PICTURE GALLERY: 1993-1997 

10 photos.

The Horsten family.   From the left, these are my aunt Vibs, my father, my grandfather William, my grandmother Birgitte, and my naughty uncle Wit, in the dining room of my grandparents' house in Copenhagen.   They only agreed to pose for this as it was my grandmother's birthday: 12th July 1993.	This was my grandfather William Horsten (taken sometime between 1993-1995).   He passed away in August 1998, after living a good and meaningful life - he got to be 92 years old.   He was a good example to everyone who knew him, though he used to terrify his grandchildren (myself included) when we were younger: he disliked bare feet, and used to step on our toes to get us to wear shoes.
My boyfriend Shukri and I, in July 1997, in front of the fairy-tale castle of Rosenborg in Copenhagen.   Here, it is the middle of summer, and the sun barely peeks through the clouds...   The castle was built by king Christian IV, as place to entertain people and frolic around, in general.   Today, it's a museum, but it's also used to keep the crown jewels (which are on display, too!).	Again, at Helsingør, with my mother and sister.   The fortress of Kronborg, which lies here, is said to have inspired Shakespeare to write Hamlet (although it was built in its present form after the bard's death).   What's more interesting is the story of Holger Danske - a Danish champion who lies sleeping in the dungeons of the castle, to awaken if Denmark is ever at peril.
And here is my father Fritz, the forester, together with yours truly.   The photo was taken at Helsingør - the narrowest point between Denmark and Sweden, to the north of Copenhagen.   In fact, that is Sweden in the background!	These are my cats Pandora and Falafel.   When we got Pandora in April 1997, she was a little squirt who'd been abandoned at a friend's door.   She soon grew to become a very friendly cat.   In fact, she soon became too friendly for us, so we adopted Falafel from the animal shelter in October 1997, to keep her company during the day...
This photo was taken at "El Malecón" - the waterfront in La Habana - in December 1997.   It is the middle of winter, and yet, warm enough to dress like a tourist...   The fortress in the background is the castle of "El Morro".	And here are my grandparents Roberto and Margarita Bermudez.   They are busy looking at old photos of my sister and I.   I don't see them as often as my Danish family, unfortunately.   They live in La Habana, Cuba - I went to see them for the first time in 5 years in December 1997.   It's a long way from Cape Town to La Habana!
These are my mother Ester and sister Ceci, at my grandparents' flat in La Habana.   My mother is the one to the left!   She's a very wise woman, and a kind mother (when she's not urging us to develop our spiritual selves).   My sister is also studying in Cape Town - social anthropology.	This is one of the famous plumed serpents of the Temple of Quetzalcoatl at Teotihuacán in Mexico - you can still see some of the original colouring.   On my way back from Cuba in January 1998, I found myself in Mexico City with six hours between connecting flights.   So I took a 4-hour tour to the ancient city of Teotihuacán, with the old man Cardenas as my guide (you may find him at the tourism stall next time you go there).   I climbed the Pyramid of the Sun (phew!), saw the Way of the Dead which leads to the smaller Pyramid of the Moon, and walked inside the ancient Citadel.   If you can, do the same!