A July to remember… Chapter I. The visit of my friend Astrid & her family

Una de las cosas más emocionantes que  me han sucedido en los últimos años ha sido la de tener la oportunidad de conocer en persona, especialmente fotógrafos o artistas, a los  que sigo y admiro desde hace tiempo. Personas con las que he compartido,  a través de Internet, un poco o mucho de su vida, sus sentimientos. Con la mayoría de ellos he forjado una bonita y especial amistad.

No recuerdo exactamente en qué año  descubrí el trabajo de Astrid. Fue a través de flickr. Por aquella época, yo  estaba buscando algo diferente. De repente, todas las fotografías estaban cortadas por el mismo patrón, sobre todo en términos de edición. Muchos colores pastel y tonos suaves, con colores irreales.La mayoría de ellas retocadas hasta limites insospechados. Creo que fue el boom.!  Y no encontraba inspiración en ninguna de ellas.
Yo quería algo real, de carne y hueso.
Y lo encontré. Descubrí imágenes, la mayoría analógicas y con un color natural, sin artificios. El tema que fotografiaba era mi preferido por aquella época (y ahora), temas corrientes, escenas cotidianas que cualquier persona vive . Astrid no era una fotógrafa profesional,  recuerdo que por aquella época trabajaba como periodista freelance, aunque qué importa! sus imágenes documentando su día a día me enamoraron desde el primer momento.
Desde ese día la sigo con las mismas ganas que el primer día. Destaco por encima de todo su optimismo, su honestidad, su alegría.
Astrid nunca ha pretendido ser un blogger super fashion, o tomar fotos imposibles. Ella siempre muestra su vida cotidiana de una manera simple y natural. Algo tan sencillo, y que encima engancha, supongo que porque no hay trampa ni cartón. Lo que ves es lo que quiere mostrar. Una de las cosas que me enamoraron fue la manera especial de captar esas escenas tan cotidianas en su apartamento en Bergen, las maravillosas vistas, la luz en su casa, el ambiente especial, los acogedores desayunos que preparaba.
Hace unos meses  recibí un mensaje sorpresa en el que decía que este verano iba a viajar a Mallorca con su pequeña familia y amigos y que quería conocerme en persona. ¿Qué? No es posible!

Un pedacito de mi alma se detuvo de repente. Pensé que era un sueño. Entenderme, en fin, no me considero una especie de friki fan, no, creo que fue la emoción de saber que iba a conocer a alguien a la  que admiro tanto y que me enganchó con su naturalidad. Alguien con quien había compartido a través de su blog, muchos momentos de su vida ( la compra del apartamento  en Bergen, la renovación, cientos de tardes de fin de semana  compartiendo una botella de vino mientras él  disfruta de una interesante lectura, mientras ella se dedica a mirar series por internet, luego el embarazo de Sara, su nacimiento, la venta de su casa, exámenes, salidas a la cabaña, etc). Fue muy emocionante. Y qué mejor que Astrid.

Prefiero conservar en mi corazón lo que sentí ese día. Disfruté muchísimo. Son tremendamente  generosos y amables. No os voy a mentir, de vez en cuando la mirada se me escapaba hacia la gran sonrisa de Astrid. Era real, y emociona, en serio. Es encantadora, Solve, su marido, un excelente conversador con un gran sentido del humor, y la pequeña Sara, una niña tímida pero muy dulce.

Disfrutamos de una comida típica mallorquina y después caminamos por el pueblo aprovechando que eran las fiestas y que las calles estaban repletas de niños que dejaban impresos sus dibujos en las carreteras …

Un día que nunca olvidaré.

Recomiendo su blog 100%. Es fantástico: Hei!

————-

One of the most exciting things that have happened in recent years has been to have the opportunity to meet  people who I follow and admire in a while. People with whom I get to share online, a bit of your life, your feelings.
I do not remember exactly in  which year I discovered the work of Astrid. It was through flickr. At the time, was looking for something different. Suddenly all the photographs were very similar, especially in terms of editing. Many pastel and soft tones, with irreal colors. I think it was the boom.!
and I was looking for something real, something flesh and blood.
And I found it in Astrid´s work. I found images, the most on film with natural color, without artifice.

Astrid was not a professional photographer (although it has done interesting things),at the time I discovered it, I think she was working as a freelance journalist. But I didn´t care because her images documenting her every day were (and are) beautiful. I fell in love instantly.
Since that day I follow her. True, when the language is not accompanying you (yes, my english years ago was  non existent), to comment on a blog, with more words that «beautiful» seemed absurd. And now, I become a faithful follower of her blog, sometimes silent, sometimes I dare to tell her how much I enjoy some of their entries. I like it because you can see in their photos, their words a lot of honesty and joy. Optimism above all.
Astrid has never claimed to be a super fashion blogger, or take impossible photos She always shows the daily life of a simple and natural way. Something so simple, that you like it,  I guess because there is no trap or cardboard. What you see is what she show.. One of the things I fell in love of her life, was her apartment in Bergen, the wonderful views, the light in her home, the special atmosphere, the cozy breakfasts…
And this year, I received a surprise message in which she was saying that this summer was going to travel to Mallorca with her small family and friends and she wanted to meet me in person. What? It is not possible.

A little piece of my soul stopped suddenly. And I thought it was a dream. Understand me, I´m not  a kind of geek fan, no!!, I guess it was the excitement of knowing an special person for me that  I admire for several years. Someone with whom  I had shared through her blog, very many moments of her life ( renovations, pregnancy, exams, a lot of food, hundred of relaxing weekends  alone with Solve, a good reading for him, a good tv serie for her and a bottle of wine for both). It was exciting. And what better than Astrid!!. I think over time, her smile and sincerity never tires. You need it.

I prefer to keep in my heart what I felt that day. I was very happy and enjoyed her company a lot. They are generous and occasionally I was excited to see the big and gorgeous smile of Astrid. She’s lovely, Solve, her husband, an excellent conversationalist with a great sense of humor, and little Sara, a sweet shy girl.
We enjoyed a typical Mallorcan food that I prepared  as «coca de trampó», «frito mallorquín de marisco», «tumbet mallorquin», «quelitas con sobrasada» «pa amb oli con jamón serrano, queso mahonés, «ensaimada de chocolate», etc»  and then walked through the village..

One day that I never forget.

I recommend  her blog. It´s her essence, Hei!

oh, poor Solve! Look at his feet!
Cursed tiles. I’m sorry! They were clean, I promise :-/

A very generous and grateful guests. The next time we make a grilled shrimp and clams with a nice chilled white wine.

Astrid, a very patient mother. So loving with little Sara.

They gave us two beautiful bowls designer  by Elizabeth Dunker. Our wedding gift. A few days later we were married

Sara loves ice cream, I think you can perceive in this image. She gave us her best smile.

festivities in my town. That day one of the streets are closed to make way for true artists,  the children.

ups, I’ve been hunted

Stiffness syndrom?? hehehe, you scared me!! You are the most sweetest person that I know.

The artist in Sara could not stand the idea of ​​painting with pencils. She wanted some brushes. hehe 🙂

Her best teacher!

«Mum, I want some brushes»

At the park

Let’s take a walk through the village

Astrid with her analog camera

Isn´t she lovely?

Solve  & Oscar chatting  while we photographed.

🙂

I like to have this photo of the two. A lovely keepsake. A wonderful 11 July..

Astrid, Solve & Sara.

I think words are not necessary in this case 🙂

Buganvillas everywhere (sydenblomst)

I have been happy to show you where I live.. Here you will have a home.