ladies. I wanted a red one and I kid you not the dude did not want to sell me a red one..lol. He was quite elderly and I did not argue with him so I just kept the blue one.

Anyways as we walked along the Zaterre but we were so happy to be alone there without all the tourists. Along the Zaterre we came across another quaint church the Santa Maria della Visitazione with the ‘Bocca di Leone” – lion mouth which dates back to the 15th century. It was used to insert anonymous letters of denunciation related to public health in the Dorsoduro sestiere : the terrible black plague was the fear of these times. Plague-stricken where then sent in quarantine in the island of Lazaretto Vecchio.

Lisa and her "ladies gondolier" hat at the Bucco di Leone

We then made our way through the alleys and canals of Dorsoduro and found a real Venetian Mask Shop. The artist was inside working on his masks, so we all stopped for a visit and all bought some masks. It was more expensive to buy your mask here then in one of the tourist shops on the Ponte Rialto but at least you knew you were getting a real one and met the artist who made it with his very own hands and not some Chinese worker in China…lol. The artist was a very friendly guy and explained all the different type of masks to us.

Outside the Mask shop and Atelier

Andreas buying his mask with the Artist

Afterwards we ended up at Santa Margherita Campo. A picturesque square surrounded by old fourteenth century palaces and the little church Santa Margherita, which is today a university auditorium. The old bell tower still has Baroque stone decorations.

We found a quaint café and sat for an hour or two and enjoyed some cappuccinos and Italian Brandy. We left Dorsoduro and were now in San Croce Area with many little alleys and more shops. Here, Andreas and I saw a beautiful Murano “tiffany” style lamp in one of the windows and knew we had to buy one.

A picture of my lamp - so beautiful when lit up

So we bought our lamp and then a came across another beautiful church, the Church of Santi Simeone. It was founded in 967 as a basilica with three naves and retains this layout today despite two renovations in the eighteenth century. There was a mass going on and later there was going to be a little opera. It was getting late and we were hungry so we did not stay to watch the opera.

As we approached San Polo and the Ponte di Rialto we all stood admiring the Grand Canal and the beautiful bridge for the last time that night. It is a spectacular site and view to see and cherish.

So we decided for our last dinner in Venice we would go to the same restaurant in Castello were we ate the night before. We all headed home and then went out for a beautiful meal.

The service at the restaurant was a little slow that night and something happened in the kitchen so we had to wait a very long time before we ate. The waitress apologized and offered us some free drinks on the house which we thought was very nice.

We got home later than expected and were all excited from our beautiful trip and stayed up a little late chatting and reminiscing. I tell you, I am happy that I did most of my packing that morning. So we finally got to bed at about 1:30 am with a 5:30 am alarm clock to ring. I was so worried about the Alarm clock, I asked Andreas if he set the time correctly. He kept assuring me yes, and said look “5:30”.

Okay I was happy now, so I got in bed and had so many troubles to fall asleep. I think the decaf Cappuccino I requested was not decaf, and then poor Andreas was not feeling so well and was throwing up in the bathroom most of the night; I think he just ate way too much seafood. Poor guy!

I think we did finally fall asleep and were awoken by a loud fog horn. Andreas jumped out of bed and told me…”Shit the alarm never went off” Shit, Shit, its 6:30 am. I was freaking out and ran to the kitchen, yep 6:30, but that clock was fast, it was 6:20 am. Our taxi was ordered for 6:30 at the dock and we had 20 minutes to run out of the house. We threw our clothes on and packed the remaining stuff. I was only able to splash cold water on my face and barely brush my teeth.

So here we are, Andreas still feeling very sick, me with my hair standing up in a birds nest, no makeup and very tired running down the stairs of the apartment to the docks to catch our taxi. Well, we were 5 minutes late and thank goodness the taxi man was waiting for us in the boat as there was no around at 6:30 am. I don’t know how we would have gotten a taxi to the airport at that time.

So we get on the boat huffing and puffing and he must think we look really weird and bad. So I tell him about the “Orio Matinale” and stuff. He did not speak English very well, but I think he understood. So then he tells me “no aeroporto”…I say what? Why? How will we get there? He tells us there is too much fog and he was right. We could barely see a thing. So he brings us by boat to Piazza Roma and we grab a normal taxi from there. So after all that we go to the airport in good time and checked in and were off home to Copenhagen.

So during our flight I asked Andreas what happened with the new alarm clock, as it is a new one and perhaps it was defective which I did not want to bring in the first place. I never trust those new ones when you have to get up so early. So he tells me quietly, "I set it by accident for pm…." Argh....I stayed very calm because lucky for him he was feeling very ill.

We had a fabulous time in Venice with Mary and Martin and I was sad to go. I could have stayed another 3 days. The four of us do travel so very well together and they were so kind to let Andreas and I have the bigger room with a small discount. We were very touched by their offer so Andreas and I took them out for dinner on the last night.

I have always loved traveling to Italy and it is my favourite destination in Europe and my recent trip to Venice validates my opinion once again. Venice is truly a unique, remarkable city with so much to see and absorb that I think I will have to go back again. Perhaps for my 40th birthday if I am still in Europe.

Hope you enjoyed my tour of Venice! I am so exhausted from putting together the text and pictures here on blogger. You are unable to cut and paste pictures and I had to insert pictures on top and drag them all down to the text individually. This took me more time then actually writing my Venice Journal. I think I have been working on this for about 9 hours.

Anyways have a great week And Happy Halloween Everyone!
I am off to do some very much long overdue painting, but it is almost 4:00 pm and it is getting dark, so I think I will be planning our dinner now.

Ciao and baci!

Back from Beautiful Venice

2006-10-23T09:57:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, we are back from our beautiful trip to Venice. It was just stunning and now my favourite destination. I will have to go back again.

I will write more about our beautiful trip when I have a chance. Have a great day and stay tuned.

Lock, Stock & two Smokin Birthdays!

2006-10-17T08:40:00.000-04:00

Well I am back from my trip to London. It was a crazy week filled with a big 30th birthday bash, site-seeing, dinners and lots of laughs.

You might be all wondering about the title of my blog, but it will all be explained…LOL.

Well the trip started off a little rough for me…lol. I was a wee bit hung over from my birthday dinner. So much for a quiet dinner. Anyways it was worth it because I had a great time. So I am rushing the next morning and I get to the airport a little late, but it was okay because my flight was delayed by an hour. This is usual for SAS. I should have checked on line in the morning so I would have not rushed like a crazy woman. So I am really hungry now and I get a hotdog. I tell the guy, lots of mustard. Gawd, that was a mistake…it was a type of Dijon mustard and my mouth was burning and eyes were watering so much I could barely eat the thing.

So I finally get on my flight and what a mistake that hot dog was. I started feeling very nauseous an hour into the flight. I was sitting near the window, which I hate and had to get up a couple of times to go to the bathroom. I just had to move or I thought I would be sick right there. The creepy guy next to me was not too happy as I got up a couple of times. So I told him in a British accent: “Sir, I’m not feeling too well here…do you mind, or would you rather I be sick right here?” He was stunned and said in his Swedish accent…oh nej, nej, go, go! What a jerk! Anyways I was never so happy to see Heathrow Airport and I hate that airport.

So then I get in my ordered taxi and the talkative Indian driver recognized me from last year. He says “So Madam is this another big event here in London at 6 Gainsford?” I ask him “What do you mean?” So he tells, me that he picked up a young lady this morning for the same address? I think to myself, Tara. Then he continues to say that he remembers me from last year and my husband from Copenhagen. He tells me my husband is a nice man, a rich man! Whatever??? I am thinking to myself..and just please be quiet so I can enjoy my ride and the beautiful views of London. Anyways, I think he said that because last year, I wasn’t sure what to tip and I only gave him two pounds thinking “hey man that is almost 5$ CDN dollars”. Anyways I don’t think he liked my tip and then Andreas compensated, after I told him what I left and gave him 10 pounds..LOL.

So were driving along, and the whole way he keeps talking about money and rich people, and how you have to be rich in London. So I am thinking, don’t worry Sir I will give you a better tip this time.

I was so happy to see the Tower London bridge and finally arrive at Mary’s and I am so happy that I am feeling better now and I get in the door and I am greeted by an excited birthday girl and her best friend Tara and Martin M – a friend of Mary’s and Martin’s also visiting. We all had some good laughs about my long journey over.

So Mary makes me a grill cheese and a tea and we all chat for awhile. The plans are set that a few of her friends are coming over at about 7:30-8:00 pm for a Birthday Apero of Champagne and then we are all going out to the dinner super club. Our reservations are at 9! Oh I am so happy Mary likes to start late. So I figure I have an hour or two to catch up on some sleep. So down the stairs I go, and all of a sudden I trip and roll down those bleeding stairs. My plate and crust go flying. I bang my bum and knee really hard. I am lying there in the stairs moaning and Mary comes running. “Oh my gosh –Lee-Lee!” she says. “Are you okay?” I limp into the spare room and lie on the bed moaning rolling around. I am just hoping that when I wake up from my nap I did not sprain my leg. I take an aspirin for the pain and fall asleep. I really dozed off and it felt great. My knee was sore but I could walk, thank goodness. So I see Mary getting all dolled up for her big 30th party. She looked beautiful. Now her Martin is home and I chat with him a bit, and then head into the shower to get ready. I am going to need a miracle, I think! It's humid out and my hair is going to be misbehaving!

So then her friends all arrive at about 7:45 and Martin pops open some champagne to toast the birthday girl. I present her with the Princess Crown and Fairy wand. She is beaming and all excited. Her friends were very nice and they gave her some nice bottles of champagne and wine and a card very similar to mine with the stripping guy and loud music. Her card had, however, had a young stripper inside…LOL

Martin Pouring the Champagne

The Birthday Girl and Tara visits all the way from Toronto

So our black cabs are ordered and we all head out to the Supper Club – La Floridita. I have never been there, nor actually to a supper club, so when I walked in the place I was truly amazed. It was beautiful with a great atmosphere. Cozy tables all lit up with candles and a wonderful band playing Latino music. It was just perfect. The only thing that really ticked me off was on the way in, the doorman asked Mary to remove the little crown. We all thought it was a joke. I mean really, come on??? I explained it was her 30th birthday and did not understand what the problem was. He explained it was house rules: no head attire allowed in! I mean what the hell is that? I have never heard of anything so crazy. (Lisa and Mary ride in the black cab)

Anyways we thought we would just ignore it, but on our way to the table, we asked the hostess, if she could wear the crown and she said no, and explained they would throw us out if we did. Anyways, that is just crazy and poor Mary was disappointed. I felt bad for her. Nevertheless we proceeded to our table and it was great. We all sat at a big round table with lots of candles. I felt like we were in a Mafia movie.

Martin ordered some bottles of wine and we all go some starters. They were so big and just amazing; I did not know how we would all eat our Chateau Briand. Well thank goodness, the service was slow. They only brought our meals much later. The service for the drinks was so slow…LOL that we were ordering two at a time.

Well, our dinner arrived and it was just amazing. There was so much food we could barely finish our plates. We asked for some doggie bags for that beautiful beef. I sat next to Tara and Mary and we laughed so much about the size of our plates and the amount of beef presented to us.

Mary did put on the little crown for a bit at the end of the night and no one seemed to notice in the restaurant so that was good. So many laughs later and a hefty bill which the boys generously paid, we all headed back to Mary and Martin’s for a little night cap. On the way home in the cab, Tara began to sing in a Bon Jovi tune about beef and how much beef we ate. She ad-libbed the whole thing. You had to be there, it was so hilarious! Mary and I were laughing so much I thought we would pee our pants. So the more we laughed the more she sang, and the lyrics got funnier and funnier. The taxi driver was laughing and looked at Martin and said to him “You have your hands full with these gals, its going to be quite a long night!” Well, when I heard that I thought I would die from hysterics. It was so funny to see his reaction and Martin’s face. He just sat there calmly and chuckled a bit. I think he is used to us Montreal gals by now.

Mary sneeks the crown on

Two drinks at a time...crazyLisa and Tara having a good laugh

So we arrive at Mary and Martin’s and we all stood in the kitchen – a real Canadian thing, laughing and drinking. Then the guys decided to play some poker and we girls sat around singing more songs to entertain the boys who seemed to be oblivious to our craziness. It was just a fantastic evening. We all go to bed late, but that was the plan. Saturday was intended to be a quiet day!

So Saturday, I wake up at about 9 am. I just can’t seem to sleep in anymore. Must be my age…lol. So I stay in bed a bit longer reading some British Tabloids, which I love. I get up and take my shower and head down to see Mary. They are just waking up and feeling not too bad. I am anxious to get out now, so I head off outside and explore their area, which is beautiful. They live right off the Shad Thames along Butler’s Wharf next to the Tower Bridge. That is bridge is just stunning and every time I see it I am taken away!

After roaming around for a bit, I head back to their place and we all order a late lunch of pizza. They order in Captain Tony’s! Oh my gosh, my mouth is watering at the sides just looking at the pizza. It looks so amazing, just like Montreal pizza, which I love and have not had in almost 6 months. Well, the pizza tasted better then it looked. It was delicious. So we all sat around enjoying our pizzas and sharing laughs about the night. That night we took it easy and stayed in and watched some movies. We were all in bed by 10:30 pm that night.

Sunday morning I was up really early and made my self a fine cuppa tea. I just love the Tea in London. I sat out on their deck admiring the view over the bridge. Then Mary was and made us a yummy breakfast and we showered and headed out to do some site seeing.

Mary took me to Covent Garden and I was excited because I had never been there before. We took a black cab there and I just love those London cabs! They are so cool and such an experience to ride in. As we are driving through the city, I admire all the wonderful sites again. This is just a beautiful city. So much to see and do--so much happening on a Sunday. (picture: Mary at Covent Gardens)

In Copenhagen it is quite quiet on Sundays as not much is open. Well, in London, everything seemed to be open. People were everywhere. So we arrive at Covent Gardens and it is just great. All sorts of artisan stands set up selling some really nice things. All the stores were also open and the pubs were packed. So we browsed around the market and then headed off to Leicester Square to grab some lunch. (picture: pubs around the Leicester Square)

It was a beautiful day and we wanted to sit outside. We found a cute little place called Crescent and we thought about our crazy days at Thursdays on Crescent in Montreal, so we decided to sit there. I am not that crazy about English beer, nor is Mary so we ordered some nice white wine. We sat there soaking in the sun, chatting and laughing. It was nice to be with my sister and share such an experience. Tara and her boyfriend HJ (who visited this summer at my house) had been shopping in the area and met us for some lunch. We all sat around laughing and reminiscing about Mary’s birthday party and of course we sang a few songs again. HJ seemed to be having a fun time with us ladies and mentioned that we Montreal girls were the same: we talk non-stop, fast and loud…LOL. So HJ had to leave to meet up with a client for dinner so the 3 gals stayed.

Having some lunch and some laughs with Tara and HJ at Leicester SquareWe talked so much about everything it was great. A few hours later we got a call from an “Industry” friend of Mary’s for dinner. He works in Insurance like Mary and was in from Montreal doing a bit of business. She explained that we were with her visiting and he said “nor worries” and to bring us along! So that was really nice. We did not really have time to go home and change and that was okay, because it was to be a casual dinner. The girls loved my make-up so they asked me to do theirs. So here we are, 3 crazy gals sitting at the outdoor café and I am doing their make-up: all smokey eyed with some nice lipstick. I think all the Londoners thought we were just crazy. Well the gals were excited and thought they looked great so we all headed off giggling down the street to hail yet another cab….LOL. Did I tell you we liked taking cabs? So we get in the cab and we are laughing and singing again. The cabbie is laughing and tells us we look hot! So we are sitting there taking pictures and posing like we were on America’s Next Top Model…LOL.

Canada's Next Top Models....

So now we head back to Mary’s area and meet up with her friend and have dinner at the Chic Cantina Italian Restaurant on Butler’s Wharf. He is already there with his partner and they are all excited when we arrive. I already met Mary’s friend J in Montreal last year and he is a really great guy who loves to laugh. His partner, and Italian man in his mid 50’s is just has fun as him. Well, it was quite a night. J’s family owns a vineyard in Quebec and he really knows his wine. He kept ordering all sorts of nice bottles to go with all the courses of our meal. We had a really great time with those guys and boy did we make them laugh! They are also from Montreal and appreciate animated Montreal women. You have to be from Montreal to know what I am talking about…LOL. Anyways, they were so generous these two Montreal men and invited us for dinner.

Into our dessert now and Tara singing songs. She can really sing and has an awesome voice. She has a real talent and it would be so great if she did sing professionally. J and his partner John were very impressed with her voice and wanted her to sing more. Soon they were singing and we were all signing songs. Our cozy table outside under the heaters overlooking the beautiful Tower Bridge had turned into a karaoke table. At about 11:15 the waiter told us we had to finish up and leave and that the restaurant was closing. J and John were quite shocked. I mean this sort of thing doesn’t happen in Montreal. The restaurant doesn’t throw people out at 11:30 pm. Anyways, we were having so much fun and were a bit disappointed that we had to leave. We all walked down the wharf and tried to find a pub but everything was closed. Well, it was probably best. They had a busy upcoming day and we wanted to see more sights of London. So we all headed home at about midnight. It was a really great Sunday! Not your usual Sunday, let me tell you…LOL! (Lisa At Butlers Wharf - what a view )

Monday we visited the city and stopped and had lunch at a pub – All Bar One. They have wonderful burgers there. It was a nice quiet day. Monday night we stayed home with Martin and had dinner. By 11 pm we were all tired and hit the hay early.

Tuesday morning – Rise and Shine early. Mary and I had our tea and coffee and breakfast watching a bit of tele. They have this show called “To buy or not to buy”, which we loved. I must say they really have really good life style channels in the UK. All sorts of shows about re-styling your house, decorating, etc. So after our show, we got ready and met up with Tara and took Double Decker Big Bus Tour. It had been raining earlier so we were happy that it stopped for us to get on the bus. These bus tours they operate in London are just marvelous. They are just fantastic to see the city. We were on the bus tour for almost 3 hours and I took in all the marvelous sites again. I just adore the Parliament building and Big Ben. I could never get bored looking at that magnificent view. Then just past Buckingham Palace we saw the Queen’s Carriage. Was she inside, we will never know but it was really wonderful to see. We finally decided to get off in Knights Bridge near Harrods for lunch and shopping. I really like the Knightsbridge Area. We found a nice pub called Henry’s and decided to go in for a bite to eat. Little did we know that our afternoon at Henry’s for lunch would be our debut in a future Guy Ritchie movie….LOL (picture: Queens Carriage - quite a site)

For 2:00 pm on a Tuesday afternoon, Henry’s pub was really packed with people. All sorts of people sitting around drinking, eating and chatting and many young good looking businessmen. The food looked yummy and the place felt right, we wanted to stay. It was so busy we had to sit by the bar and wait for a table. So, naturally, we ordered some wine and sparkling water to make some schorlees.

Finally we got our table, and now it’s about 2:45 pm and we are starved. The menu is huge and so much to choose from. Mary decides first: A steak sandwich. I am so indecisive when I see a big menu like that I just did not know what to order. I also find when you are really hungry it is more difficult, because you sort of want to order everything…lol. Well, I finally decide on some pasta filled with goat cheese and spinach. I thought I was indecisive, you should see Tara. Oh, man it was too funny. I think she changed her mine hundred times. At one point, she looks at me and says “Lisa, what should I eat, what do you think?” Too funny, so she decides on a salad or a chicken sandwich. So our waiter comes and Mary orders, then I and we all decide to have an entree of bruschetta, then Tara looks at the waiter and says “I don’t know what to have Sir, What do you eat here?” He is laughing and surprised and says, well I like to eat the pasta here. It’s very good. She shakes her head and says, no pasta…then says….mmmmm what about salad, do you like salad? He says yes. The salad is good here. Then she says no salad. What about chicken? Is the chicken good here? He is really laughing now. I don’t think he has ever witnessed this before. I am laughing too and so is Mary. We tell her to have a sandwich. The waiter says yes, have a good sandwich, but he is honest and tells her he doesn’t find the chicken sandwich very good…lol. So she says, ah no! Really?? What kind of sandwich will I have? Or Maybe I should have the pasta??? So we all convince her to have the steak sandwich like Mary. A few minutes later he comes back and tells us there is no bruschetta left. Oh no, what are we going to order now for our appetizer…lol. Took us enough time to decide on that one. So we all decide on baked camembert served with some small French bread.

He brings us the entrée, we are starving now and all dig in and it’s delicious. It was also nice the service was a bit slow and the waiter asked if we were ready for our main course. I like when they do that. It gives you time to relax and digest before you get the next course. Well, the gals’ sandwiches were amazing and my pasta was really good. I was quite impressed with Henry’s. A little pricey but well worth it. So now it’s about 4 pm and the crowds are rolling in and we are having a blast, so we decide to stay an order some more wine, its almost Happy Hour! (picture: Lisa and Tara at Henry's)

So here we are sitting in this place, laughing and talking, watching the people, when not to far from us we see two older men sitting and having a big discussion in an East Enders accent over some wine. They drink rather quickly and order more wine. Tara is so funny, and says, they look rich man..lol! Big business men…discussing over their wine. I say, too bad they can’t send some over our way…LOL. So Tara not being shy, she stops over at their table on her way to the bathroom and asks them what wine they are drinking..lol. That we had some wine and were not crazy about the year…lol. So the guys are smiling and show us the bottle. Anyways she goes off to the washroom and comes back and next thing I know the younger of the two comes over and asks us if we fancy a glass of wine. Oh that’s so nice, it’s not necessary, we already have a glass we say. He says”not to worry, that glass will be finished soon and you will need another.” Well, I thought that was quite funny so we agree, and he heads back to his meeting.

The waitress arrives now at our table with a bottle of wine not glasses. We look over and say, a bottle? They all smile and say “yes, you ladies look like you can handle it, cheers, have fun loves, and enjoy London!“ Wow, what hospitality. We are impressed. I am older so I am quite impressed that they did not come over to sit with us. Just real gentle men buying us a drink.

Well, about 45 minutes later, another stocky man joined them with a big brief case and their table was very small so they moved on over our way. They introduced themselves and asked us where we were all from. Their names were German – the Barrister, Tony – the Accountant and James the youngest, a new Barrister who just joined the Firm. They asked us what we all did and why we were in London. We explained we were down for Mary’s big 30th birthday. They thought she looked too young to be 30. Tony the accountant noticed her rock and said…”ah my, that’s quite a rock you got there luv!” She smiles and was all proud. He then looks over at me and says with a straight face, “So you’re the kept women of the bunch?” I was a little surprised by him asking me this and I asked him why he thought so. He says “well I am with the young gals, sitting in Henry’s at Knightsbridge, polished, in charge and that’s what a kept women looks like.” It sort of annoyed me, but hell I’ll take it as a compliment. Then Tara tells them she is a singer…LOL. They laugh and say “Really, so what do you sing luv? She tells them she can sing anything and next thing you know she sings a song from the Monkeys….lol. “Hey, Hey it’s the Monkeys, were all just monkeying around!” Well, to see their faces, it was worth a million dollars. They looked shocked. I was laughing so much. So they say what else do you sing and she starts making up some more crazy songs. It was so funny. So as they sat there and spoke to us in very thick accents, I felt like I was in a movie. Not any movie, a Guy Ritchie movie with the crocket barristers and shady accountant. They just looked and sounded so much like some of the characters in his movies.

German, the big barrister boss, had to leave and go sit at another table with a client. He said “I have some business to attend to!” So now there was just James and Tony left. Tara was asking them if German was the big boss…lol. They just smiled and asked us we thought that. Tara explained her theory and it was quite funny. Anyways, I tell you these guys could drink man, and they kept ordering more bottles of wine. We were drinking slowly so we did not take too much from them and we still had that bottle they bought us. So every time they went to fill our glasses, they would say…”you ladies are drinking either too fast or too slow”.

Well as time went on I could see they were getting tipsier and at this point I could barely understand a word they said. Next thing I know I hear the big Tony asking James…”Where’s me 50 quid?” Then James muddles something about his jacket and briefcase and supper. Now German heads back with big smiles and I presume he had a good meeting. He slaps Tony on the back and says..”Mate that was a fine meeting, got meself some good news, wont be too long, get this case all bleeding finished.” And then asks “Well, what you lads up too? So what’s the ladies doing for supper?” I think to myself, supper? Oh no, I am not having supper with these 3.

Meanwhile Mary and Tara are gone to the bathroom and come back up and sit next to each other having a good chat. Hugging each other and bonding. The guys are feeling ignored and I can sense that. I think to myself…ah man, these clowns might just leave and stiff us with their whole bill and all that wine they ordered. My mind is racing and I think, I am calling the waitress over. Let’s tally up the bill and get out of here. The guys tell me, don’t worry about the tally…..James will take care of it. I decide screw, this, I go see the waitress and ask her to bring the bill for the waters, glasses of wine and that I will also pay the bottle they offered us. I just wanted to straighten up our affairs before they took off or something and stuck us with their bill.
So I straighten out our drinks and tell them, its okay I paid our bottle. They tell me…”ah no, you did not have to do that luv?” So I figure, well maybe they are okay after all. So now it’s about 6:30 pm, Tony the accountant leaves and James and German ask us “what’s for suppa”. I tell them we can’t and we are meeting our friends at home at 7:00 pm so we have to leave now. They looked a little disappointed but too bad for them. So I wound up the girls and we head to the street to hail a cab as do the other two.

James says he will share a cab with us. I tell him we don’t live in the same area, best he gets his own cab. Meanwhile, Mary hails a cab and all of sudden German the big Barrister, jumps in our way and into the cab yelling…”This is mine, I am grabbing this cabbie, got to get home to me wife, never realized the time. I got to get home to me supper!” Can you believe this? How rude. Anyways the cabbie tells him the ladies were first and he says no, no…I got to get home for me supper, they can grab another coming. Ah forget about it I the cabbie, and we hail another. So a few minutes later another cab stops and I get in and before mary and Tara could get in the big fatty James jumps in the back seat with me really quickly and says…”where we going?” I tell him, you can’t get in with us, get out of our cab. Our cabbie, tells him to leave and he doesn’t. I said, well okay I will get out and you can have this one. He said no, no, lets just go! So all of sudden I see the waitress run outside yelling to James and our cab: “Sir, Sir, you did not pay your bill sir? Please sir, come back, sir. That is not right sir!” Then he said I was paying. I said no way. The waitress said, no sir the Madam paid. “Come on Sir, you owe me money!” Now Mary opens the door and I tell her grab his big briefcase he will get out this way. She takes it and puts it down on the curb and now he has to get out. Mary and Tara jump in real quick and tell the cabbie to get the hell out of there. Mary says “lock the doors, lock the doors”..lol. The cabbie says no worries, he is going nowhere that loser and speeds off.

Geez, can you believe it? Grown men acting like that. Now I know why German the Barrister was rushing to get the cab. It wasn’t his supper he was late for nor his wife, he just did not want to pay his tally. Well all the way home, I was imitating their accents and we were laughing. It was quite something. I really felt like I was in a Guy Ritchie movie with those jokers!

The Getaway!

So we got home and told Martin our story and he was laughing. He was quite shocked and said it was a good feeling I had to straighten up our bill and not get stiffed by them. Well it takes all kinds to make a world. We all went out for a nice dinner afterwards.

Anyhow, I don’t know if you are still reading my long, never ending London blog by this point..lol, but now its Wednesday, my last day. Mary and I head out to get her hair cut and coloured up around Kings Cross. We decided to take a cab because that is where they had those horrible subway bombings. So we get up to that area and it was not very nice like the rest of beautiful London. Nevertheless, we had fun at her hairdressers and the staff was very friendly. He did an excellent job on Mary’s hair, I almost felt like getting mine done again…lol. No, no, I refrained.

Anyways, now with a new do, and it being around 5:30 we decided to go out for dinner. We were not sure were to go so we decided to go to the Soho District near Piccadilly. Mary thought it would be nice for my last night. Unfortunately, Tara had a dinner with her beau and could not join us and Martin had a really bad cold. So it was just me and Mary. We took the bus from the hairdresser to save on some cab fair and for the experience. There was lots of traffic and well worth to take the bus.

About 1 hour later we arrive at Trafalgar square and made our way to Soho. There were so many people in the area, it was crazy. Tourists and Londoners out to see all the Broadway shoes. It was just insane. We finally found a little Italian restaurant and decided to go in. So we are sitting there and the waiter, an older Italian man with a big accent put his arm around me and says, so Madam did you decide on the wine? All the time staring down at my bosoms. Mary is laughing her head off. I am thinking, oh brother…here we go again. I am the big Madam. Geez, why do I have to always be the big Madam. So I order some nice Barolo and he is almost panting now and saying…”beautiful choice Madame” You have fine taste Madam” . So he brings the wine and we make a little toast to our wonderful trip. We finally decide on our order and we take a bruschetta to start and we both decide on the special of spaghetti and home made meatballs. So he then makes us these big eyes and tells us we made a fine choice. Mary heads to the washroom and he brings the bruschetta over and asks me if “I wanna some fresh pepper?” I say, yes please and he tells me “Madam, you know, a little pepper is always so nice, makes it a so special.” “So here you go a wonderful bruschetta for you and your lovely lady.” I was taken a back by that comment and thought, “a crap he thinks we are gay and of course I am the big Madam.” So I tell him, she is not my lady, she is my sister. He shrugs his shoulders and say, “itsa no problema Madam, she is a lovely lady, no worries.” Yep, he doesn’t believe me. So Mary comes back and I tell her the story and she is laughing like crazy, and then tells me there are lots of gays in the Soho area for dinner. So we laugh and laugh. So now I am a kept, gay Madam! Too crazy. Well our dish came and we both did not like it so much and both make finer Italian cusine.

Overall it was really a fun day and nice to spend the evening with my little sister. We were so tired, we did not even order coffee and headed home. We got in and had a nice cuppa a tea and reminisced about our trip.

It sure was a crazy one! None stop action is all I can say. It was so great to be part of Mary’s 30th birthday and meet her friends and see Tara again! We sure had a great time, and you know 3 can be a crowd sometimes, but Tara Mary and I got along just splendidly!

It was great to spend time with you gals! A real trip to remember! I will forever talk about me 50 quid and getting home to me supper, sing that "I Love my Beef" song, and think of yummy Captain Tony's pizza...lol

Lisa The Madam - The Kept Woman

Well, I hope you all enjoyed my never ending story of our escapdes in London. I am off to do my packing! I am leaving for Venice tomorrow and I can hardly wait. I have never been and really looking forward to a romantic Getaway! I am a very lucky girl traveling so much.

Stayed tuned for more of my Travel Chronicles in Venice!

Small but a Grand Birthday!

2006-10-17T04:02:00.000-04:00

My birthday was a wonderful day and the evening was even more special. As I was leaving for London the next day, I had a small, intimate dinner birthday celebration at my home with Andreas, Sue and Tom.

Sue and Tom arrived at about 6:30 bearing lots of goodies for the apero: a wonderful bottle of champagne and these really cool champagne flutes that illuminate, and a really cool birthday hat for me to wear, which Andreas fell in love with and wore all night...lol.

As it as still bright outside, we decided to still try out the flutes. We were so excited to see how they worked. So Andreas poured the champagne in our funky glasses and they lit up wonderfully in some funky neon colours. All excited like children we choose our colours. As I was the birthday girl, I went first and chose my colour…red! It was really nice and we toasted my birthday.

Then Sue and Tom presented me with some gifts. I was feeling really spoilt now. They got me this really funny card and when I opened it a naked fat man jumped out with this really loud stripping music playing inside. It was so loud, I jumped. It was so hilarious. As I love cooking and entertaining, they also got me a nice cheese cutter and a marinade rubber brush.

My Funny Birthday Card

A Beautiful Night Sky for A Birthday Toast

So its getting darker outside and we were even more excited drinking out of our glow in the dark glasses. Now the colours were so bright and lit up the whole deck. There is only one catch with these glasses...in order for them to remain lit you have to keep them filled. So naturally we kept on pouring and opened a second bottle. So as the sky got darker, the champagne was flowing and our nifty flutes were lit making it a very festive “birthday” apero before dinner.

Now these are some Funky Flutes

Andreas loved the hat

Then it was time for us to make a toast to Sue. Her birthday is October 6th and I would not be seeing her this year, so we presented her with a Birthday card and a bottle of Chateu Neuf du Pape, which she really enjoys . I don’t think she expected it and she was really touched. It was nice to celebrate our birthdays together. So naturally, another bottle of champage was opened and poured into our funky glasses. Oh did we have some laughs!

Birthday Toast to Sue

Andreas and the Birthday Girls

Tom and the Birthday Girls

Then it was off to get the dinner started. I had prepared everything for the Penne Carbonara and now it was just a matter of whipping it all together. I was so excited and tipsy from the champagne I could barely concentrate on dinner. So my lovely husband offered to make the dinner and I was so happy. Tom stayed in the kitchen chatting with Andreas and Sue and I sat down in the living room and relaxed with the hygge and our glasses glowing. My only job was to go into the kitchen from time to time and check in on the dinner prepartions and make a salad. Andreas was doing a great job. Oh, and did I tell you…Andreas was still wearing the “fun” birthday hat while cooking. He is too cute.

Chef Andreas and his Hat...LOL

mmm Good!

2 thumbs up to the Chef from the Birthday Girl!

So we all sat around for dinner and made a toast to our birthdays and then after dinner Sue and Tom presented me with a wonderful brownie cake with sparkles. I had told Sue I love chocolate brownies and I was very touched she made them for me. Her brownies were just to die for. I think I will want them again Sue!

Time to make a Wish My Bithday Cake - Delicious!

So as midnight Struck we toasted Sue again as it was officially her birthday and mine was over. It was a wonderful birthday and even more special to have wonderful friends here in Copenhagen to celebrate with!

So I was off to bed to dream of my special day and look forward to my exciting trip to Brilliant London.

A 39er

2006-10-05T03:08:00.000-04:00

Yep, Today is my 39th birthday and I am 39 times crazier…LOL!

I received some wonderful cards and email greetings from my family and friends. Thanks so much for all the loving people in my life.

My wonderful hubby really spoiled me this year and bought me a ticket to London, a new trendy blazer and a new chic outfit for Mary's 30th birthday bash tomorrow. How sweet is that!

Today I will spend most of my time packing for my trip to London tomorrow and we all know that can take me all day.

I am looking forward to visiting London again and celebrating Mary's 30th birthday tomorrow! Maybe I will meet Mr. Blair again or have a cuppa with the Queen!

Tonight I will have a quiet dinner with Andreas and my friends Sue and Tom as I am leaving early tomorrow.

Wishing you all a great weekend and many laughs! And to them started early, a funny collage of my many crazy personalities...

Officially Hair Crazy

2006-10-03T16:11:00.000-04:00

Okay folks, I have gone completely hair crazy. I was out running errands today and everywhere I went I saw mirrors and just could not stand my new hair colour anymore. Since a couple of days, the colour has changed and it just did not look right. It seemed like I had some fake brunette “barbie” hair on my head.

So anyways, at about 2 pm as I was on my way home when I saw a coiffure shop that seemed relatively quiet. In Copenhagen the ladies love to get their hair done and it is very hard to walk right in without an appointment. Well, it was my lucky day, the girl took me for a cut and they found the time to fix my colour. She said the bottom part of my hair had a slight green tinge to it...Yikes, that is also what I was seeing, but thought it couldn't be. She explained that you must not put a brown colour on top of very light blond without using any reddish tones in the colour and that is what happened in my case with the very light sun-stressed blond parts of my hair. So the girls consulted and came up with a plan for my hair.

Well, almost 3 hours later, I learnt my lesson and will not drastically experiment at home again. If you know hair salon prices in Copenhagen, my mistake cost me a pretty penny!

So here is my new colour – more of a natural chestnut brown with some thin blond highlights to accentuate my curls. I also like how she cut my layers for my curly hair and styled it! Many thanks to the gals at Stuhr hair salon on Købmagergade 7, Copenhagen. Have a great evening everyone!

A Visit to The Opera

2006-10-03T03:15:00.000-04:00

On Saturday afternoon, Andreas and I had a chance to visit the new Copenhagen Opera house, sip champagne and attend a show sponsored by the Princess Alexandra in support of Breast Cancer. (me outside the Opera House)

The new opera house is located on the island of Holmen across from the Royal Palace and was designed by architect Henning Larsen and is just an absolutely a stunning piece of work. The opera house was funded by A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation and donated to the Danish people as a gift.

The interior is beautiful and the light sculptures are stunning. The walls of the auditorium are in maple wood and shaped in a sphere and the ceiling in the main auditorium is decorated with sheets of 24 carat gold leaf. All levels of the marble foyer offer beautiful views of Copenhagen, Amalienborg Palace and the city harbour. There is also a restaurant with roof terrace situated on the top floor.

The View of the Light Sculptures and
sphere auditorium in beautiful maple wood.

The entire Opera House was decorated with beautiful flowers in shades of pink (the official colour of the Breast Cancer Campaign). The show was a mix of ballet, opera and a comedy skit about women juggling careers and family life. As it was in Danish, I did not understand everything too well, but the people in the audience had a good laugh. It was a lovely afternoon and I am very happy I had a chance to visit this stunning building and support Breast Cancer.

After the opera we met up with Sue and Tom for dinner at the Hereford Beefstouw steakhouse next to Tivoli. We then went out for a few drinks and dancing at new pub the Vesterbro Bryghus across the street. We had a great evening.

So this week I will busy running errands and packing. Andreas surprised me with an early birthday gift – “a ticket to go to London” to celebrate Mary’s 30th and my birthday on Friday, although my birthday is this Thursday.

As I am leaving early on Friday morning for London, I will have a quiet birthday and invite Sue and Tom over for some penne carbonara. I am looking forward to my trip to London.

Colour is not so bad...

2006-09-29T09:05:00.000-04:00

Well here is a follow up to my funny “Yikes” post yesterday.
The colour is not too dark and I am getting used to it for the moment...until I change my mind..LOL. Anyways, Andreas liked it so that was nice.

He took a few pics of me last night and here is a one inside and one outside:
I wish you all a wonderful weekend! Cheers!

Yikes!

2006-09-28T10:16:00.000-04:00

It's looking very dark..I can't stop laughing...nervously!

Okay off to rinse soon....

What’s been Up with Me?

2006-09-28T09:48:00.000-04:00

Sorry I haven’t blogged in awhile but I was feeling a little under the weather earlier this week and I also had a bad stiff neck so I wasn’t on the computer very much.

So last Friday night, I was invited to Sue and Toms for a “Pizza Night”. Andreas was at an office function and I was alone so they invited me for dinner.

From my one of my posts last year, you may know that I mentioned that Tom and Sue make the best pizza. Sue makes the dough and Tom handles the toppings and secret sauce.

It is always fun to have pizza at their house because we can choose our own toppings. Well the pizza was just fabulous and I ate like 4 pizzas…oops I mean pieces..LOL. Sue also prepared a yummy Caesar salad and the Borolo wine was flowing. For dessert we had After-Eight Ice cream and it was Fabulous. I will have to buy some! Later on the evening, Andreas came by to join us and also had some pizza. We had a great evening!

Tom and his secret sauce..lol

The pizza..mmm

Anyways, I am feeling much better and looking forward to the weekend. Tomorrow I am getting my haircut and on Saturday afternoon, we have an event with Andreas’ company. We will be visiting the Opera house and then seeing an opera. I am not too sure what we will be seeing as I am still waiting for my hubby to bring home the information. All I know is that we will tour the new opera house, have some wine, meet the Crown Princess Alexandra and then see an Opera. I am looking forward to the afternoon as I have never visited the inside of the new opera house nor seen an opera! The event will finish at about 5:30 and Andreas and I will go out for dinner afterwards.

Copenhagen’s New Opera House

In the meantime I was working on my painting today and catching up on chores.

Now I am off to colour my hair a light brown to get rid of that very light blond from the summer sun…wish me luck…lol..

Pretty in Pink

2006-09-22T04:00:00.000-04:00

Firstly, TGIF Everyone!
I have a nice bouquet of Gerbera Daisies in several shades of lovely pinks on my dining room table and it has inspired me to do another floral painting based on these so “colourful” flowers.

I love my crystal vase which we inherited from Andreas’ Oma (grand mother) and I am going to depict it in my painting. I have never painted glass and I am looking forward to the challenge.

I just love having fresh flowers in the house and in Copenhagen they have so many flower shops with such reasonable prices. The little shop near my home sells a bouquet like this for 10$ cdn.

And here is another photo I took for my reference picture with not as many flowers in the vase which I will use for my composition.

And my little" rough sketch" for practice done in water soluble pencil-crayons.
You can watch me work in my WIP Section of my webpage to watch the painting unfold.

Have a great weekend Everyone!

My Orchid

2006-09-20T14:07:00.000-04:00

Hi Friends, I am pleased to announce this painting is finished! Another one done for my Funky Floral series. It took me over 6 days and a total of about 40 hours to complete the painting. I am very pleased with the results. I am already thinking of my next project...

Orchid Delight, 40 x 50 Acrylic

And the series to date:

Leftovers for a King

2006-09-20T07:34:00.000-04:00

The Danes have frikedelle and Quebecers have Steak Haché.

I had some of my Monte Carlo potatoes left over from Sunday night’s dinner so I decided to whip up some Steak Haché with them for dinner.

Andreas loves frikedelle, so I knew he would also like my Quebec version. Fast and easy as this calls only for minced beef, parsley, and salt/pepper in my mixture.

For an extra treat, I also bought some beautiful chanterelle mushrooms and fried them up with some onions and some yummy asparagus. I like to fry my asparagus rather then boil. I also spritz some lemon on them while they are frying. They are so much tastier.

Well, I tell you, my little King thought he was just having some boring leftovers last night for dinner; and boy was he ever happy with his meal. A real meat and potatoes man I have.

A Very Special Happy Anniversary

2006-09-18T08:14:00.000-04:00

A very Happy 41st Anniversary to my wonderful parents!
All the best to you both on this very special day.

Lots of love from Lisa and Andreas xoxoxo

Enjoying Orchids

2006-09-16T02:13:00.000-04:00

My Orchid is blooming at home so beautifully that I have decided to paint these flowers next for my funky floral collection. The perfect reference picture is here alive with me and it will be so nice to have a live subject in front of me this time.

Prepared a few sketches and here is my latest "rough" sketch for my next painting. I wasn’t too happy with my pot, so I experimented with my wacom tablet in Adobe photoshop and decided to change the vase. Isn't technology a beautiful thing?

Orchid Delight Revised Pot

You can follow me in myWIP Section of my webpage
to watch the painting unfold.

Have a great weekend Everyone! I will be busy painting!

Back to the Routine

2006-09-16T01:52:00.000-04:00

Well my little Mary has left. She came over to visit us for a long weekend and we had a great time relaxing and lunching!

She arrived last Saturday night and we stayed up late chatting, laughing and catching up. On Sunday we stayed home, sat on the deck and soaked in the view along with a few episodes of sex in the city. Poor Andreas had to work all day and night.

On Monday we met Sue for lunch at Nyhavn which then turned into dinner and a night out…LOL…We stopped by the famous Moose bar, although a dive, we had some great laughs.

Girls lunch at Nyhavn

At the Moose

Good-Bye BBQ dinner

Thanks for coming over Mary, I so enjoyed your visit. I love that you live in London now so we can easily visit one another.
And I love your engagement ring, it is just gorgeous like you!

Finished Another Travel Painting

2006-09-08T14:49:00.000-04:00

Well, I have been working hard all week and I am pleased to say that I finally finished another painting for my Travel Series. It took me over 80 longs hours to complete. Something colourful and funky! This one is my favourite of all the PortoFino paintings I have done!

Colors of PortoFino, 60 x 80 cm in Acrylic.

Happy Birthday Blog

2006-09-08T02:18:00.000-04:00

My little "Danish Happy-Hour" Blog is one year old today.

Time goes by so quickly; it seems like just yesterday that I started writing this little blog. I never thought that I would keep it up for one year. Anyways, I am glad I did because it is a nice little memoir of my first year in Copenhagen. I enjoyed looking over my all my posts and pictures this morning with my coffee; it was a busy year!

I am happy that you my friends and family have enjoyed reading it and thanks for all your comments over the year. I have enjoyed reading them and sharing a little piece of Denmark with you.

Nyhavn - My Favourite place in Copenhagen

Yep, I can hardly believe that I will be in Copenhagen almost 2 years next week and that 10 years ago yesterday was my official Wedding Anniversary. Unfortunately I was alone…LOL...as Andreas is away on buisiness. He will be back tonight and we will pop open some champagne, and Mary is coming to visit so that is a real bonus!

Andreas and I on our Wedding Day - Opening Dance

So Cheers and Skål to my little Blog and to all of you! And to my Wonderful Husband for always being there for me!

Have a Great Weekend – TGIF!

Peter has left the country...

2006-09-06T02:27:00.000-04:00

Well, Peter a.k.a Keith..lol...left Copenhagen early yesterday morning and we had a great time with him during his stay with us.

He really kept me hopping. Every day we would visit the city from Nyhavn – to Tivoli – to Kronbourg Castle in Helsginor taking lots of pictures. My brother has a real passion for photography and he took over 700 photos…lol and they are all beautiful. We also filmed and produced his very own little video.

Every night we had our little happy hour on the deck and spoke of our day. He loved the apartment and the view. Some nights I could not keep up with him, so I hit the hay and he would love to sit at my computer and big screen and edit all his photos in Adobe photo shop. Computers are new to him and he was doing very well by the end of his trip. A few nights we went out and had some great times at Tivoli and the Moose Bar. We sure met lots of interesting characters…lol. It was also nice that he got to meet our Friend Tom who came over some nights while his wife Sue was away. Sue did get a chance to meet him just before he left, so I was happy that he got to meet our good friends while he was here.

I had a wonderful time with you Peter and it was great to spend time and bond again with you again. Unfortunately, Andreas was traveling most of the time you were here and would have liked to spend more time with you, but it was also nice just to be together and you can always come again. You were a wonderful guest and always helpful and tidy. We were sad to see you go, but I am getting back into my routine. I have missed my painting. Peter loved my paintings and even bought 3 of them. I was very touched. Anxious to see them hanging in your home.

Now, I just found out some good news that my little sister Mary will be coming to visit me on Saturday for 5 days while her Fiancé is away! Yep, Mary got engaged in Dubrovnik! Congratulations Mary and Martin! I am so excited and happy for you both. I look forward to a wedding! Can’t wait to see you Mary and that rock!

Some highlights of Peter's Trip

Peter and his Girl

A Day at Kronbourg Castle in Helsignor

Wild-Life Exposition - Lisa & the Penguins

Crazy Nights at Tivoli on the DemonMonster

Cozy Dinners
A Fun night Meeting our Good Friend Tom (Sue was Away)

Peter Lands in Copenhagen

2006-08-23T08:21:00.000-04:00

My brother Peter arrived last night at about 6:30 pm from London. He was looking in full spirits and we sat on the deck and cracked open some bubbly to toast his arrival!

Peter Looking Good (I love this pic of him)

It got darker and cooler and we headed inside and lit all the candles and I introduced Peter to Hygge. He remembered the word very much and loved the concept...LOL.

We decided to make some pizza and Peter wanted to make it and it was so funny to watch him with his preparations... I never saw a guy chop so meticulously…LOL. He said “Preparation is Key!” Anyways, he was right bedcause it was so amazing, even better than mine.

Chef Peter

Cheers to great pizza and our trip ahead

We then played on the computer and looked at his beautiful photos from London and sent some emails to his friends. It was a great night.

So our trip is beginning and I am sure we will be busy busy! Today we are heading off to the grocery store and touring my area along the sea. Andreas will be home tonight from his business trip and it will be great for him to see Peter.

Tomorrow we are going downtown and will take a boat tour around the city. Stay Tuned for some Wild Adventures with Petey.

Thinking outside the Box

2006-08-15T07:04:00.000-04:00

Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.
-picasso

Okay...I have decided to take the plunge and explore my new Portofino idea in the same style as I have done the funky florals. I have done this subject twice and was never happy with the way I approached it. I so enjoy painting my florals and travel series and I am always happy with the results, because I am painting freely, from my head, seeing things in my eyes, so I want to take this approach to this painting.

There will be No more structure! No more rules....I will do this in my “style”...I want to try and get much looser (as I do in my sketches) and paint very quickly with bold brushstrokes even if things slip up and perspectives are exaggerated. I want to spend little time on details and precision. I want to paint what I SEE in shapes and let my creativity take over instead of working too much with my head and what I Feel and working to much from those reference pictures.

So...I begin, my first step was getting the drawing down on the canvas. As always, I had a very messing drawing on my hands…I was ready to toss the project. I realized I was thinking again..thinking too much, trying to be too precise working too much from reference photos:
So I remind myself again….what exactly are my ideas? How do I want to paint this subject? I hate rules and I am a free spirit and I want to paint my way. So again I tell myself…I must try and paint what I SEE rather than what I FEEL and I think of Picasso’s quote: Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.

So I put away those many reference pictures and stick to my wild thoughts, creativity is key..See it thru my eyes! I have to always remember this! I am not a realistic painter…stick to my own style!

So I decided to stick to the project, and I got out the biggest brush I own and painted directly on the canvas..no drawing and you know what, I did not freeze up, I was comfortable and things started flowing.

Then it was the placement of those dreaded boats. I kept them for last..the stressful part. I had to acknowledge that a little structure was important here as it is key that the boats sit properly on the shore and in the water...for some sort of perspective...Afterall, I don’t want this to be a flat 1-dimensional painting either....

So I was up very early this morning and very excited to start painting again. My vision was clear and I worked very quickly blocking in lots of thick colour for the buildings not worrying about staying within the lines and doing it so perfectly and structured as I tend to work....I have to remember this is the beginning..and it has to be loose...Keep my vision and remember that final stages is when the painting comes together....GO, GO, GO..I tell myself...keep it simple, keep it loose...paint what I see…not what I feel in my head.

So after all that here is where I am…LOL...

Monday Musings

2006-08-14T07:31:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, hope you all had a great weekend. Ours was very relaxing and Andreas also spent some time vacuuming up those spiders...hope they stay away for awhile...

Anyhow I should have been doing my workout this morning, but I was in the mood to do some sketches. I will work out later this afternoon....Andreas is working late tonight and I dont have to cook...Woohoo!

I did this little sketch this morning - one of my favourite places in Italy "Portofino". Just experimenting in a loose way...not sure where I will go with this one...perhaps a painting..mmmm we will see....

Latest Painting Finished

2006-08-13T13:59:00.000-04:00

Hope you all had a super weekend. We had rain all weekend with some cold weather, so it was perfect to catch up on my painting. Andreas also had a nice relaxing weekend watching videos and chilling out.

This afternoon I finished my latest painting in my Funky Floral series. This one is “hot pink” Peonies in an Alsatian (Alsace) stone wear wine pitcher…

Peony Party, 40 x 50 cm done in Acrylics.

Wedding Anniversary

2006-08-13T03:53:00.000-04:00

Yep today Andreas and I have been married for 10 years. Our official civil marriage took place 10 years ago on Friday the 13th in Basel, Switzerland (and who says Friday the 13th is not lucky…lol). It has been a wonderful 10 years full of love, excitement and travel!

Last night we had a cozy little dinner at home and later watched some movies. We were initally planning to go out and eat but the weather was very wet and windy so we decided to stay in all cozy.

And of course a pic of the food...
I know some of you find it strange I take pictures of the food...but it's fun!

(our little menu: BBQ filet with a peppercorn sauce, roasted new potatoes and fried asparagus in white wine, with a delicious Margaux 2003 bordeaux wine and for dessert, vanilla ice cream with strawberry puree)

5 AM Creeps!

2006-08-13T03:30:00.000-04:00

Oh what a terrible experience! Early this morning I was sleeping peacefully and dreaming of something nice, when I felt something on my neck. Half asleep I brushed my face and then dozed off again. Then again, I felt something on my arm (near my bicep) and again brushed it off. There it was again, this time I grabbed my arm and felt something curl-up like a hard crusty ball.

I freaked out and grabbed it and tossed it over to Andreas’ side of the bead screaming as I jumped out of bed. Andreas jumped up and softly said to me…"It's okay, it’s a bad dream, go back to sleep". Jumping up and down, I said, "no way, I am not dreaming there was something crawling on me…a spider, a big one!” He insisted, there were no spiders on the beds, and they don’t like humans, "you were just dreaming.” "No way", I persisted; "he is in the bed! Go see, I threw him over towards your end!” So here he is my poor hubby at 5 am, lifting all the blankets and looking for the so called spider. “There’s nothing there cutie, you were dreaming” he tells me."Oh yes, yes..I know it!, check my side again, lift those pillows!" and then I saw by his face, there was something.

He grabbed a Kleenex and squished the bugger. “Oh crap, yep there is a spider!” he says. Was he big?, oh no, please don’t tell me how big”. I ask. Well, I knew by his face, he was big. So he just told me he was not that big and he must have fallen from his web down onto me.

So now I am pretty freaked out and I don’t want to sleep, but its 5 am and I am so tired. So we check the whole bedroom and curtains for any lurking spiders and we crawl back into bed, and all I could feel was that gross feeling again and the crushing sound I felt in my palm. I tell him, I don’t think I can sleep properly ever again and he looks at me my sweet Andreas and says, “poor you and of the people, this happens to you who really hates these spiders. I wish he would have landed on me.” Try to sleep, there are no more spiders in the room. Well, I tried to fall back asleep. I think I dozed a little bit with one eye open. I kept waking up and eyeing the ceiling above me.

I really am not a big fan of these spiders and we have so many coming in the apartment hanging around the windows. I squeamishly kill a few every day, but the majority of the big buggers, I let hang-out on the ceiling and walls till Andreas comes home. (these are some of the spiders we have lurking around).

I think Andreas kills about a good 10 a night, and they are not small. Perhaps the spider came to me because last night Andreas was teasing me and I told him his new hair cut looked liked Spiderman’s boss…LOL…Mr. J. Jameson. He knew I was kidding and he also laughed.

Yep, in good old Europe we have no screens. Isn’t that the stupidest thing you ever heard of? Oh, I want to move back to Canada..LOL.

PS. As I typed this blog early this morning, I could constantly feel my skin crawling...
Have a great Sunday everyone.

Peony Party

2006-08-12T15:16:00.000-04:00

Well, I was really missing my painting, so I started another floral painting based on an idea from a watercolour sketch I did while I was in Canada for summer vacation.

Watercolour Sketch

I wasn’t too sure about my vase so I played around with some more ideas using my wacom tablet and decided to put the peonies in an Alsatian stone wear vase.

New "rough" idea for the Vase

Spent some time this week preparing my drawing on the canvas, then blocking in lots of colour. Today, it was a rainy day so I really managed to do lots more work on my painting. Now, I am at the fun part...I just need to add a few highlights here and there in the flowers along with some more modeling work and finish off the background and I will be finished soon. Hoping to explore some more ideas and finish another one before Peter arrives.

In the Final Stages

Our Little Homemaker in London

2006-08-12T10:43:00.000-04:00

Well our little Kiki the homemaker is following in big Sister's footsteps...
She has been in London over one week and has been really keeping herself busy doing errands, groceries, cleaning, and cooking.

She went to the bank the other day with Martin and on her file they wrote her occupation was homemaker and boy did she think that was really funny. I told her "welcome to my world...lol"

Here is a cute little pic she sent me the other night of her by her nicely set table and delicious meal of Chicken Parmigiana. You gotta love it!

Enjoy the freedom while it lasts little-time Keeks! You will be working soon enough!

Pumping it Up!

2006-08-11T01:21:00.000-04:00

Whoa...my wonderful hubby brought up my running machine for me and its going great.

Still doing well with my workouts with even bigger weights now! Have to get strong in case I need to fight off any more swans....ready to punch that bird...LOL

Have a great TGIF everyone...and get the party started!

Wacky Weekend

2006-08-07T08:28:00.000-04:00

Our first weekend back home and boy what a weekend it was!

Saturday night Sue and Tom came over for a bbq dinner and we had a really great time.

For our cocktails I made some Georgia Toasts, then we had Chicken kebobs, fried rice and Sue made a yummy Canadian salad with a really tasty dressing that has maple syrup in the mixture. For desert she made a delicious raspberry chiffon pie (a recipe from David Letterman’s mom).

Later in the evening we got some good dance tunes going and Sue and I danced around the living room as the boys were chillin on the sofa. Then we got out all my high heel shoes and were trying them on. It was a really fun night full of laughs and craziness.

Then on Sunday it was a beautiful day and we went for a boat ride with some friends of ours. Including Andreas and I, we were 4 couples (Sue, Tom, Line, Carsten, Steve and Sue#2) and we rented two boats that you steer yourself. Our friend Line found out about this "cool" place, where small boats are rented by the hour at Fiskertorvet shopping center which is along the canal and basically you cruise along at your own pace and by yourself on the same route that the tourist sight-seeing boats follow.

So in our boat there was myself, Line, Sue and Andreas as our captain. When we first got in the boat we already started laughing like crazy with a nervous Captain Andreas telling us where to all sit to keep the boat steady. (here we are getting in the boat...)

So we get the motor started and off we go. Andreas looked very serious and said this is a lot more hairy then he imagined. Then he said we were still not sitting properly in the boat for weight distribution and that we were going to tip the boat and it was no laughing matter…LOL. So we moved around and then he seemed a little more comfortable handling the boat.

Serious Captain Andy

Captain Tom, with his first mate Carsten and passengers Sue#2 and Steve were in front cruising along. There boat seemed much faster than ours and Captain Tom looked very comfortable handling his vessel…LOL.

Captain Tom and Crew

As we drove along the canal we took in all the sites and the many bigger boats cruising by us which left some big waves in their trail and then things got a little hairy. Line was sitting up front getting splashed and soaked and laughing her head off. She has the most contagious laugh that you can’t help laughing along.

Laughing Line

So we are all laughing and Captain Andreas was not finding it too funny. He tells us boating is not a joke and to put on our life jackets. As we continued on our journey, our captain was feeling much more relaxed now and doing a great job handling the little boat and now he was sporting a big smile, saying "This is really awesome, this is really cool, we have to do this with your brother when he visists!"

No laughing matter...our Captain said

Now a Happy Captain Andy

Then we were off exploring the little canals along Christians Havn admiring all the beautiful buildings, sailboats and house boats.

Entering the canals ChristiansHavn

Next off to the wide open waters past the Opera House in the big waves with lots of other boats. Our captain says…"oh things are getting rough now, this is not good..we should not be here”. Too wild and wavy, we gesture to Captain Tom who is bombing along that we want to go down the other canal after the Opera House – near the Holmen islands. So we all turn around and head down that canal admiring the new condos and lovelier house boats. These house boats or summer places as they are called are really beautiful. What a wonderful idea to have a summer place along the water.

So we are merrily boating along the canal when we see a swan and her two cygnets. Ahh…so beautiful, we grab a few pics. Then we see the male, he is not looking too happy. Captain Tom passes him and up ahead there is a dead-end so he turns around. We follow and also turn and I am eyeing the male swan and feeling very nervous by the site of him. I see many swans here by my apartment and I have never seen one get so big with his large wings all puffed up. He was a big bugger I tell you. I managed to take a few snaps of him, because it was really a majestic site.

Mother and Babies Puffing up and not too happy

I tell our Captain, "Let's get out of here fast, he looks very agro this swan, I am scared.” Sue and Line are laughing. Andreas says he is just protecting his family and not to worry. "Let’s go man, let's get out of here" I said.

Agro Swan

So Tom’s boat is heading again past the male, the female and the babies with us trailing behind. I am feeling better now to be passed them. Phew...that male swan was really stressing me when all of sudden we hear hissing and the flapping of his large wings and he takes off and dive bombs onto the front of our boat hitting Line. "Oh my God! What’s happening?" I scream! Line falls forward, screaming and laughing. Holy Cow, I am freaking out…telling Captain Andreas to go faster. Up front we see Tom’s boat and his crew members are also freaking out by what just happened. Andreas is telling us all to relax, and then thank goodness the swan takes off and leaves.

Starting to compose ourselves, all of sudden, Andreas yells.."He is coming again!”….This time with much more speed and hits the back of the boat where I am sitting. His large wing hit the top of my neck and back. I felt like he wanted to take me down out of the boat. I am totally freaking out now and move closer to Andreas’s side. Line and Sue are also shocked and move over to Andreas’ side. Andreas is screaming and pushing me over back to the swan and the wing, telling us we are going to capsize! I am screaming and Tom and his gang are shocked and nervously laughing. It felt like it was something from a bad movie.

The swan finally leaves the boat, and I was yelling to Andreas to go faster. “I’m going as fast as I can” he yells. I tell you, it felt like our boat was barely moving. Just when we thought we were out of there, Carsten and Tom yell out…"He’s coming again!" Oh my gosh…what a terrible feeling hearing those words and those large wings flapping even more aggressively as he heads to our boat. I grab the life vest and held it up protecting myself with it and now that crazed Swan comes down much harder this time hitting me and the back side of the boat….I’m screaming and feeling so terrorized again. "This really not funny!" Andreas says...Hit him, hit him! I frantically start shaking the life vest hitting his big wing and side as hard as I could. I think this time he hurt himself… (a picture Sue found of an attacking swan....this is how he looked hitting our boat)

Andreas is telling us to stay calm! To get down! Stay Seated! Calm??? I say....I was trying to stay calm and stay seated in my place from hell with that big wing hitting me over and over, so we would not tip the boat. Finally his wing got loose from the boat and he leaves. Now I throw myself on the bottom of the boat over near Sue in the middle praying he doesn’t come back! Thank goodness he leaves us alone and I am so relieved. We all drive off in complete shock.

What an experience! I never thought of something like that happening and to attack us 3 times. Tom and the others were are also stunned, and all the way back to the pier to return the boats, we just kept talking about it. I was really scared and had visions of us capsizing and the large swan attacking us in the water. I use to really like swans, but now I am very afraid of them. If someone would have said to me that I would be attacked by a swan that day…I would have laughed. I was not laughing yesterday.

Well, all that aside, we had a really great day and I will go rent those boats again when my brother visits. He will really enjoy that, but we won’t be going down that swan canal anytime soon again! Thanks Line and Carsten for showing and inviting us to the boat ride.

My mate Sue's humour...
A greeting card She sent me this morning...crazy girl

My MIP with J-Lo

2006-08-03T07:19:00.000-04:00

Will this be a mission impossible? Well, I have started working out about 7 weeks ago and I am very proud of myself that I continued the workouts in Canada. I told my family that I wanted to be like J-Lo (whom I very much admire). In between my workouts and sitting by the pool listening to her tunes I was feeling very good; I was firming up and sporting a nice tan.

So during my stay my sister and mom were calling me J-Lo and every time I wanted to eat some junky food…they would “say…Hey J-Lo! Be good! LOL."

So I am back home now and continuing my workouts. I got some new heavier weights. My workout consists of 1hr30 minutes of resistance training and 30 minutes of cardio. I really miss the treadmill at my mom’s, so Andreas is going to bring ours up from the storage. When we first moved in we did not really have the room for it with all the guests coming so we left it downstairs. But now I want it, and we will make the room!

So you see my hubby says I can’t be J-Lo because I am not Latino and that I have Irish/Sottish skin so he has now called me L-Lo. You know my last name is Lorenz…which is almost like Lopez..except for the renz….so there you go: L-Lo. I love it! But sometimes he says Lay-Lo..for me to chill out..LOL when I get too hyper.

So for my inspiration...A pic of my fav in girl in a workout pic, my J-Lo workout t-shirt, which is a bit tight at the moment..LOL with my new weights. She is my inspiration and of course a more realistic challenge, a picture of me some 13 years ago when I had somewhat of a hot bod...So lets see if I can Get it Right (J-Lo song I love)….again…LOL…….

Man I have my work cut out for me! WISH ME LUCK!

Ps…I am sore and starving…

My little KiKi moves to London

2006-08-03T07:07:00.000-04:00

Yep, my beautfiul baby sister finally moved to London yesterday. She arrived safely this morning and we already had our first morning little video chat. I am so happy for her and Martin and wish them a great upcoming year full of love, adventure and traveling. It is so nice to have them over on my side of the Ocean. I am really anxious for them to visit and of course I can’t wait to visit her in London. Sue and I are planning to go down soon.

I love this picture of Mary. I did her hair and make-up while she was in Montreal. I had so much fun with you the last week kiki! I miss our little J-Lo sessions sitting by the pool!

Home Sweet Home

2006-08-03T07:02:00.000-04:00

Well we are back home in Copenhagen and the weather is much cooler than Canada. We had a great flight home. The plane was practically empty and we were able to move around the plane and stretch out in the 3-seaters. As usual, we were slightly delayed in Heathrow. That airport sucks! I try to avoid it everytime, but we could not get a connection out of Frankfurt so we were there again!

Yep, we had a wonderful trip visiting our families and friends. On the last Friday it was so nice to have my brother and sister there with me and my parents. It was just the Lariviere's chillin in the backyard and we had a great time and laughs chatting about Peter's upcoming trip to London and Copenhagen. I am very happy that he will stop over in London to visit Mary first.

(My Notorious Family)

Anyhow back to the grind, I have been unpacking and washing and cleaning. Our home has been taken over by spiders and webs…LOL. I am happy that my plants look great. Many thanks to my great mate Sue for taking care of them! As all trips come to an end, it is nice to be back home and catch up with our mates Sue and Tom. I really missed my buddies. They came over for dinner last night and we had great time catching up over tortolini and red wine.

Wishing you all a great upcoming weekend.

Best Surf & Turf in Canada

2006-08-03T06:41:00.000-04:00

Just before we left for Canada my dearest friends Janine and Jean Luc invited us over to their lovely house for a bbq.

They went all out with a beautiful table and made us surf and turf on their new grill. It was the best meal I had in Canada. We had a great time with lots of laughs as always with the very animated Janine. She also made her famous sorbet dessert and Andreas loved them so much that he ate 3 and wants to get Janine in business to market her famous little dessert…

Thanks so much you guys for a great evening.

We had a great vacation in Canada seeing all our family and close friends…Skal to a great trip.

Jean Luc - Master Griller

The Surf and Turf

Andreas enjoying his dessert

Zucchini Bake

2006-07-15T16:45:00.000-04:00

A while back my friend Sue invited me over for lunch and she served a delicious vegetarian dish called "Zucchini Bake".

I enjoyed it so much and she gave me the recipe which is very easy and fast to make. As my mom loves veggies and zucchini, I told her about the recipe and our lunch and she was very eager to make one with me while I am visiting in Montreal.

So today, on a rainy Saturday afternoon we decided to whip one up. It was very delicious and Mom was very impressed!

Have a great Weekend everyone! And Thanks Sue for that great recipe!

Whipping up the mixture

Before it goes in the oven

Voila - all golden & colourful with a touch of Basil

Way to Go Italy

2006-07-10T10:07:00.000-04:00

Andreas arrived safely in Montreal on Friday night and my sister also came down from Toronto to visit. It was a great weekend celebrating Andreas' belated birthday, seeing my sister, along with some pool side "World Cup fever"!

(Andreas and I)

On Sunday we set up the tv outside and watched the exciting final soccer match between France and Italy. It was an exciting match and it was really neat to hop in and out of the pool and watch the game outside.

Mary's boyfriend, who is in London, won the won the soccer pool and treated us for some Victory "take out" dinner. We were all happy that Italy won! Wishing you all a great week ahead!

(Andreas enjoying the game)

(Mom, Danielle & Peter - some after match laughs)

(After dinner - Group Snap)

Happy Birthday Cutie

2006-07-05T09:48:00.000-04:00

Today is my wonderful husband's birthday.

Wishing you all the best today and everyday my Sweetheart!

Anxious to see you in Montreal for some birthday cheer!

Having Fun with Beads

2006-07-05T09:06:00.000-04:00

A little creative therapy away from my painting.

I started making some necklaces out of my beads last night and really enjoyed the creative process.

My first, was the beads from a necklace that my friend Sue bought for me in Thailand, which broke a few months ago. Fortunately, I was able to salvage quite a few of the beads; however, I could not remember how the necklace looked..LOL, so I began by lying all the beads out and then placing them in order of how I wanted the necklace to look. Once I was happy with the design I began to string the beads and I doubled the cord so it will not break again.

Well, After the first one...I was really on a roll and started planning the design for the others and I made three more. My mom was sitting and watching and giving some her ideas and calling me Martha Stewart..lol. Then my papa wanted to try stringing a bead or two. We had a good laugh as some of the beads had smaller holes making it difficult to pull the string through the beads. (Here is papa doing a little stringing)

Well I have made 4 and I plan on doing some more today. It was really quite relaxing. The part I liked the best was the creative process where I design my necklace.

Here are few PICS from the beading night:

Beading Away

The Necklaces

Weekend Visitor

On Sunday, I picked up my Aunt Lorraine and she came out for a visit. We had a wonderful time together sitting by the pool laughing and sharing stories. My brother also came over for dinner and we ordered some yummy "Montreal" pizza. Then my aunt Nicole popped in for a visit later in the evening. It was great to see everyone. On Monday I drove Lorraine home. I had a wonderful weekend with my aunt.

Happy Canada Day

2006-07-01T08:56:00.000-04:00

Wishing you all a Happy Canada Day!

Wherever you may be in the World, I wish you a great day...Eh!

I am planning a nice BBQ - pool day with my family.

A Little Trip Down Memory Lane

2006-07-01T08:48:00.000-04:00

Well I recently arrived in Montreal, Canada and I have been having a nice time so far. The other day I was downtown with my parents at the Bead Emporium buying some beads to make some necklaces, as I am always looking to keep my creativity up...LOL. Then we stopped for lunch and had some good Montreal pizza and later took a drive in Verdun and my parents showed me their first apartment on Allard where I was born until we moved to Brossard in our own home when I was 4.

Then we went over a few streets to where my mother lived as a young girl with her parents and her 6 sisters on Beatty until she got married to my Papa. My papa also lived nearby but his old home is gone and now replaced with a gas station.

Allard Street Apartment

My Mom's old home as a girl on Beatty

Our home in Brossard - for 35 years

Another Painting for my Series

2006-06-23T09:02:00.000-04:00

Hi Eveyrone, Well I finally finished another painting for my Funky Floral Series.

Frangipani Sawadee (Sawadee is Thai for Good Greetings), 40 x 50 Acrylic.

I really love this one.

Also a picture of the series to date.

Well I am off to Canada on Monday for my summer vacations. Hoping to dabble in a bit of watercolour sitting by the pool...sipping spritzers...Looking forward to seeing all of you. I am going to try making some giclees on canvas of the florals in Canada to see how they look! So hopefully I can start selling some of them!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Bonne Fete Ma Tante Nicole

2006-06-22T08:46:00.000-04:00

Today is my dear aunt Nicole’s birthday.

She is a beautiful, lovely lady and I wish her the very best today and everyday.

Anxious to see you soon Nicole…
Big hugs and kisses to you!