Ferry to Åstol, Sweden

Dear Diary,

Is it possible that a platter of smoked shrimp enjoyed on a small Swedish island in the North Sea can be a transformative experience?

 

I'm here to tell you, it's true.

 

But first, you have to get there.

 

And that requires a drive to the shoreline where a waiting ferry is docked.

 

The ride itself is quick, probably less than 10 minutes if that - but I cannot be certain because I was distracted by the beauty that surrounded me.

("Welcome to Åstol")

The island is stripped of all complication, stress and even automobiles. To navigate the island, the only options available were either bike or our own two feet.

I enjoyed every second of our walk, the narrow sidewalks cutting through the small neighborhoods.

(The sea sustains the island, as you can imagine.)

I cannot think of a place to compare it to - the island stands alone.

In fact, it's a place that will forever serve as a benchmark for comparison.

I loved everything about it.

And then, there are the views. As you can see, it was a struggle to narrow the field of images. Skipping one felt like a disservice.

I can almost smell the cleansing air as I write this post and review my photographs.

 

(Note to track down these chandeliers.)

This is the charming restaurant we dined at, bathed in light.

Seated on the dock, at a table and chairs made entirely of cement and draped with sheepskin, we were treated to our first tastes of smoked shrimp. The delightful combination of the salty sea breezes, my savory Sauvignon Blanc and the warmth of the sun set the tone for one of my favorite moments of our trip. We indulged in conversation and comraderie with our close friends.

It was a chance to take a moment, simple as it may be, and it became something big. It's funny how the little things turn out to be the most meaningful.

Now to track down a cement outdoor dining set and sheepskin to incoporate the charm of Åstol at our homestead here in Minnesota.

Smoked shrimp, anyone?

Scenes from Downtown Kalmar, Sweden

Dear Diary,

Not much has changed since our last visit to Kalmar a couple of years ago.

The city is still just as charming as ever.

 

I've used that word a lot to describe Sweden, haven't I?

This time, however, our children were in accompaniment. I was excited to share with them the cobblestone streets and historic architecture I fell in love with.

Located near the Baltic Sea, the city's been inhabited since ancient times and archeologists have discovered traces of stone age grave fields. Evidence of the existence of a town at this site dates back to the 11th century. And, according to folk lore, Norwegian king Saint Olaf had his ships moved to Kalmar. In fact, it was one of Sweden's most important cities from the thirteenth to seventeenth centuries.  

The oldest city seal of Kalmar is from somewhere between 1255 and 1267, making it the oldest known city seal in Scandinavia.

It remains a fine example of classicistic architecture.

(I pulled so many ideas to incorporate in my own home.)

The city's footprint is dotted with a few squares (much like that of Savannah), which were filled with restaurants, pubs, fountains and public stages.

(The doors were impressive, each more elaborate and ornate than the last.)

The Kalmar Cathedral

Designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, the cathedral is one of the foremost examples of baroque classicism in Sweden. Work began in 1660 but progress was interrupted on several occasions, including when the Scanian War raged from 1675-1679. Construction finally finished in 1703.

(Another view of the cathedral.) 

Unfortunately, I still have yet to get inside the Renaissance castle, which I'm told is stunning. Two years ago we walked the grounds and around its exterior, and my curiosity has been alive with wonder ever since. It just means we'll have to return a third time so I can cross this off my list!

My pictures of Kalmar, including the castle, taken on our first visit to Sweden can be found here.

Exploring Sweden

Dear Diary,

Sweden has a unique and gorgeous landscape that must be experienced to be believed.

On this trip, we distanced ourselves from the country's major cities. Stockholm is on our "someday" list of places to travel to, of course - but we were looking for a slow down.

Sweden's countryside and smaller towns served us with the relaxation we needed, and it was a fitting close to our busy summer of lacrosse tournaments and sporting events.

You're surrounded by towering pine trees.

In fact, I felt like I was walking through a living scene of Frozen, which I'm certain I've commented on the blog before, as the environment felt like such a fantasy.

At any given moment the boulders would awaken, and we'd break out into song.

I confess to feeling slight reminders of Minnesota wherever I turned. A happy sunflower, the lush greenery - I cannot deny the connection, and wonder if perhaps it is the reason why Scandinavians chose to resettle in Minnesota at the height of immigration to the States over a century ago.

Inlets of the Baltic Sea

Roadtrip Across The Country

(This roadside scene reminded me of the 7 Sisters in San Francisco due to the symmetry. I admit to preferring the simplicity of Swedish homesteads.)

Petrol Stations in Sweden 

E-95 Petrol cost 15.92kr per liter, and with the conversion rate of 9.1 kroner = $1, it cost about $60 to fill our tank.

Getting There

Our journey to Scandinavia began in Minneapolis where we boarded a direct flight to Amsterdam (7.5 hours), then a quick connection flight to Copenhagen (approximately 1 hour) before hopping a train to Lund, Sweden. There, we rented a Volvo SUV to complete our travels to Påryd, Sweden.

Our B&B accommodations were quite comfortable and welcome following a long day of travel. 

We had some jet lag to contend with during the first couple of days, which is typical.

 (I now want an old cast iron stove.)

Related Posts from our 2016 Sweden trip: Sunset View from 18D // Scenes of Sweden // Midsummer Celebrations // A Walk Through Swedish Pines

After a restful night's sleep and a giant mug of coffee, we were ready to take in Sweden's beauty ...