The World Through Expat Eyes

Once you leave your home country, you become a foreigner. Did you ever think about it that way? No matter where you go, are you a visitor, an explorer, a tourist, a traveler, an expat or a foreigner? Not a native anymore? Maybe you have more than one home country? Perhaps you are a global soul, feeling at home anywhere, because home is where the hearth is? After many years abroad, maybe you have that sense of belonging to more than one country? Is your home country your native country, the place where your roots are?

For an expat, all this can be confusing, whether we are talking about a serial-expat, an expat who only feels at home in one country or one who belong in several.

I think I have always enjoyed seeing places through different perspectives, and through eyes other than my own. I love finding out What does an Indian think about France? What does a Chinese think of India? How do you find the food, culture, festivals, literature, art, sports, nature and the people? And when the answers come, I can say to myself: Hm, I never thought about it that way....

New perspective, dear reader, new perspective.. to open your eyes and broaden your mind.

So, I was curious when I saw that Internations just published a new report called The world through expat eyes. They have asked 14000 expatriates from over 160 countries questions about their life living abroad. They have been asked to rank different aspects of their expat life, such as: general quality of life, working abroad, family life, settling in, leisure and making friends, international romance and relationships and personal finances.

The Top destinations (based on the indexes: general quality of life, ease of settling it, working abroad, family life and personal finances) are Equador, Luxembourgh and Mexico, meaning that those countries have a overall high score in many of the indexes. My countries ended up as no 18 (Norway), 55 (India) and 59 (Greece).

Because the indexes vary a lot, it is interesting to dig a bit deeper. For example: some countries score really high on personal finances but soooo low on making friends with locals. And vice versa.

India score high on financial situation for expats, while Norway score high on balance work life - life (expats in Norway work less hours than in most country and enjoy life outside work). Greece score high on making local friends. The Scandinavian countries score high on family life.

I especially enjoyed the country reports where you can read more detailed info about expat life in some particular countries. Here are the headlines for presenting some of them:

Can you guess which country they are talking about here?:
 
1. "Cold Weather- Warm people"
2. "Work, rather than pleasure"
3. "Warm climate, empty accounts"
4. "Hit the ground running"
5. "Big hearths and instability"
6. "Opportunities and cloudy skies"
7. "Leisure lovers at home down under"

So, which one seems most appealing to you?

To me, that was the funny thing about this report. It made me wonder: If I could choose freely, what factors would be the most important and how would I range them? For example would an easy settling - in be more important than good money (and living in an expat bubble)? And what about the weather? Family life? Friendly and welcoming locals? Education? Work hours? What would be most important to you?

Do you want to read more? You can find the report on: InternationsExpat Insider

As you may have seen, I have been looow on the blogging lately, and the inspiration has been rather non-existing. But I am planning some changes on the blog, so stay tuned dear reader. I will be back:-)

What? You want the answers to the headline - questions above? Ok. Ok. Here we go: 1.Canada. 2.China. 3.Italy. 4.USA. 5.Turkey. 6.UK. 7.Australia (where else?) But still - check out the reports, interesting read.

Enjoy your weekend. Take care.

Z for Zakynthos

The last letter, Z, is here. The challenge is coming to an end, and it feels like saying goodbye to a friend. A friend who has stayed for a month, but who you are sad is leaving (and yet you are also a tiny bit relieved). Hmm. I could play the Norwegian card... - because our alphabet doesn't end with Z. After Z comes the letters Æ, Ø and Å ..So if I want, I can keep the party going for 3 more days. But what's the fun in partying alone...?

No, let us do the farewell party together. And you know, to my own surprise I discovered that I have yet to take you to one of my top favorite places on earth: the Greek islands - the perfect place for a party, even a farewell party. Conveniently enough, one of the island, (and a beautiful one) starts with Z, so today I am taking you to the white beaches of Zakynthos. What do you say dear reader? Are you in?

Greece has over 3000 islands, and the Greek islands is a concept itself. Hoards of tourists are every year attracted to the crystal clear blue waters, the white beaches, the food, the culture and history of Greece. And most of them go to one of the islands.

Zakynthos is in the Ionian sea and is the third largest of the Ionian islands. It is an island with green hills, gorgeous beaches and villages packed with atmosphere. It has its name after Zakynthos, the son of a legendary Archadian chief Dardanus. Zakynthos' nickname is To fioro tou Levante meaning The flower of the East, given by the Venetians.

VisitGreece.com

So, lets gather at one of the beaches, stretch out in the white sand, and just be.. Hearing the waves coming in, feeling the soft sand between our toes..And - look: there is someone joining us with a bouzouki  - and warm music fills the air .. At sunset we can do barbecue, get some refreshing drinks, dance and the night is still young under the stars on the beach of Zakynthos......

And you can stay here for a while, if you like, dear reader? You can jump with parachute, or just relax and rest a bit. We do need it. Our grande world tour of 26 dream destinations in 26 days has come to an end. I am feeling a bit melancholic. But this doesn't have to be Goodbye... I am going to head back to Mumbai now, and you are so very welcome to join me and follow my tales from there. I hope you will.

So, sitting on that beach with sand between my toes and with a chilled glass in my hand, I am signing off atoz 2014. But what is a party without music? I give you a favorite of mine, a song of Giannis Ploutarchos: To Fonazo. ( = I scream it: my love). With love to you dear reader who came along to all my dream destinations. I hope you will enjoy:

  

And always remember: Chase the dreams wherever they may lead, and live today. Enjoy your moment. Be blessed and happy.

Bye bye dear fellow travel companion - my humble thank you - for coming along!

1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs here. My theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along. 

Go to a-to-zchallenge.com

X for Xenos

Once we leave our home country we turn into a foreigner.. Isn't that so? We can be a tourist, traveler, visitor, guest, explorer - but we are still a foreigner, a non-native..

Some people are more concerned with the term foreigner than others. I am not one of those people. For me, the chemistry with - and personality of - the person I meet on my path will always overshadow where the person is from. And let's face it: we are each and one of us a foreigner somewhere....

The word xenos in Greek means foreigner, but it can be interpreted as (the more hostile) enemy/stranger but also as guest friend ... and that takes us to:

Xenia - which is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality: the generosity and kindness shown to those who are far from home. You remember our Greek gods right? Well, people back then believed that the gods mingled among them, so a foreigner could be a god or a goddesses in disguise. That is why they were always kind and respectful to a stranger, because if he/she was a god, they could be blessed by him/her (and if they were not, there was a risk of incurring the wrath of the god in disguise as a humble xenos). Even though the origin of xenia was around the gods, it became common practice with the Greeks to incorporate xenia into their customs and manners in their everyday life.

Xenia consists of two basic rules: The respect from host to guest. The host must be hospitable to the guest and provide him/her with food, drink, bath, shelter and protection if required. The respect from guest to host: The guest must be courteous to the host and not be a burden.

So, where does my dream destination come into this, dear reader? Well you see, for me, some of the best destinations has been the places where I have met new people. New friends. Foreigners, like we all are really. Wherever I go. Whether it is on a beach, on a mountain top, on a plane or at my local supermarket. That meeting between people, regardless of background, home-country, faith or beliefs, that makes it just my favorite place to be. There and then. That moment. With that xenos. 

So, I let myself inspire of the ancient Greeks: treat every foreigner with kindness and respect, because you never know if it is a god or a godess in disguise... 

********

There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.
― Robert Louis Stevenson, The Silverado Squatters

I am a foreigner, but I like to hide the fact. I'd rather people be prejudiced against my personality. 
― Bauvard, The Prince Of Plungers

But I don’t think of myself as a foreigner or a Frenchman! I just think of myself as a director. Whether I’m French or Australian or whatever, it’s really not important.
— Michel Hazanavicius

In Paris, one is always reminded of being a foreigner. If you park your car wrong, it is not the fact that it’s on the sidewalk that matters, but the fact that you speak with an accent.
— Roman Polanski

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So, as an expat I feel the foreigner concept can be even more confusing. Norway will always be my home country, but living so many years in Greece makes it my home too. And now India, my dear "adopted country" - it also feels like home... And when you live so many years abroad... can it also be that you may feel a bit foreign in your original country? I'm just asking...

A post on the philosophical side today dear reader. Only two more days to go, and I am sooooo excited about taking you to Y.... tomorrow. For me it will be one of the big highlights on this world tour, and I am pretty sure you will enjoy it immensely.

See you soon, guest-friend:-)

Have a relaxed afternoon:-) 

1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs here. My theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along? Please stay tuned for a new destination tomorrow. 

Go to a-to-zchallenge.com

O for Olympus

Oh wouldn't it be fun to hang out with the Greek Olympic Gods? Be right up there with them, while they were playing around with the destinies of the mortal people down at earth? Sit there with them at their thrones at the grande palaces at Pantheon. Join in on their meetings and stormy discussions and party on with them in their vivid celebrations. Yes? Then let's go! Olympus awaits us!

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, placed on the mainland about 80 km south of Thessaloniki. The highest peak, Mytikas ( = nose), is 2,917 meters. It is known for its rich flora and it was the first National Park of Greece (since 1938).

Every year, thousands of people visit Olympus to admire the nature, to hike and reach up at its peaks. There are a lot of organized routes and you can spend the night at a hut on the way. And enjoy the magnificent sunset from high up there... divine.. The shape of the mountain, the high peaks, the changeable beauty of its nature and lots of mist and low clouds, (and frequent thunderstorms), caused awe and admiration to the pre-historic man, who lived at the foothills of Olympus'. They were the people who would create the first legends of the Gods...

Because, hiking in the mountains... Sure. Fun. But I am dreaming of hanging out with the gods at Mount Olympus. Of course I wouldn't think of daring Zeus, King of Gods and ruler of Olympus. And I would not try to sit on the throne of Zeus (I think). It hosts only him, and from there he unleashes his thunderbolts, expressing his godly wrath. I would bow for the the Queen of Gods, Hera who as the goddess of marriage and family, is constantly on a quest to get revenge on her husband Zeus' lovers and their children. I would greet Demeter, Goddess of fertility, agriculture, nature, and the seasons, who would be there and I would probably be a bit intimidated by the powerful Poseidon, God of the seas, earthquakes, and tidal wave.

I could learn some tricks from Athena, Goddess of wisdom, handicrafts, defense, and warfare. Not so strange perhaps - as she was born from her father Zeus' forehead - fully grown and in full battle armor after he swallowed her mother (!)

I would love to meet Apollo, God of light, knowledge, healing, plague and darkness, arts, music, poetry, prophecy, the sun and also Artemis, Goddess of the hunt, virginity, childbirth, archery, the moon, and all animals. Hermes, the God of commerce, thieves and games (!) seems like a funny guy to hang around, and so does Aphrodite, Goddess of love, beauty, and desire. She was married to the God of fire and forge, the craftsman of the Gods, Hephaestus, although she had many adulterous affairs, most notably with Ares, God of war, violence and bloodshed. Ah, those Bad Boys ...

But the real party will not start until Dionysos, God of wine, theater, celebrations, and ecstasy joins us! He got his place among the 12 Olympic Gods from the goddess Hestia, and he sure seems to keep the party going..

Oh, how fun. Can you image, dear reader - being up there at Olympus with those? That's where my mind went today. Whatever motive you might have, I can recommend Mount Olympus, for the hiking or for partying with the Greek Gods...:-)

So, it was hard to leave the breathtaking New Zealand yesterday, and I am not yet sure if I will be able to leave the Godly party at Olympus, especially now when Dionysus joined in....:-)

But if I move on, we will head off to a lovely new dream destination tomorrow... starting with a P...

1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs here. My theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along? Please stay tuned for a new destination tomorrow. 

Go to a-to-zchallenge.com

A for Acropolis

- I'm sorry. I can't stop. She is sobbing apologetically and smiles at me through her tears. - It is just - I am so happy. This is a dream come through for me. I smile back at her and give her a hug, patting her sweaty back. - It's ok. It's ok. And I look up. And the sun is glittering through the proud marble columns, coloring them almost gold-ish. I am a tour guide in Athens, it is late afternoon, the heat is intense and I am holding on to a sobbing sweaty tourist who has seen her dream come alive in front of her eyes. She made it to Acropolis.

So, off we are, on this 26-days-around-the-globe-journey, and: welcome to Athens, dear reader! For me it is a must see, and maybe even more so for the tourist lady who had saved money her whole life to make her own dream of seeing the Acropolis come true. I will never forget her. Because at that moment, I also felt the magic. Behind the hoards of tourists, lines and souvenir stalls and beyond the blank ruins, empty temples and dead statues. It was there. I felt it. I felt the amazing wonders of this place, made by bare human hands under the rule of Pericles in the 5th century BC. So many centuries ago. And for so many years the presence of Acropolis with the mighty Parthenon temple has been felt all over the city of Athens. It lives on. Eternally.

Pics from google.com/wikipedia

So, humble and moved, feeling surrounded by the wonders of ancient time, I go for lunch with one of my Greek friends. I excitedly tell her the story about the tourist lady following her dream. - Huh, she giggles, picking in her salad - I have lived in Athens all my life and I have never been up at Acropolis!
 
Aha. Dreams. They are never where you expect them to be, are they? Or at least our dreams are to be found in very different locations, that's for sure. Well, let's see where I'll take you tomorrow dear reader. All I can say is that it is a place packed with emotions... starting with a B...:-)

Until then!

1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs here. My theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along? Please stay tuned for a new destination tomorrow. 

Go to a-to-zchallenge.com

Happy Independence Day Greece!

If you have followed my blog for a bit, you might remember my writings of the "No - day" in Greece, back in October. Well today -  raise your glasses and throw your hats up high up in the air for the other National Day of Greece. Because today we celebrate Independence Day. Hurray!

You see, after 400 years of foreign rule, the war of independence broke out in Greece in March 1821. It was time to fight for freedom from the mighty Ottoman empire, and re-establish Greece as a nation. It should turn out to be a long and hard fight, and also the superpowers Russia, France and England intervened. But, even though, first in May 1832 as a result of years of negotiations (and fights...), Greece was finally recognized as an independent nation.

All over Greece, there are parades and celebrations today. The heroes from the past are remembered and honored and the future of Greece - the children - are celebrated. And the National Anthem is heard...

So, please join me for a tribute to the past:

And for a celebration of the future:

Pic from Shutterstock.com

And while we are at it - let's hear it for the present too, shall we? Here's to this wonderful country and to all our Greek friends and family: Hipp hurray! Χρονια πολλα! And what's not to love .... Just have a look:

Fruitsalad at the beach....

Outdoor concerts and plays at ancient ground...

Idyllic harbors..

The colors of Greece....

Cute houses... 

and a sundowner at the sea...

Update: So, I am a proud and very happy Write Triber:-) And today my " Making a Difference" post about the NGO I volunteer work was published on Write Tribe. You can read it here.
Also: Thank you dear Corinne, and to all (blogger) friends for your kind support and friendship:-)

Thanks for following dear reader! Good evening from Mumbai! 

Once upon an ancient time

1.

The nymph Echo loved to talk. One day, goddess Hera was seeking her husband Zeus who she suspected was having fun with some nymphs... Echo managed to warn them so they could escape. As a punishment, Hera took away Echo's voice, with the exception of the ability to repeat the last word said. The echo..

PS:
Hera said to Echo: You shall forfeit the use of that tongue with which you have betrayed me, except for that one purpose you are so fond of: reply. You shall still have the last word, but no power to speak first!

2.
One day, Echo saw and fell instantly in love with the beautiful young man Narcissus. He felt her presence and yelled "Who's there?" Echo repeated "Who's there?" Repeatedly..... Finally, she went and tried to hug him. "Leave me alone!" he shouted and left. She mourned until nothing more than an echo sound remained of her....

Maybe another day, I will tell you more about Narcissus, a fascinating character...:-) 

Hope you enjoyed the small dive into mythology today. Have a wonderful weekend, dear reader! 

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I am participating in a fun festival of words this week:-) This post is written for The Write Tribe Festival Of Words, which goes on from 2-8.March 

Today, Day 6, we were asked to write a story consisting of 55 words. Oh my, the art of constraining myself has really been tested:-) You can read more about the festival, and enjoy some of the other entries on the website. I am sure there will be a lot of good-reads today too: Day 6, 7. March: 55 on Friday

4 fabulous Feta favorites - recipe

Yup, I love my paneer, my gouda and even my brunost, but when it comes to cheese, my weakness has a name. Hello Feta! Feta, the taste of Greek summer, of fresh tiropita and of a big salad with feta on. That creamy texture and slightly salt&sour flavor. And it goes with anything. It can spice up a plain omelet, play main star in a salad or renew your pizza completely!

But be aware that only feta is feta, because since 2002, feta is a protected name. According to EU legislation, only those cheeses produced in a traditional way in some areas in Greece, are made from sheep's milk (or a mix of sheep and goat milk) may bear the name feta. To my joy I get feta here in India, too. Here are my favorite ways to use the cheese - maybe something for the upcoming weekend? I hope you like it!

1. Real Greek salad needs it's feta. Make a big bowl of salad, and top it off with big chunks. Sprinkle over some olive oil and oregano, and enjoy! Those bits of red tomatoes, olives, cucumber, onion and feta is just Greece on a plate:-)

2. Watermelon and feta is a perfect combo! In India I am so lucky to get my favorite fruit - watermelon- all year round. I put some bits of watermelon on a plate and add some crumbled feta. If you want to fancy it up, sprinkle over some balsamic vinegar, and pines or nuts.

3. Tirokafteri/tirosalata This is a dip often used, like the tzatziki, as a side-dish, with salad and bread. But where the tzatziki will cool you down, the tirokafteri will heat you up! We make it like this: 
You need: 
200 gr feta
1 dl yogurt
1 finely chopped red chili
2 tsp olive oil, a sprinkle of pepper

You do: 
Mash the feta. I like it to be a bit crumbly, so I do it with a fork, but you can also put it all in a food-processor, and get a more smooth dip. Stir in the other ingredients.    

4. Bread with feta and tomatoes Now, this is a perfect dish, if you have some old, dry bread lying around! You can by this recipe transform it into an impressive starter, a side dish or just a snack. Tempting? This is how we do it:
You need: 
4 slices of bread
2 dl chopped tomatoes
2 dl crumbled feta
olive oil, oregano, black pepper

You do:
Place the bread slices on a baking tray. Add the chopped tomatoes, and put the feta on top of that. Pour over olive oil and sprinkle over some oregano and some pepper. Bake in the oven until the bread is light brown. About 180'C for 10 minutes should be ok, but keep an eye on them!

Bread with tomatoes and feta, a dash of tirokafteri, and some green salad with olives. Yum! 

PS! Did you know there is a special song about feta? Oh, yeah! Kind of a parody where they are singing about all the delicious dishes they can make with feta. Have a look at the feta-hymn here:  

So, hope you got inspired, dear reader? Whether you will make a feta favorite or not, I hope you will have a smashing weekend! Have a great one, and take care! All the best from Mumbai! 

So, what's new in Mumbai?

It is always nice to come home, don't you think? Home to the known and familiar, home to your friends and family, to your clothes, your things and your own bed? But for us, the term "home" is a bit blurry. We went home for vacation: Christmas in Norway and New Year's in Greece, and it feels like home in both places - but Mumbai does too! I might have a leg in each country, or a piece of my heart? Home is where your heart is..

Yes, dear reader, we are back home in Mumbai. And as always: exciting to find out what's new? Has anything big happened while we were away? Yup. A few things. The first one was right there when we landed. Our airport - remember my Chit Chats at Chhatrapati - will no longer be the same. The new T2 - Mumbai Airport Terminal, inaugurated by the Prime Minister just a few days before we came back, will open - supposedly on 12 February. From the outside it certainly looks impressive: big and bright. It will be one of the largest in the world, and the use of Indian art will make it a very unique one. I do wish for a user-friendly airport, and it will be exciting to explore it. Have a look at YouTube here. A sneak peek:

My American friend's first response to my sowhatsnew was: - Taco Bell is here! Mumbai Boss was, as usual, on it, and conducted an anonymous test. Our Greece-loving neighbor was more excited about a new film coming up on the movies from tomorrow. As Hollywood is still inspired by Greek Mythology - we can enjoy the glory of The Legend of Hercules. The neighbor is ready and so are we, and The Greek will as usual - a bit skeptical - check out if Hollywood got it right... Ah, the joy of cinemaing in India! 

As for my own news, I was just at a launch. You see, last year I volunteered for the Communication team of Mumbai Connections (organisation for expats in Mumbai). We spent a lot of time making a new website for the organisation. Yesterday we launched the site, and it is now up and running! Check it out here.
Coming back home, my favorite part is catching up with friends. Getting their news, chatting away. And hey, what could be better than combining the catch-up with checking out another newcomer? Le Pain Quotidien recently opened in Powai, and is a great spot for those long catch-up lunches:

Yummy:-) 

So yes, we are well back home again, and I am still updating myself on news, as you can see. I hope you are well and happy, dear reader! Stay tuned for more Mumbai tales, and take care!

My Top 5 - January in Greece

Well, even though most people choose to visit Greece in the summer, the winter can be quite pleasant too. At least here where we live, and in my bubbling joy of being here, I decided to come up with a top 5 list (!) of my favorite things! Maybe for inspiration - if you should happen to visit Greece in the winter, dear reader:-) And as for the pale promise: I didn't have to wait too long until a soft breeze of summer headed my way....

1. Alkyonides days is the name of an almost non-interrupted period of summerly days with clear blue sky, sun and warm temperatures, which occurs in January almost every year. It is a meteorological phenomenon of the central Greek climate, but also has a lot of mythology and stories connected to it.

2. Ta fota. The lights. Just as Christmas and New Year's  is over, a new big celebration comes up on the 6th of January, when the Greeks celebrate Ta fota. It is to remember the Christening of Jesus, and in a way it functions like a Christening of the new year. The fun part is when the priest throws a cross into the sea, and men and women throw themselves in the cold water to compete for catching the cross. The lucky one receives blessings, glory and fame, and also some money....

Pic from news.gr

Pic from videotex.gr. The lucky one in Nea Peramos.

3. Coffee outside. The sun is warming, but it is not too hot, only pleasant - to gather at an outdoor cafe and catch up with family and friends. And the cafes are crowded. I don't think anything or anyone can stop the Greeks from enjoying their cold frappe, warm nes or the small Greek coffee at the cafeterias. Ever.

Cafe me gusta - our favorite cafe i Kavala:-) 

4. Basari. If you have followed my blog for a while, you will know that I have been an enthusiastic visitor at the markets in Mumbai. And I am on- in Greece too! And as always: go with the flow- do as the locals! So, wherever you see hoards of Greek women fighting over some clothes: join the party- it is bound to be a good bargain!

Only 2 euros- and one happy sales-lady

Season for mandarins now! Yummy!

5. A walk along the sea. Always a favorite of mine, but the Alkyonides days,the lack of crowds of people, tourists in combination with the magnificent light - makes it a more than just a pleasant experience in January. Peace and quiet. The sound of the waves hitting the shore. Flisvos. Love it

 Bye bye from Greece! I hope you are well and happy, dear reader - wherever you are!

A pale promise of a Greek summer

Summers in Greece are well known and highly loved - but the winters are not bad either, I tell you. Ok, the heat is not that on, the beaches are rather empty, the nature has less color, and people are gathering more inside than outside, but it is still Greece... Good company, good food, good music. Greece. The atmosphere is still here, and a promise of a new summer to come is in the air. I can feel it. And as always, walking along the sea, my favorite place, makes the feeling even more real.

The sea - still so blue, still so beautiful and still so attractive... even dressed in winter clothes, and even being a bit paler than usual. Just have a look:

Waiting for the summer to come....

And what can be better after a walk in chilly weather along the sea - than to head for one of the many tavernas along the harbor. Perfect. It is warm, lively, the company is good, the Greek music is on - and so is our appetite:

Fresh fish - koutsomoura - with lemon:-) 

Seafood and grilled fish  (like sardeles) with salad, kolokithakia, tzatziki, cheese,
fresh bread and a tiny tiny bit of ouzo?:-) 

And what do you know?  - in the pale scenery: a color explosion: orange mandarins:

For dessert-- maybe a mandarin or two?  

 Oh, yes, dear reader, the promise may be pale, but it is definitely there. And a promise is a promise. Summer will come, it is in the air. I wish you a great weekend:-) Thank you for following:-)