Tag: Gothenburg

Urban Sweden

Many of you know about our trip to Sweden earlier this year. We Country Mice found much that was accessible in the Swedish towns we visited. Pedestrians came first, bikes second, and motorists toed the line and halted to let either of the above pass in front of them. So meandering in Malmö, going round Gothenburg, sauntering in Stockholm, knocking around Kalmar, these are a few of the sights we saw on the urban paths we choose, totally unbothered by passing traffic. There was none..

Malmö’s past and present.

Gothenburg’s watery industrial quarter.

One of Stockholm’s many waterfront views. The featured photo is its skyline as seen from the coastal path below our apartment.

And finally, here we are kicking our heels in Kalmar, within metres of the railway station, the university and a busy shopping mall. Oh, and a fine castle which you’ve already seen. My kind of urban landscape.

For Leanne’s Monochrome Madness.

Pottering in the Park

All my posts about Sweden seem to feature The Great Outdoors. That’s where we often wanted to be. I’m going to show you some of Gothenburg’s parks. They were a wonder. Immaculately maintained, beautifully planted. A refreshing mix of formal, informal, and wild-as-Nature-intended. Just like the parks in the other cities we visited: Stockholm, Kalmar, Malmö. Money shortages mean that many of Britain’s parks are shabbier than they used to be – even Harrogate’s former Jewel-in-the-Crown, Valley Gardens. So seeing such cared-for open spaces in Sweden was a treat and a revelation.

Because they were so near our hotel, we spent time in the Botanical Gardens, open every day, all year round, around the clock. But we barely scratched the surface. We went to Slottsskogen. But we only saw a tiny part of the whole (though we rather liked the maze). And on our last day, because it was right next to the station, we had a little time in Trädgårdsföreningen (The Garden Society of Gothenburg) one of the best preserved 19th century parks in Europe. Every one of these offered us open spaces; enticingly planted flower beds; water – both moving and still; palm houses; magnificent vistas. We didn’t get to explore any of them adequately, much less their wilder parts. Here’s a collage of pictures from all three parks. But please note the robot-mower which I spotted one evening in the Botanical Gardens,, moving methodically up and down an expanse of lawn, keeping it neat and tidy. When it had done what it had to do, it chuntered off and put itself to bed in its little hut.

A Postcard from Sweden

You know how it can be with postcards. Nothing for days. Then they all come at once.

So here’s one from Malmö, our first Swedish port of call.  We wish we’d stayed longer. More later but let’s have this postcard set the scene:

Malmö was where we spent a happy morning with Ann-Christine, who blogs as Leya, and is a key member of the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge team. More photos later!

Now we’re in Gothenburg. Only we weren’t. Our city travel pass allows us not only on buses, trams and trains, but to jump on the ferries plying between the many islands that scatter the coastal area. So we toured the southern archipelago, visiting 3 small islands, including Vrångö and its nature reserve. Photos now. Stories later.

Rain tomorrow? Probably. Never mind.