I can dispute neither of these things, having just returned from a short trip to attend The Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden*; it was a beautiful, exciting, enlightening and oh-so-expensive trip.
[ * Those of you from outside Europe will be none the wiser when I mention this event, but most folk from inside Europe will have a strong opinion about it one way of the other; a spectacular, high-camp evening of Europop and questionably partisan voting by 26 countries, you either love it or hate it. ]
Someone asked me recently what my favourite part of travel is.
Is it the planes? The boats? The trains? Well, no. Unlike most adventures in life, when it comes to international travel I prefer the destination to the journey; the part moving inside vehicles at high speed and hanging around in terminals is actually pretty dull.
Is it the food? The people? The people? The languages? The culture? Well, I love all of these things, it’s true. I like to try the local food delicacies, especially; reindeer in Norway a few years ago was a highlight, tho I didn’t have the heart to tell the young badgers that I ate Rudolf.
But none of these are my favourites right now.
I can confirm after an amazing trip full of wonder to Sweden via Denmark that my favourite part was the candy.
Of course, this may change when I run out.
So, ask me again tomorrow.
Indigo
This blog entry is protected by copyright © Indigo Roth, 2013
Candy?
ReplyDeleteLook suspiciously like condom wrappers to me...
Pearl
Hah! The cactus flavoured candy/condoms are particularly good (and large) this year...
DeleteCandy? Is that pandering to our American cousins? Don't you meab sweets?
ReplyDeleteHehehe.
Cheers.
Hey Alistair! Could be, could be, tho that IS what the Danes/Swedes call them. "Sweets" is a peculiar English word, rather like "arse" or "impetigo". Indigo
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteAussies call them lollies - which confused the bedickery out of me for a few months until I became one myself. An OZ... not a lolly... (ahem) Anyway, India, by default of having been British, still calls them sweets. Add that to your pile of 'so what?' notes.
On another tack - I LOVE LIQUORICE - and a Dutch friend introduced me to salt licku. Are any of these salted? Just curious - and mildly jealous.
And not that you really need to know or care, but I sat up all night with Radio 2 tuned on little Voo-voo the vaio. Am not sure why. ;*} YAM xx
Namaste, Yamm! Hey, you're an Aussie now? Outstanding! I suspect salt likku is what the Scandinavians would call Salmiak. There's a box there, see? The black and red one, very seductive; I'm very fond of it. I also brought back eight boxes of my regular salmiak, which should last me a few more days. And YAY to you listening in! It was a wonderful night! Indigo x
DeleteHari Om
Deleteheh heh heh - caught you... http://inimaynaelcammeno.blogspot.in is where you'll get the mini bio and some back ground - sorry man, you forced me into that!!! $+}
And, yeah, I don't regret the listening - just such a shame that in all these years they're still working out auld alliances! - don't think I knew anyone till now who ACTUALLY attended though. "elbow rub"... YAM xx
Ooooh, more blog to read? Cool. I'll pop something on FaceBook about it, too. Thanks! And yes, very sad. Indigo x
DeleteThat's quite a selection of flavors. Or flavours. I thought I'd score some great chocolate back when I used to travel, but the best stuff must have been exported, or else hidden from tourists.
ReplyDeleteHey Nancy! Scoring good chocolate is pretty easy in Europe; the Swiss make the best (not the Belgians), but maybe you've tried that? American chocolate is pretty desperate stuff for the most part, tho Ghiradelli's choc from California is pretty good. That said, that's owned by the Swiss confectioner Lindt & Sprüngli. They do a dark chocolate & raspberry that I remember being pretty amazing. Yum. Indigo x
DeleteOOh, pretty candy!! Glad you enjoyed your recent travels!
ReplyDeleteHey Diane! Lovely to see you here! And believe me, they taste even better than they look! Thanks, Indigo x
DeleteWhat lovely candy! You sure live an interesting life, man! Want to hear more about this festival-- did you write a song that you entered?
ReplyDeleteHey Leah! Thank you, this glorious life is never dull. The Eurovision Song Contest is described here, and snippets of all of this years songs can be found here (go on, give it a click, I dare ya!). Sadly, I was not the official UK entry, though perhaps I might have scored just as well; our international relations have made us unpopular in recent years. Still, a wonderful evening in Malmö! Indigo x
DeleteBy the way, Leah, that selection seems to be cobbled together from soundchecks, rehearsals and the semi-finals; the place was jam-packed on the night, and hugely emotional. You can watch the whole final show here to get the full effect! x
Deleteyum.
ReplyDeleteand did i hear someone say licorice??
glad you enjoyed x
Hey Eolist! Yum indeed! Those crazy Scandinavians do love their liquorice! It was fab, thank you =) Indigo x
DeleteI'm with you on the travel part. It's all about the destination not the grief one can go through (not) getting there.
ReplyDeleteDoes any of that candy taste like tar? Ziva sent me candy from Finland. They have very odd taste buds.
Hey Dufus! I was sadly unable to get the Leijona stuff that's flavoured with tar in either Denmark or Sweden, but I did want some, as it's a favourite. Every other flavour was represented, and I liked 'em all! Indigo
DeleteNice to get away, isn't it? And candy makes the best souvenir, because it never hangs around long enough for you to say 'what was I thinking when I bought THAT' :)
ReplyDeleteAs someone groaning from eating too much candy, I must agree. And yes, lovely to leave the country for some bonkers Eurofun! =) Indigo x
DeleteSounds like fun, even without the psychedelic candy! (I'm guessing the music was as diverse as the candy selection.)
ReplyDeleteHey Paula! You're not wrong on either count; check out the links in my reply to Leah above for proof =) Roth x
Deleteyou make it all seem like so much fun, sugar! xoxox
ReplyDeleteHey Savannah! It WAS fun! And quite the spectacle; did I mention the six-foot, muscular, hugely-wigged, cross-dressing guys? I've never seen taller go-go boots! Indigo x
DeleteHooooray for Candy!!!
ReplyDeletePS: I actually loathe traveling. The packing, the planning, being on an airplane, or train, or car for too long. It's just way too much work for me and totally exhausting!
Hey Mia! Hooray, indeed! =) The total of the experience always makes it worth it for me, but yes, EXHAUSTION is always a consequence. Still, that's what beds are for, right? Indigo x
DeleteYou said candy. Now you have to send me some!! :P
ReplyDeleteMais oui, ma cherie! You may have to "acquire" the taste of the only sealed stuff that I have tho. It's salty liquorice, called salmiak! There's still time to politely decline. I'll sort it before the weekend if you and Dave would like to try it. Indigo x
DeleteAlso, pretty cool that you travelled to Sweden and watched Eurovision!
ReplyDeleteCool? Yes, I suppose it was. More so as time passes, I suspect, too.
DeleteThose are BEAUTIFUL!!!! My mom went to a few places in Europe and brought back really REALLY neat candy. Some tasted BLEH while others were sooooo good. So I GET this!
ReplyDeleteHey Katherine! Some of the more "interesting" stuff can be challenging. Thankfully, I love all the liquorice variants and tar flavours (yes, tar). These have a more fruity cross section, and I'll scoff the lot pretty soon =) Indigo x
DeleteTravel broadens the fanny and air travel tightens the sphincters. That's what I know. Also I know (from my entire nine months spent living in London 40 years ago) that English people are slender due to a diet of beer and Mars Bars.
ReplyDeleteHey Murr! Slender? You are, of course, correct! Roth x
Delete