Nowadays there is a special time to surf the net, and specially to get into the social media. That is when you go to the bathroom.

This may seem a little fun. But the total connectivity can bring consequences, also social ones. Like loosing time, both at work and from family.

We are in a time when we have to inform of all our movements. The breakfast, when we shower, when we go to sleep. We upload photos of our movements. We have voluntarily broken our privacy to share the privacy with others. When we confess our acts, what we really do is to invite others to do the same. It’s an indirect way of provoking. We expose ourselves without considering that we give out our private life. We become public, but we don’t get anything for it.

The intimate or private time that we spend in the WC has changed over years. This “break” used to a be a moment for smoking, then for reading and now to tell the rest of the world what we are up to. But no one say that they are in the WC.

It’s like we are reducing our world into this little space that the physiological needs urge us to visit several times a day. Us, the WC and our smart phone.

I must say that I think that it is necessary in Sweden to know the real tapas. Many people talk about tapas, but they don’t know really know what it is. In the supermarkets we can find some products with the name: “tapas”. Well…, sorry, this is not tapas; only the brand uses the name. The same happens in other places, like some bars or restaurants. That’s a pity… , but it’s how it is.

Tapas or “pintxos”, are typical from Spain. Tapas in the south; pintxos in the north. Andalucía and Basque Counry (Baskien); are the best places. But.., everywhere in Spain, nowadays it’s possible to enjoy of this beautiful tradition when you are in a bar: eating a small portion of food with some beer, cava, cider or wine. Because that’s what a “tapas” is, a small portion of a typical dish. And, while you are eating, with a lot of people, many nice conversations are starting!

Many times, we are asking about Polisen and their work. Where are they? It’s better if you don’t need the police. That means that the society is working well, without problems and with a safe life.

I remember that some years ago I saw in BCN, this fun Swedish movie: KOPPS (Josep Fares). Really we can obtain different lectures of this movie.

First: from my point of view, that in Sweden there are not so many problems, like in another society as Spain. That’s good, of course. This is a perfect expression of culture and civilizing. My recommendation is to watch this funny movie, but, don’t get any new ideas, or it will be a different life in our lovely village.

Second: that in Sweden exist a particular sense of humour, that is a nice combination with the law and the real life. Easy life, really beautiful.

Third: what important it is to have a “varm korv” place!

The Pope is living in the Vatican state. A small place in the world. The sky is cloudy, grey, and the wind is blowing. A big storm is coming…

Nowadays, the power and especially the catholic religion has the extreme influence of two strong forces: The “Opus Dei” and “Legionarios de Cristo”. During the pope John Paul II, Opus Dei was working and working. They are a sect. They have nice positions in the best places .Very soon, they obtained that their founder was Sanctified (a process that normally takes very, very long). You know, Opus Dei’s founder, José María Escrivá de Balaguer was born in Spain (Barbastro) and founded this group. It was a good friend of Spanish high society in Franco´s time -Spanish dictator-; the religious power and the power of society, always together. Nowadays, like always, Opus Dei is the expression of the rich and high level people in all the world. The other sect, Legionarios de Cristo, was founded in México of the priest Marcial Maciel, that now, we know is father of several children and was involved in some sexual crimes. The rule is the same as in Opus Dei: power, social influence and money. And silence…

SILENCE IN CATHOLIC WORLD is the agreement for the own protection.

To walk around Camp Nou in Barcelona –(Les Corts district) – is a special feeling.

We find a typical old and traditional Catalan house; “la Masia”, in front of the enormous football cathedral. “La Masia” is the only one of this kind of buildings that exists nowadays in Barcelona city. Then, it’s like a symbol of the oldest Catalan traditions: work and work every day, because we want to conquer the top of the mountain after the effort and planning. That’s is the same in Barça!

However we are not the best, for this reason we are working in that way. Every day is a new step. Humility and hard work = victory! I think that everybody can understand that Catalunya and Sweden, we are quite similar…, ok?.

Pep Guardiola, the Barça trainer was born in a small village, “Sant Pedor”; close to the city Manresa –(Bagès district)-, and he was in Barça during the all life, preparing day by day the future. At least, nowadays, we have the result of this character in Barça players.

Barça is a team, that’s the difference between that and another’s. We say that Barça is more than a Club – “som més que un Club”!-…, that’s true, really. It’s the expression in all the world.

Visca el Barça !!

Very soon it we will be summer;  “estiu” in katalanska. In Sweden, summer is really wonderful, and Swedes are using this time, working and working, repairing houses, painting, building. Here we find the typical expression: Swedish summer!

In Sweden, the weather usually is around 18º, and the life is to think of enjoying nice bath in some lakes, having a nice barbecue or a  fika. Easy life and having contact with the nature…

Using some simple t-shirt and short trousers and comfortable sandals. That’s the best “ suite “.

In Catalunya the weather and the life is not the same.  In that area, similar in extension to Västerbotten, we are 7,5 million people living. It’s not so easy to find some lake or place where you can say: I’m alone! The temperature is around 35º or 40º, and high humidity. Always you are wet L.

But, we have a nice coast and beaches. The best places are in Costa Brava –Girona : www.girona.cat/turisme, in the north of Barcelona and there we can find tourists from around the world.

People like to wear t-shirts or shorts in order to show off, (like Burberry, Tommy Hilfiger or something like this.) It’s necessary to show to the rest of the people that they are the best L. I can not understand this silly system; I prefer Swedish way, of course…

The sun is coming…. !!!, that’s the best.

In many things it’s not possible to compare different societies. When we are talking about some questions it’s necessary to understand, that’s to say, to know the real society and their history. Then we can think, respect and advance in the conversation. Sweden is not Spain; and Spain is not Sweden…

In each country always we arrive to the same point: culture. The Swedish experience is hard when we look at the history. In Sweden I can not understand why the people are only drinking from Friday night until Saturday or Sunday. Then, many people are drinking a lot and they get drunk. My question is simple: is it necessary to be drunk if you want to enjoy of the party and to be happy? My answer is – of course not.

When I was 8 years old my “fika” after school was sometimes: bread with some tomato and extra virgin olive oil and ham or some different catalan sauces; bread with some butter and chocolate, or sometimes, some bread with some red wine over that and sugar. I have never been drunk in my life.

I drink some beer, cava or wine, because it’s a pleasure to combine it with some nice food, but my objective it’s not to get drunk. If we are drunk, we are not happy, of course…: gastronomical culture! It’s always necessary to have the control of your life, for ourselves and for the rest of the society.

When you are new in Sweden, in a couple of days you will understand the importance of this wonderful word: FIKA.

In catalan, FICAR is to put something in a place.

I started to think that svenska and katalanska languages have some connection. I don’t kno…

Probably is the old influence from Napoleon’s time, that French emperor that chose BERNARDOTTE as king for Sweden. Bernadotte was from the south of France; that is to say, from Catalunya north, a historic catalan land. In the south of France also nowadays, they speak catalan (check in Perpignan, Carcassone or Tolouse municipalities, catalan flag with the French flag too). Well, anyway, the important is to know some similarities…

FIKA is a magic word. Family and friendship time. Time to rest, to talk and to keep silence (important to know in Sweden). A nice friend, Jenny Eklund, said some years ago: "the best in winter time are the candles, and fika, of course!" We can have time for a fika day and night, it’s not a problem. It’s the best way to have social life and close communication. In Catalunya, we have something similar to this, but only around 17 or 18 o’clock –berenar-, but the ritual and food are a little bit different – “pa amb tomàquet, pernil, llangonissa, fuet, formatge…” (iberic ham, different catalan sausages, bread with some tomato, virgin olive oil and some salt, cheese…) -, and some wine or cava-. Products of our land… Nowadays it’s typical only in the countryside and small villages, not in the City. In the City, you can have some warm and thick chocolate, with some ensaimada (typical from Mallorca), or some churros ( typical from Madrid), or some melindres (typical from Catalunya). Often you have the “berenar" in some special bars: granjes catalanes (examples in Barcelona: In Petritxol street, or in Granja Viader, Xuclà street).

I like very much the Swedish fika, because before that, normally we can find some lovely time where the family is preparing some cakes or cookies; coffee and tea. That’s very nice for the family life. I remember many lovely pictures of Carl Larsson, from Dalarna, perfect expression of Swedish traditions and life.

We are many people writing and having a wonderful participation in this "Blogg World", having a nice and amazing creativity.

Why not organize a “VK bloggarefest” in Umeå? It will be nice to be together and to exchange in alive our experiences and feelings.

A suggestion: the 5 th of June – the day before the Swedish national day?

More suggestions please!

Every summer I eat “surströmming”. I don’t like it so much, but it’s a Swedish tradition in the north; and then, I eat it, of course!

It’s a nice therapy for to say “Hej då” to mosquitoes. I know also about the special experience to open the can, inside a bucket of water and a little far away from the house and place where you prepare the table for dinner with some “snaps”, beer, cheese, salad and some another summer pleasures. The table with a nice table cloth –in summer colours- is often a very nice combination with the beautiful gardens. Of course, I’m thinking just now of one of the best gardens in Vännäs. Anna Björkholm’s place. She has a special sensibility and love in summer time, working so hard every day. Finally, it’s like a paradise.

Her delicate hands find the art expression, not only in her garden; she is an extraordinary ceramist – check out!

But…, if you have some close friends, my advise is – don’t buy some of this “delicatessen” for a present, the “surströmming” cans. Probably if your friends never have heard about the smell, they will open it inside their house. Well, I can not imagine the effect…

“Surströmming” party, it’s a special meeting point. If you are living in the north, you must try it…, and after, you can say your opinion. Also, then you can appreciate better some nice food, like a nice lamb in the oven with some fried potatoes and some onion that we can prepare in our pan with some extra virgin oil olive (catalan, of course…). I know, or I suppose…, that everybody is thinking : “why can’t we organize a lamb party then?” It will be a nice idea, this will be a beautiful challenge…