The Content Reader Goes Outdoors

Not far from where I live is a place, famous for their apples. Every year, at the harvest, there is a feast highlighting everything with apples. The place is called Kivik and is on the east part of Skåne (Scania) peninsula. It is only a small place, beautifully situated by the sea. You can buy freshly made apple juice, cider, marmalade, chutney and other things related to apples and the harvest. This years apple painting! Some earlier motives A special feature is the apple painting in the harbour. It has a different subject every year, and the painting is made by apples only. Quite amazing. No harvest, or market, without specialities from the region. Here was a lot on offer, and we came away with a bag, or two, of goodies. Being in the neighbourhood, we took the opportunity to visit an old grave from the Bronze Age. It is called the King's grave, but recent research has shown that it might not have been a King buried there at all. "The site was used ...

I have been living in several countries and always enjoyed a beautiful sunset. Sweden might not be the best country to see a magnificent sunset, but I was surprised one evening returning home. I am not sure the pictures tell the absolute truth, it was breathtaking. I hope the some of the feelings can be felt from the photos.

Autumn in Sweden is not the best season. Here in the south, it is often grey, windy and rainy. However, from time to time the sun comes out and it is lovely to walk in the forest. I have joined a hiking group and enjoy their trips. In September, when the sun was still shining, we hade a wonderful day in Frostavallen, a recreation area north of Malmö. The walk was around 20 km, and it was very warm for the season. People were even swimming in the lake. One of the most beautiful walks I have done in Sweden. Yesterday, we walked around the outskirts of Malmö, in another recreation area, Bulltofta. It used to be a domestic airport, but is now a recreational area with a variety of walks. It was rather cold and windy, but fresh. It took us on a 10 km tour, before we were rewarded with grilled hot dogs. Back home I took a hot shower, to shake off the cold wind. Although the weather is not always good, it is wonderful to spend a day outdoors. I usually walk in an area called...

The other evening I went to the Concert Hall to listen to Beethoven's three first symphonies. Malmö Symphony Orchestra new conductor, Robert Trevino, is a charismatic person and has created an interesting program for the 2019-20 season. He is a young American conductor, born in 1983. This was my first encounter with him and his interpretation of music. They play all of Beethoven's nine symphonies during four days, in two weeks. Unfortunately, I missed symphonies 4 and 5, due to my hiking weekend! Beethoven is one of my favourite composers. It is such a treat to hear his music live and with such dedicated musicians and conductor. It was a great evening. I am looking forward to hearing the other symphonies later this week. I don't know a lot about classical music, but I know what I like. With Beethoven you just can't go wrong. His music is something out of the extraordinary. It takes you to another place, where it is just you and the music, even if you are sitting ...

They all say that sometime you have to go outside your comfort zone. Well, I tried it on Saturday. Båstad Hiking Weekend is an annual event, which we tried out last year. They offer around 15 hiking tours with different themes. This year we choose an adventure theme; In the Foot Steps of the 'Snapphanar'. The following from Wikipedia on what a 'snapphane' is. "A snapphane was a member of a 17th-century pro-Danish guerrilla organisation that fought against the Swedes in the Second Northern and Scanian Wars, primarily in the former eastern Danish provinces which in the course of these wars became southern Sweden. Many pro-Danish guerrilla fighters referred to themselves as friskydter, i.e. volunteer militiamen. During the Scanian War, many Scanians who lived in the western part of Scania could quite easily join the regular Danish army, after the 1676 Danish re-conquest of the province. But in the North (closer to Sweden), this was more difficult. Instead, this ...

Nearby where I live, there is a beautiful nature park with lots of walking paths of different lengths. We usually walk the 7 km path through the beautiful forest. The landscape varies with fields, trees and lakes. It has become my favourite spot to walk these days. In Sweden the fungus season is on. Myself, I am not a fungus person and would never dare to eat anything I have picked myself. However, I can enjoy looking at them. Especially, the beautiful, but very poisonous fly agaric. On days like these, autumn is lovely. Wonderful colours when the leaves of the trees change from green to red, orange and yellow. The moss under the tall trees looks like velvet. The beams of the sun tries to shine through the leaves. A walk in such surroundings is a treat and you feel so good afterwords. 

You might wonder what this is all about? Well, after blogging for seven years on The Content Reader , it is time to look back and see what I have done. Blogging has been a wonderful experience for me. Exchanging views on books are a treat, and I really appreciate the very dedicated audience out there. Reaching out all over the world and to experience readers in other countries, has also enriched my own reading. I have ventured into books I would never have read otherwise. Well, I had to make sure it was true!  I have mixed my book blog The Content Reader with other interests of mine; travelling, history, outdoors, sports etc. After having had a very outdoor holiday this year, camping in Switzerland, Italy and Sweden, I wanted to share these memories with you. However, I did not feel like mixing these non literary events with my book reviews. My 'new life' consists of more exercises to keep up good health and living and eating healthy (although I must admit I give my...