I’m just happier than I’ve ever been. I finally found someone that I am totally compatible with. It doesn’t matter whether she’s a male, female or hermaphrodite or a donkey. We’re compatible.

– Kurt Cobain, in an interview.

Constant travelling is both horrible and amazing. This time, when I came into Lisbon, I had thousands of knots in my stomach. I’ve spent time in Sweden – a secure context with friends and family – since January. I’ve fallen in love with the best and coolest girl ever, my Clara, and I’ve started a new love affair with the city Stockholm as a bonus. And I’m going away from that, for what? Five weeks in a new city without knowing any people. The unknown. This time, it feels good coming home to something. Someone I’m missing.

I like Lisbon. It’s a small city, and very friendly. By “friendly city”, I mean it’s easy to get into the rhythm. Not like London or New York or San Francisco, which I felt were being harder to get a grasp of, with their constant pulse. Lisbon is very old, and has the proximity to water although it’s not right by the ocean – so there’s no freezing humidity in the Autumn months.

The language is so cool. A singing, elegant tongue full of attitude. Slower and more laid back than Spanish, with a tint of Italian. I’m taking a language course here, during my remaining four weeks, in order to see if I can get more steady in talking. I’ve tried to surround myself with Portuguese since coming home from Rio last year, but I realise that I need to speak it a load more than I’m doing now.

The people here are lovely. They seem to have this ancient sense of politeness and service, but at the same time being completely relaxed in a south European way. Proud, with perfect English, the Lisbon inhabitants has welcomed me in the most perfect way possible.

I can’t stop marvel at the cityscape though. The murals and mosaics, the winding streets (Lisbon is the “city of seven hills”), the ever present river. It’s fair to say that Lisbon is beautiful from a micro to macro level. I’m currently here during the low season, but I’ve noted some small streets (in the old Alfama neighbourhood for instance) are empty and calm. No packs of tourists are roaming around, as they usually do in all European capitals. Cheap food and drinks. As it should be.

Back home it’s November, with all that’s included. I like the light here: it’s like a never ending Spring. But I have nothing against the cozy darkness, where you can focus on the inside, and hide away behind candle lit windows in a small apartment.

Clara said the other day that “I’ve been doing a lot during the past two years” of travelling. Perhaps. I don’t feel like it. But I’ve seen and felt many things, and foremost I’ve found many things. I’ve missed a real home, and I’ve been longing for someone to share life with. I now have those things, and I feel more calm than ever. I don’t feel lost any longer, and I can channel my energies not only towards myself any longer, but on to Clara.

All in all, I am immensely blessed.

“A lot of times, people’s interpretations about what you do is not about you. It’s about them and where they sit in their life.”

– Jay Z

Skönast utsikt ha de ställen, som det svårast var att hinna.
Allra kärast blir den mänska, som det kostat mest att finna.

– Karin Boye

Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.

– Thích Nhất Hạnh

Börjar man bara att leta efter hat så hittar man det.
Och när du hittar hat så börjar du själv att hata.

– Isak (“SKAM”, S04E07)

Innocent morning light
Not yet tainted by the actions of day
Fading blissful night
The ecstasy when laying with your bae