House of MinaLima – The Graphic Art of the Harry Potter films

It is Harry Potter-maniac again, because today is officially the premier of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I am so jealous because I would really like to see the play, but I am hoping that I´ll be able to see it at some point during the next year.

I was recently in London and I discovered that the house of MinaLima is having an exhibition of the graphic art from the Harry Potter films. Obviously I had to check it out and it was very interesting. The only problem is that the gallery is right around the corner from where the play is and it was a massive queue to see the one of the pre-shows, so naturally I was jealous.

But anyway – the exhibition was interesting and it was also free. It is in Soho so right in the heart of London. The ground floor is a shop, where you can by posters, stationary, homeware and books. It was a bit pricy, so I didn´t buy anything, but I saw that a lot of other people spent a lot of money. But many of the posters looked great, so I kind of wish I had bought one.

 On the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd floor you will find the exhibition itself, and there are also some authentic film props on display. For Harry Potter-enthusiasts this exhibition is a must-see in London, and it is only on display until the 4^th of February 2017.

Skyfaring - a journey with a pilot

If you are like me and you can´t seem to make up your mind about how you feel about flying, then this book is definitely worth reading! Even if you are just slightly curious about the world above the world, then this book is fantastic!

This book is not a novel, or a thriller. It is a non-fiction book about Mark Vanhoenacker, who is a pilot about absolutely loves his job. In this book, he shares his love of flying and explains how the plane works, why pilots do what they do, the physics of lifts and flight paths. He tells the reader about how he fell in love with flying and how he has always been fascinated and wanting to be a pilot.

The book is divided into nine chapters and it was very fascinating to read about how pilots actually see more water than any sailor does and a pilot becomes very attached to the type of aeroplane they fly.

Wind, to the earthbound observer, suggests a local event against a default background of stillness, a breeze passing over a fixed point on earth; over us. But higher up, the air itself, the reference frame of flight, is almost always in motion. Once I leave the ground I no longer think of wind as a flow of air that passes over us; rather, it carries us whole, as a river or an ocean current. (Vanhoenacker, M. (2015), p.144)

I am fascinated, curious, anxious and worried about flying, but it doesn´t seem to stop me anyway. But I do spend a lot of time (more than I am willing to admit) wondering about how the airplane stays in the air. And even though this has been explained to me several times, it still fascinates me and I don´t really think I understand it. But the pilots understand it, and they know what they are doing.

This books explains so much and what happens in different weather and why the pilots do what they do. We live in a world where we travel all the time, all over the world, and I think people have become more curious and slightly anxious about how this big machine works.

I would recommend reading this book if you read this and also have so many questions about flying and airplanes. It really did answer many of my questions and seeing as travelling is one of my greatest passions, it is great to know a bit more about this particular way of travelling. And let´s face it – you can have some spectacular views from the window seat.

London´s hottest tourist attraction – The Shard

One of the most popular tourist attraction in London these days is the Shard. And I can understand why. It is London’s highest building and it has a spectacular view! As you would expect from a building which is 310 meters tall.

It is very easy to find the Shard, as you can see the tall building from all over London. But if you take the London Underground to London Bridge Station, then you are right there. You can´t miss it.

As this has become such a popular tourist attraction, I would recommend pre-booking tickets to the Shard before going to London. Then you do not have to wait in a long queue and you can select which date and time to go to the top. This is a perfect way to start planning your London adventure and to make sure that you don´t miss out on anything. And if you are feeling in a festive mood, you can also buy a glass of champagne to enjoy with the view.

The Shard has three viewing platforms – they are situated on the 68^th, 69^th and 72^nd floor. My favourite was of course the view from the 72^nd floor, which also has a nice breeze and it is slightly open at the top.

The prices are a bit expensive, in my opinion, but very much worth it if you visit the Shard on a clear day. The view really is spectacular and you can apparently see as far as 64 kilometres, which is not too bad! And even the bathroom has a great view!

The Shard is not only a viewing building, but it also has several offices, restaurants and people permanently living there. But for tourists I think it will always be the building with the fantastic view!

A woman´s right to travel - a new beginning

I have finally decided to start blogging again and start fresh with a new and (hopefully) improved blog! This is mostly for me, to write down my thoughts and ideas and plans but also for you to read and perhaps get some ideas.

I have travelled quite a bit over the last few years and I have visited some amazing places around the world. Travelling has become a big part of my life and I can daydream about where my next destination should be every day. The world is a wonderful place with amazing people and I really believe that travelling will help us understand the world better.

Let the daydreaming begin!