Sweden
Sverige- The nature of my trip changed completely when I arrived in Stockholm, Sweden. I had not realized it while in Iceland, but I had exhausted myself staying up late, waking early and running around non-stop, taking photographs.
I had not mentioned it in my other entries, but the sun never quite went down while I was in Reykjavik, due to Iceland’s proximity to the polar circle, making for sleepless nights. Additionally, we stayed up late each night, so when I left on the morning of August 22nd, it dawned on me how absolutely exhausted I had become.
I flew into Stockholm, from where I took a train to Töreboda, a small town outside of Mariestad (another small, but not quite as small town. Both are located next to Lake Vänern, the largest lake in Sweden) to visit my old friend Mattias, his wife and now my friend, Jennifer, and their two sons and now friends, Neo and Nimbus.
This was exciting because I had not seen Mattias for 3, 4 or so years, and had never met Jennifer or the boys. I was also excited to see if my Swedish language studies have gotten me anywhere.
I felt like I was at a home away from home and not traveling through some small town in Sweden. It was wonderful. They were incredibly hospitable and I was quickly nestled into their quiet, peaceful world, without any problems.
The only drawback was that my photographic drive was almost wholly replaced by the enjoyment of “hanging out and taking it easy.” My touristic identity took a mongoloid uppercut right to the flippin face and suddenly I was no longer the camera slinging fool I was in Iceland. I could have gone around photographing plant leaves, rice pictures and toilet paper roles arranged in fascinatingly artistic patterns in the house, but I just wanted to take it easy.
And take it easy I did. Dun Dun Dun. (Dramatic, descending piano music)
Rather then organize my photos by any theme, I include here, those that were fun, and that have interesting or personally meaningful content. I did take a few evening walks with Mattias to try and get Nimbus to nap (a challenging and admirable feat, as the little man is just explosively energetic), and so took some photos of the famous Göte Canal, which they live right next to.
Otherwise, we took a trip to Göteborg (Gothenburg), went to a number of beautiful lakes nestled in the woods and to Jennifer’s parents’ summer cottage. We ate a lot, drank beer together, played pool, watched Swedish films, talked, and drank coffee. I even got to go to a “native” birthday party, where I sat grinning nervously like a big stupid idiot until I felt the effects of the beer enough to sit back and try and speak Swedish with them. It was the same from their end, I do believe. It was a nice way to see how good my Swedish really is. Or is not, it’s hard to say.
I can’t omit the fact that there was an astounding number of trampolines in the community, and whether nationally Swedish, or local, the phenomenon was one suitable to my trampoline-ing disposition.
Yes,… I jumped.
One other thing worth mentioning is that I ate pizza that had French fries on top of it. It was a regular menu item, was really tasty and comes highly recommended. If you won’t try it because it seems weird and your one of those unadventurous, “ewe ewe” people, I pity you. You’re missing out.
“What, Maynays n taters, I ain’t eatn nuna it! I’ma frickin American!!” (Southern accent)
Meow!!
Please try this and let me know what you think.
Yes, Sweden was wonderful and I plan to go back soon. I was amazed to go there and realize that I have such good friends in such a far off place, in some small town in a “strange” country, where people sound like this:
“Lurdy durdy burgen. Hurdy durdy lurdy. Byorgen Dyurgen Byergen. OOdy Doody foody. OODY DOODY GOODY!”
That is a cool feeling.
Göteborg-Here are photos of our trip to Gothenburg. There may be a car photo or two from other days, but I like these. Once again, some of these were taken by Jennifer, and I think also by Mattias in the city.
We went to a few lakes and I include photos from a couple different ones. (Jennifer took some of these photos)
Lakes and Fields-I think that one of my favorite things about Sweden is the sky and many flat fields and the lakes mixed together. The sky in the north is beautiful in general, and I find myself taking photos of things that look good to me as backdops for the sky more than of the things themselves.
Radio Tower- I don't know why, but I was really obsessed with this out of use silo/radio tower and took far too many pictures of it. Perhaps I am also including too many here, but I really loved it.
I had not mentioned it in my other entries, but the sun never quite went down while I was in Reykjavik, due to Iceland’s proximity to the polar circle, making for sleepless nights. Additionally, we stayed up late each night, so when I left on the morning of August 22nd, it dawned on me how absolutely exhausted I had become.
I flew into Stockholm, from where I took a train to Töreboda, a small town outside of Mariestad (another small, but not quite as small town. Both are located next to Lake Vänern, the largest lake in Sweden) to visit my old friend Mattias, his wife and now my friend, Jennifer, and their two sons and now friends, Neo and Nimbus.
This was exciting because I had not seen Mattias for 3, 4 or so years, and had never met Jennifer or the boys. I was also excited to see if my Swedish language studies have gotten me anywhere.
I felt like I was at a home away from home and not traveling through some small town in Sweden. It was wonderful. They were incredibly hospitable and I was quickly nestled into their quiet, peaceful world, without any problems.
The only drawback was that my photographic drive was almost wholly replaced by the enjoyment of “hanging out and taking it easy.” My touristic identity took a mongoloid uppercut right to the flippin face and suddenly I was no longer the camera slinging fool I was in Iceland. I could have gone around photographing plant leaves, rice pictures and toilet paper roles arranged in fascinatingly artistic patterns in the house, but I just wanted to take it easy.
And take it easy I did. Dun Dun Dun. (Dramatic, descending piano music)
Rather then organize my photos by any theme, I include here, those that were fun, and that have interesting or personally meaningful content. I did take a few evening walks with Mattias to try and get Nimbus to nap (a challenging and admirable feat, as the little man is just explosively energetic), and so took some photos of the famous Göte Canal, which they live right next to.
Otherwise, we took a trip to Göteborg (Gothenburg), went to a number of beautiful lakes nestled in the woods and to Jennifer’s parents’ summer cottage. We ate a lot, drank beer together, played pool, watched Swedish films, talked, and drank coffee. I even got to go to a “native” birthday party, where I sat grinning nervously like a big stupid idiot until I felt the effects of the beer enough to sit back and try and speak Swedish with them. It was the same from their end, I do believe. It was a nice way to see how good my Swedish really is. Or is not, it’s hard to say.
I can’t omit the fact that there was an astounding number of trampolines in the community, and whether nationally Swedish, or local, the phenomenon was one suitable to my trampoline-ing disposition.
Yes,… I jumped.
One other thing worth mentioning is that I ate pizza that had French fries on top of it. It was a regular menu item, was really tasty and comes highly recommended. If you won’t try it because it seems weird and your one of those unadventurous, “ewe ewe” people, I pity you. You’re missing out.
“What, Maynays n taters, I ain’t eatn nuna it! I’ma frickin American!!” (Southern accent)
Meow!!
Please try this and let me know what you think.
Yes, Sweden was wonderful and I plan to go back soon. I was amazed to go there and realize that I have such good friends in such a far off place, in some small town in a “strange” country, where people sound like this:
“Lurdy durdy burgen. Hurdy durdy lurdy. Byorgen Dyurgen Byergen. OOdy Doody foody. OODY DOODY GOODY!”
That is a cool feeling.
Göteborg-Here are photos of our trip to Gothenburg. There may be a car photo or two from other days, but I like these. Once again, some of these were taken by Jennifer, and I think also by Mattias in the city.
We went to a few lakes and I include photos from a couple different ones. (Jennifer took some of these photos)
Lakes and Fields-I think that one of my favorite things about Sweden is the sky and many flat fields and the lakes mixed together. The sky in the north is beautiful in general, and I find myself taking photos of things that look good to me as backdops for the sky more than of the things themselves.
Radio Tower- I don't know why, but I was really obsessed with this out of use silo/radio tower and took far too many pictures of it. Perhaps I am also including too many here, but I really loved it.
posted by Paul Quillen at 9:36 AM
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