Finally in the new apartment!!! “Efter mycket om och men…” as we say in Swedish. Translation would be something like ‘After a lot of if’s and but’s…’. Different realtors have different requirements when you are not a Mexican resident. Some require extra deposits, guarantors, or in my case, a security check done by a company, insurance in case I take off, and extra rent deposits. Well, I passed the security check and then it came to sign the lease agreement and paying the insurance. Lease agreement was 14 pages in Spanish. (Thank you Caroline in Puerto Rico for translating despite sick baby crying and storms). Insurance needed to be paid in cash as the 1st months rent. Emptied (not really) an ATM. After adjustments to the agreement, signing and paying, with them having 2 lawyers present, I thought it was finally done.
Nope, next they didn’t want cash. Cash returned and wire transfers needed to be made. BUT, I’m very happy to say that I have finally moved in! Well, still waiting to have the washer/dryer, dish washer and refrigerator installed, but I love the apartment!
Me delivering some necessities to myself the night before moving in.
There’s been a lot of trying and buying furniture, kitchen stuff, and trying out the perfect pillow this past week.
Tiring to run around, but luckily there’s tacos around ever corner to energize you!
When tacos aren’t enough – go for sugar! This crazy donut shop is called The Secret Donut Society. You enter this room to place your donut order.
Then go into this room to pick up your order from one of the mirrored cabinet on the wall.
And then you stuff yourself! By the way, there is almost always a line outside. Only had to wait about 15min to get in…
Good thing there’s a great gym close to me so I can burn off the tacos & donuts 🙂
Also thrown some paint on my face and worked 🙂
Found a great nail salon close by too. Got to keep them claws sharp!
This weeks favorite dogs that I’ve come across 🙂 Last dog probably would’ve jumped out of the window if he’d fit hahhaaaaa….
I’m now seated on my new comfy couch. Should pack up after I finish writing this, but I have a feeling I’ll stay comfy on this couch! I need to charge my batteries because tomorrow my sister gets here – YAY! So happy and excited about that! Already planned some activities and going to be awesome to show her Mexico City!
Since I’m bad (and lazy) at writing a short description about any book that I’ve read, I copied this caption from Amazon about this book:
“People go to Huntington Beach in search of the endless parties, the ultimate highs, and the perfect waves. Ike Tucker has come to look for his missing sister and for the three men who may have murdered her. In that place of gilded surfers and sun-bleached blonds, Ike’s search takes him on a journey through a twisted world of crazed Vietnam vets, sadistic surfers, drug dealers, and mysterious seducers. He looks into the shadows and finds parties that drift toward pointless violence, joyless vacations, and highs you may never come down from…and a sea of old hatreds and dreams gone bad. And if he’s not careful, his is a journey from which he will never return.”
I liked the book, but I think it’s a book that I will not remember for very long. Some books make a deep impression on me, or something really sticks out in it, usually the story, and I’ll remember the book. This one mostly was a great and fun read, but I doubt I’ll remember details from it next year. Also it felt like the ending was a bit hastily finished compared to the rest of the book. It’s a good read though!
Dawn Patrol by Don Winslow
I did get intrigued about the surfing culture from ‘Tapping the Source”. I think this one was slightly better than the above. Again, caption from Amazon:
“Every morning Boone Daniels catches waves with the other members of The Dawn Patrol: four men and one woman as single-minded about surfing as he is. Or nearly. They have “real j-o-b-s”; Boone, however, works as a PI just enough to keep himself afloat. But Boone’s most recent gig-investigating an insurance scam—has unexpectedly led him to a ghost from his past. And while he may have to miss the biggest swell of his surfing career, this job is about to give him a wilder ride than anything he’s ever encountered. Filled with killer waves and a coast line to break your heart, The Dawn Patrolwill leave you gasping for air.”
Exciting book and I liked reading about San Diego trivia & history, since I used to spend some time down there when I first got to the US. I liked that it kept you guessing how it would end until the last few pages. Easy, fast and exciting book and I recommend it.
Another book by Don Winslow that is amazing and that I really recommend is ‘The Winter of Frankie Machine’. Super great!
This Is Your Mind on Plants by Michael Pollan
I loved Michael Pollan’s book – Change Your Mind. It literally made me experience and experiment with some more psychedelics myself 🙂 I guess you decide if that’s good or bad LOL. I’m a great believer in how they can help people in some instances, instead of traditional medication. Expected this book to be similar and as great, but I was a bit disappointed. I enjoyed getting the history of opium and mescaline. The caffeine section had some interesting parts too, but overall the book was just not as amazing as his first book.
Here are a couple of sections in the book that I highlighted. Very interesting and true facts!
“All who try to construct a sturdy definition of drugs eventually run aground. Is chicken soup a drug? What about sugar? Artificial sweeteners? Chamomile tea? How about a placebo? If we define a drug simply as a substance we ingest that changes us in some way, whether in body or in mind (or both), then all those substances surely qualify. “
“Is it the quality of addictiveness that renders a substance illicit? Not in the case of tobacco, which I am free to grow in this garden. Curiously, the current campaign against tobacco dwells less on cigarettes’ addictiveness than on their threat to our health. So is it toxicity that renders a substance a public menace? Well, my garden is full of plants—datura and euphorbia, castor beans, and even the leaves of my rhubarb—that would sicken and possibly kill me if I ingested them, but the government trusts me to be careful. Is it, then, the prospect of pleasure—of “recreational use”—that puts a substance beyond the pale? Not in the case of alcohol: I can legally produce wine or hard cider or beer from my garden for my personal use (though there are regulations governing its distribution to others). So could it be a drug’s “mind-altering” properties that make it evil? Certainly not in the case of Prozac, a drug that, much like opium, mimics chemical compounds manufactured in the brain. “
Pollan, Michael. This Is Your Mind on Plants. Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Tomorrow I hopefully sign the contract for the new apartment. Keep your fingers crossed, because I really want to move and settle in. I have learned not to get too excited before papers are actually signed and I’m holding the key. Until then, shit can happen 🙂
Sunday evening In Mexico City. Arrived here exactly one week ago last Sunday night. I got everything packed although I had to go buy one more suitcase to fit everything 🙂 The espresso machine & coffee grinder just had to come (life essentials) so that was pretty much one suitcase.
Of course there was the last minute throwing stuff away that just didn’t fit. There was a huge black trash bag full of skimpy outfits.The next morning when I left to work out, I spot a pair of my metallic hotpants outside the entrance to my building. Weird I thought, they must’ve fallen out even though I tied the bag. When I passed the trash containers, all of my stuff had been spread out on the ground LOL… Guess no one was in need of any fishnets and neon colored lingerie 🙂
Sad that I had to leave my Xmas tree behind that served year around for 2 years now hahahaaaa…
Had to squeeze in one last beach day with Masha. Wow, found such a cool spot and stayed until the sun went down and we were all alone on the beach…
Finally came Sunday and time for Mexico. Good thing there are Uber XL’s 🙂
I love flying and getting the aerial view from above.
And look at this cool dog that boarded too hahhaaaaa…
And when you are Puma Swede, they give you your initial on you food tray. Or could’ve been just old regular Pepper & Salt if you lack imagination hahaahahaa…
Got called aside for an extra check up of all the luggage at Mexico City airport. They acted very casual when they packed up clear stripper heels, a coffee grinder and Pussitive merchandise. I’m just happy they didn’t pack up the bag with toys and vibrators LOL! One bag even gave up and had to be taped and put in a plastic bag.
I missed all the food here! Had to start out like a champion and went to Niddo. Wow, wow, wow!!!! It’s a must when here. Just look at these pancakes! It’s a super popular spot so be prepared to wait if you show up at popular times!
I have to give 2 more recommendations. Casa Virginia and Anatol. Super great, tasty food & cocktails!
And my other favorite thing here is all the dogs everywhere!
But then I came across these 3 beauties. So cool and one of them started chewing down paper and some trash. They told me they eat everything. Made me think of the movie Snatch (great movie) and the guy that says:
“And when you got your six pieces, you gotta get rid of them, because it’s no good leaving it in the deep freeze for your mum to discover, now is it? Then I hear the best thing to do is feed them to pigs. You got to starve the pigs for a few days, then the sight of a chopped-up body will look like curry to a pisshead. You gotta shave the heads of your victims, and pull the teeth out for the sake of the piggies’ digestion. You could do this afterwards, of course, but you don’t want to go sievin’ through pig shit, now do you? They will go through bone like butter. You need at least sixteen pigs to finish the job in one sitting, so be wary of any man who keeps a pig farm. They will go through a body that weighs 200 pounds in about eight minutes. That means that a single pig can consume two pounds of uncooked flesh every minute. Hence the expression, “as greedy as a pig.”
Between apartment hunting I got some photos and videos done…
That is pretty much everything from this past week in CDMX. Tomorrow viewing 4 apartments. Left an offer for one today and will see if it gets accepted tomorrow. Cross your fingers 🙂 Thought it would be easier to find a furnished place here, but the nicer apartments are all unfurnished. But hey, they got IKEA here!
…you have a lot to do, but instead you don’t do anything. I know I need to pack stuff up, but instead I just go through things, shuffle them around, and then go and have a coffee. At the same time I know I’m going to be pissed a couple of days before taking off leaving everything to the last minute. I haven’t been totally worthless though. I made 2 runs to the consignment store with stuff and probably threw out 10 big trash bags of junk.
I also want to make sure I have time to enjoy the beach before heading to Mexico City. Went to Piñones twice last week. One of my favorite beaches here in PR. Masha and I went after our workout one morning and there where only 5 other people there.
The next morning I went back with Annie. Guess I was so relaxed I forgot to even take one picture. But I did get a great tan!
I was on Instagram a couple of weeks ago and found a photographer here in PR. Liked his style of pics and after a couple of DM’s we finally shot last week. He also recommended a great make up artist so I just showed up and got taken care of 🙂
A very fun shoot. I like working with people that have humor and like to get creative. Will show you some more pro pics when I get them.
The next day I got emails with my Uber fare there and back. Going there was $74 and coming back less than $10. The driver going there missed an exit and we ended pretty far out and off route. I freaked out a little when I looked at my phone in the car and noticed I was very far off from my destination. With some Spanglish I understood he was waiting to exit and turn around. Luckily I didn’t get chopped up in the jungle this time either! Wrote Uber and they credited me $30. Not good enough. Wrote them back and finally my fare there matched my fare coming back.
Don’t have the luxury to always have a pro make up artist and photographer around. Have to settle for the DIY style at home 🙂
Almost finished with 2 books. Watched more TV the past week. Binge watched the series ‘Euphoria’. Didn’t think I’d like it, but it was great! Can’t wait to see the main character Zendaya in Dune when it’s released.
Also saw a great movie – ‘Another Round’ with Mads Mikkelsen. It’s a comedy drama and I loved it.
Just finished a big cup of coffee while writing this. Now shower and shoot some custom orders. In the afternoon Masha is picking me up and we’re going to some new beach she found 🙂 And I will try to pack a little too even though it’s so boring ugh…
…best things about Puerto Rico is all of the beaches. So hot during the day, so I prefer to go around 6pm when the sun is setting.
On Sunday, I felt I wanted to go swim and read by the lagoon again. I did start to swim and 2 minutes later the sky opened up and gave me a free shower. I tried to hide under a tree with a towel over me, but I was drenched in like 3 minutes hahahaaa… Ran and took cover in a tunnel with the rest from the beach. But hey, the rain stopped and perfect opportunity for bikini pics 🙂
Sometimes I fake going to the beach too. Like in this photoset. Fake it till you make it 😉
More content from this week… Have to work between my beach sets.
Got some touched up pics that I shot in Vegas. Damn! Wish I looked this flawless without touch ups hahhaaaa…
Long time no see Caramelo! He came over and went through my suitcase. Nothing in there impressed him.
Then his human mom came over and we tried to communicate in Spanglish. As I understood it, Caramelo caught this little bird and they were now nursing it. I saw it couple of days ago again and the birdie seems in good spirits 🙂
Finished ‘Defending Jacob’ by William Landay. Soooooo gooood! A legal thriller and very exiting. Also makes you think about what you’d do yourself if your kid was accused of murder AND you maybe not 100% sure he’s innocent. I can really recommend this book!
And if you want an other great book – try mine 🙂 I have a couple of copies at home that I’m selling before I move. You can have it signed and with a personal message if you want. Just write a comment if you want one 🙂
Forgot to publish this yesterday so I’ll add one more thing I found out last night. I went for a walk and up on the street I chatted with the cat-lady. I think I told you about her before. She has like 20 cats and she’s my source of information when it comes to happenings here. Last night she told me that a black SUV stopped outside the entrance of my building. Two men got out and picked up a parked vespa and put it in the back of the SUV and drove away. Luckily there’s cameras on this street and the perpetrators are now shown all over Twitter so I guess they’ll be caught 🙂
Drinking a big cup of coffee and then getting this day going 🙂 Have a great week you all!
….and it’s sweaty to say the least! It’s enough to go get groceries, 10 min away, and I get back and go straight to the shower! I don’t have hot water, (not enough pressure to reach the top floor),but now it doesn’t matter, it’s perfect to cool down fast!
I got 3 weeks here before I go back to Mexico. Gonna stay there long term is my plan. Going to let go of this apartment and I’m already overwhelmed with all the stuff I need to get rid off. My plan is to pack 2 suitcases. Might have to ship a box or 2 too 🙂 This will be the 3rd time I ‘pack up’ my home and kind of start over. In a way it feels like a cleanse to get rid of stuff. But inside me lives a little hoarder too, that wants to keep everything!
Haven’t unpacked my suitcase yet, so boring and tiresome to unpack! I usually just keep grabbing stuff out of the suitcase after a trip and after a couple of weeks is almost empty hahhaaaa…
Today my friend Jose and his friend David picked me up for brunch – yummy! Both the brunch and the boys hahhaaaa!
Yesterday was spent shooting some custom videos… Only ‘safe’ pick I had time to snap 🙂
A couple of pics when shooting in Utah…
And this is me saying adios to Utah. I liked the airport! Can’t miss a cool spot without taking a picture, or more like 20 so I have a few to choose from. It’s not always great to hang with me, cause I see a lot of photo ops everywhere and they need to be captured!
Also finished my first book on my Kindle – ‘Brave New World’ by Aldous Huxley. I loved it. It was published in 1932 and I don’t think what he wrote back then is so off from today.
From Amazion – “Aldous Huxley’s profoundly important classic of world literature, Brave New World is a searching vision of an unequal, technologically-advanced future where humans are genetically bred, socially indoctrinated, and pharmaceutically anesthetized to passively uphold an authoritarian ruling order–all at the cost of our freedom, full humanity, and perhaps also our souls.”
I do believe we are headed to even more technologically-advanced future and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone said there are places where humans are genetically bred. That’s just me 🙂
Also when leaving Vegas Sophie gave me this book – ‘Overcome’ by Amber Van De Bunt. She might be more known under her performer name Karmen Karma. It’s a memoir of abuse, addiction, sex work, and recovery. Wow, what crazy stories and I’m impressed she gotten through it all! All the best to her! I read it in 4 days and can recommend it.
Time to take an other shower to cool off. Somehow my friend Masha convinced me to sign up to work out in the park at 06.30 am tomorrow morning. Seemed like a great idea at the time. Now, not so much! Probably only time you can work out outdoors here without a heatstroke though!
Just back in Utah from Vegas. So much fun seeing and hanging with my friend Sophie Dee. She picked me up from the airport last week on Thursday. It was pretty much a packed schedule from that point. Since Sophie is a pro, she already had booked a make-up artist to come over and paint our faces before the evening activities.
Before & After. I wish someone could fix my face & hair every morning before I take on the day!
No one told me all the plans and I only packed a carry on. Luckily there was more than enough to choose from in Sophie’s closet. Picked this little number and off we went.
We had dinner at Wally’s Wine & Spirit’s at the new hotel Resort World. Then hit the club AYU. Even though we were outdoors it was so hot! I was very excited to be out and about again so I missed taking any pictures.
Best part of staying at Sophie’s house (besides Sophie) is her 6 cats and 2 dogs. Every morning 1 or 2 cats would jump into bed and cuddle until I let them escape hahahaaa…. Just look on that chokehold I have on the cat in the 2nd pic LOL…
I couldn’t memorize their names so I called all the cats Kit Kat and the doggs were Doggies.
2nd day it was time to shoot. Same great make up artist from Thursday came over and fixed us up. Then the photographer showed up and poses were thrown, backs arched, lips pouted, outfits changed, and awesome pics were taken!
Had time for a quick nap after and then it was time to head out again. Did a lounge at the Cosmopolitan to warm up and then hit Marquee. Even managed to venture into Sapphires for a little bit before heading home.
Spent the 3rd morning and day recovering by the pool. By 3pm it was time for food with this awesomely hot couple at Virgin Hotel. I had one drink and my clothes started slipping hahhaaaaa…
Barely had time to put on another of Sophie’s outfits before it was time to go again. This time to Area 15. Trippy place and just my type of spot! We ate at The Best and got to taste about everything on the menu. WOW! I overdid my eating, but that didn’t stop me from stuffing half the dessert tray in me too!
Perfect to hit the club after and dance. Loved the music!
Then it was Sunday and 4th of July. We spent it at the house with friends and later watched the fireworks at the clubhouse that had a band playing. Pretty exhausted after being out & about, so it was nice to have a chill Monday. Woke up with one of the cats in bed and his cat-butt in my face – thanks!
Also finished ‘Shutter Island’ by Dennis Lehane. I loved the book! Suspenseful and what’s really happening on the island? Then the twist in the end – yes! Just as good as ‘Mystic River’ that I read in Mexico so you want great books – grab these 🙂
Last day in Utah now. Already been out and gotten my lashes filled in. Tomorrow I’m flying back to Puerto Rico so need to arrive in style.
Hope your had a fun 4th of July celebration and that your week taken off great! Safe flying to me tomorrow and catch you from PR 🙂
…week in Utah has flown by. I love that I can get all my beautifications done here. Last summer when I was here I found Luxe Beauty Day Spa. I love that the lady (forgot her name) doesn’t hold back when she adds on the lash extensions. She agrees with me when I say ‘more is more’. So many times they try to convince me that it’s not natural looking with these huge, voluminous lashes, but that’s the whole point I think 🙂 If I was satisfied with natural looking, I wouldn’t get them done in the first place! She also gave me a touch up on my brows. I’m now ready to face the world and do not get in the way of my lashes hahahaaa…
It’s still super hot here, but in the evening it’s a perfect temperature for a walk. You almost always see a mountain range as a backdrop to the humongous houses. And sometimes you come across a friendly goat too 🙂
The best walk is the one to Handel’s Ice Cream 🙂 Best homemade ice-cream in Salt Lake City!
Put in some work too. Fans need their Puma and I like to keep them happy 🙂
Found an amazing restaurant and lodge in the woods too. Went straight to chasing waterfalls.
Yesterday was spent in Park City. I love it there. Cute shops, cafes, and restaurants. There was a huge market going on also. Had to constantly remind myself, I’m moving and can’t buy any more stuff! (Unless I can eat it). Sometime I’d like to stay there for a week or visit the Sundance festival when it’s happening. Oh, they also have Swede Alley there. Wonder if they named it after me? Or there’s another great Swede out there I don’t know about?
Finished the book ‘Blood Meridian’ by Cormac McCarthy. I think the book was OK, but if you are going to read a western, ‘Lonesome Dove’ by Larry McMurtry is like 10 times better I think. ‘Blood Meridian’ was partly great, but mostly I felt is was about riding in the desert with no water or food and scalping Indians and killing some other folks that got in the way…
I also bought a Kindle now. I love a physical book, but damn the Kindle is convenient. So much easier to hold when reading in bed. How funny is it that this is the book recommendation I got on it right way?
Cheers to another great week ahead! I’m off to Vegas on Thursday to visit a friend over the weekend 🙂
Been in Salt Lake City in Utah for exactly a week now. I spent a month and a half here last year around the same time and I love it. There’s a crazy heatwave here right now and it’s so hot.
One of my favorite places here is the gym. It’s huge and they have any piece of equipment you’re looking for. Or not looking for… I think this is the gym with the fittest people I’ve ever seen. Very motivating working out being surrounded by massive muscles and 6-packs hahahaaaa… Checking my gains!
My hair needed maintenance badly. Luckily while trying out a new coffee shop, I saw there was a hair salon upstairs in the building. What are the odds that it would be a great salon I thought. Well, after some Googling and reading reviews, I found out it’s rated as one of the best salons in SLC. And even more amazing was that they had a cancellation the next day and I got it! My plan was to just fix the roots, but as usual I got carried away…
What do you think? I love it! If you’re in SLC and need to fix your mane – Tallulah East Collective is the place!
Obviously I needed to capture some pics and video the next day. Nothing better than when the professionals fix your hair and it’s maintenance free for a couple of days. Better take advantage of that…
Also about 25min outside of town, there is this great farm where you can buy great meats, eggs, and raw milk. It’s called Utah Natural Meat & Milk. I like my meat grass-fed and hormone free! Best part was to say hi to the horses on the farm!
What I love the most here is the nature. There’s hikes everywhere and you don’t have to drive far to find a trailhead. Yesterday we hiked to Blood Lake and continued to Lake Lackawaxen. Pretty cool that there’s still snow up in the mountains. It’s a nice and easy trail but some annoying mosquitos around the lakes 🙂
There are so many great coffee shops here. Right now I’m sitting writing to you at The Honeysuckle Coffee Co. Their coffee is the bomb and they bake their own pastries which I can’t resist!
Oh, and if there’s any daddies out there – Happy Fathers Day to you! I’ll keep working for a bit more and I’m thinking about going to buy a Kindle. I love physical books, but with all the moving around, I hate leaving them behind.
I hope you are enjoying your weekend and I’m going to leave you with the link to one of the best newsletters I subscribe to – https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1. His name is James Clear and he’s written the popular book ‘Atomic Habits’. I haven’t read his book yet, but I love his newsletters.
My visit to Mexico is coming to an end. Would be even more sad if I didn’t know that I will be back in August 🙂 Tomorrow we are flying to Utan and staying with Ari’s family. Very excited about that since I love being there. More about Utah when I get there 🙂
In my last blog I wrote that I felt better on Sunday. But that was apparently a joke. On Monday I got a stomach flu and pretty much lived in the bathroom. You don’t need more details than that LOL… I tried charcoal powder, oregano oil and some pills from the pharmacy, but nothing helped. Finally called a doctor that gave me some stronger pills and felt better later that day already.
Felt good to emerge back to normal life and be out and about without scouting for a bathroom, just in case hahhaaa…
Also straight back to being a sleazeball!
I met a cool girl named Daniella. She knows all the good spots here and recommended a place name Boxque Teva. Wow, don’t even know how to describe this place. Like a hobbit place for adults in the woods. I felt right at home. Some architect built a bunch of similar houses here and the place is just amazing! 45min from Mexico City and a $10 Uber ride away. If you are here, you must visit this place!
And look at the room we stayed in! Like something out of Red Light District in Amsterdam hahahaaa…
On Thursday morning at 7.30 Daniella came and we did breathing exercises and then cold plunge like Wim Hof. I’ve never been able to stay in more than 20 sec. This time I sat in for 2 minutes! When I was able to relax just a little, it felt OK. But I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to being in ice cold water even though I’m a Finn.
I did enjoy the hot tub better at night time 🙂
I can’t wait to come back here! Here’s their website if you want to book a room or some activities they have 🙂 https://boxqueteva.com/
Also finished this book while sick – ‘Popular Hits of the Show Era’ by Ryu Murakami. Hmm, how to describe it. Violently funny. A male and female gang in Tokyo start killing each other. I thought it was a funny book and can recommend it.
Got our Covid tests done yesterday so we are allowed back in the US. All negative 🙂
Gonna do some shopping today and start packing. And obviously eat tacos 🙂
