I was cruising the Internets when I came across a really interesting photo essay on the legendary women of the Asgarda Movement. These band of sisters live and train in the ancient art of mortal combat and medieval weaponry deep within the Carpathian Mountains of East of Ukraine. French photographer Guillaume Herbaut documented the group of 150+ women who belong to the Asgarda Movement.
These are some remarkable photos. I tried to find out more about this tribe of Xenia-like women but all I could come up with was this quote from Photoshelter:
“Katerina Tarnouska looks at me in the eyes. She is a thirty-year-old blond with a ponytail, wearing a white dress. Time has come to get separated from the men, she says. She dreams of a walled world where women would live among themselves. A world like the one of the Amazon tribes.”
Okkkk. Still I think it’s rather interesting but I am a sucker for unique studies in sociology. Hope you enjoy the cool photos below.
For more photos and information on the project go to the site Photoshelter.
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I attended am inauguration party with my friends Marina and Louise on Tuesday hosted by the American Ex-Patriates in Denmark group. There weren’t that many Americans but there were quite a few Danes and they seemed just as excited as I was to see the new president Barack Obama sworn into office. It was held at the Cafe Globen. The place was packed with people and luckily Marina and her friend had come early so we were able to get seats. There were also camera crews there to capture the event and to be honest I fond them to be rather annoying with their bright lights and view blocking and didn’t pay the any mind. Well imagine my surprise when later that evening my friend Marina texted me to let me know we had appeared on Danish television! The next day I also got a call from my friend Camilla informing me she too had seen us on television. Here are some pics from the event including the Bush shoe toss!
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Today is Inauguration Day and I am headed to Cafe Globen to meet some friends. The American Expatriates group I belong to is hosting a viewing party. Danish people are very excited for the event as well which surprises me. There are parties all over the city. I am so excited today!! I haven’t been very supportive of my country for some time (8 years!) but today I am quite proud to be an American. I know it will be difficult for Obama to sort the country out but I am glad my country has chosen someone who thinks about the little guy for a change. It’s going to quite emotional seeing the first black president sworn in to the most powerful position in America (probably the world). Can’t wait to start celebrating with my fellow Americans as well as the Danish friends I have met here. Go Barack!
I have enjoyed my time in Esbjerg but I have to say I am missing my city life. Just a three hour train ride through the beautiful Danish countryside tomorrow and I am home (away from home) again!
Wanna try making your own yummy Danish meatballs? Check out the recipe below!
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| DANISH MEATBALLS (FRIKADELLER) |
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1 lb. beef, ground
1/2 lb. pork, ground
1 tbsp. finely chopped onion or chives
1/2 c. sifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 c. milk
1/4 c. water
1 egg, beaten
3 tbsp. butter
Combine in a large bowl beef, pork and onions or chives. Mix together flour, salt and pepper. Combine flour and meat mixtures. Add gradually, mixing vigorously, milk, water and egg. Blend vigorously until mixture is smooth and well blended.Heat butter in skillet. Using a tablespoon (not measuring spoon), drop meat mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls into skillet. (Meat will drop more readily from spoon dipped in melted butter.) Cook over medium heat until browned. Using a slotted spoon turn meatballs to brown evenly. Allow about 8-10 minutes to cook. Serve with Sweet – Sour Red Cabbage. About 3 dozen small balls.
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Well as my site indicates I have been rather lax in my updates. Sorry about that but so much happens everyday it has been hard for me to keep up with all my writing duties! I am currently visiting my friend Peter in a town on the western coast of Denmark. Esbjerg is very sweet and has a lot of charm. It has a large skating rink (pictured below) in the middle of the main walking street and everyday after school is out, the children flock to it. It’s a relatively young town compared to most of the cities in Denmark so the buildings generally look more modern. I have had a great time cruising around the walking streets looking for little treasures to take back to Copenhagen with me.
I have also visited a small island off of Esbjerg called Fanø. This little island is lined with cozy little thatch roofed homes. Peter’s mother lives there in one of the small homes. She treated us to a nice lunch which included my favorite Danish dish, frikadellers! Frikadeller are Danish meatballs. No matter what country you travel to you can always find a meatball. :>
To get to Fanø you have to take a ferry. Because it costs a lot to drive a car on the ferry, Fanø has very few cars. I liked Fanø, I thought it was very quaint and had a lot of hyggeligt (Danish for coziness, a term you hear all the time in Denmark). Fanø was good fun. Next time I visit I will have to spend a few more days checking it out. The island has many small forests and beautiful beaches and I can imagine would be quite lovely in the summer.
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