Handcrafted Swedish Clogs by Sandgrens

Dear Travel Diary,

I felt compelled to share these photos, because at its surface, few things encapsulate Swedish culture like a pair of wooden clogs.

Deep-rooted in tradition and paired with an effortless sensibility that has withstood many a passing trend, there is a factory in Payrd, Sweden that has been making clogs by hand for over 100 years.

And while these iconic wooden shoes seemingly burst onto the international fashion scene in the 1970s, they are making a comeback in closets around the world thanks to sightings of Kate Moss wearing a pair.

As I snapped these images, the master clog maker at Sandgrens was kind enough to yell over the mechanics of his machinery so I knew what he was doing. To consider footwear an art, is a privilege. To have your hand in it, a calling. To stand within the four walls of this place, I may as well had been in a museum.

For this is the first chapter: Christer, fine-tuning and finishing and refining these fine leathers and wooden bases into footwear. Then, it is packaged up and shipped to the doorsteps and storefronts of the world where the second chapter is written. Sweden's influence is immediately felt in the four corners of the world until it is joined with that of the consumer. When a Sandgrens box arrives, a third chapter is written. It harmonizes with the footsteps, the movements, the lifestyle of the wearer. This pulls forward that tradition, only by now, it has been shared with the world. The legacy is everlasting, and I was so honored to witness its "once upon a time."

This is the last of my Sweden recaps, but certainly not the last time I will visit. 

A Walk Through Swedish Pines

Dear Travel Diary,

Twice I walked within the pristine forests of Payrd, Sweden. Twice I had my camera with me. And twice, I was reminded of the landscapes of the northern Midwest - where the woods creep up to the roadside, the schedules are less stringent, and the "real world" is but a distant memory.

Until I arrived upon this scene -

Sweden is rich in granite, and there are these massive boulders everywhere you look. It reminded me of the trolls from Frozen (thanks Maddie!) which instantly affirmed the fact I was in a Nordic country.

The path was pretty easy to follow, so though I was alone, I was confident I wouldn't get lost. Plus my camera roll held enough evidence to help retrace my steps!

Midsummer Celebrations

Dear Travel Diary,

Midsummer is one of the biggest holidays in Sweden, and the anticipation alone was unlike anything I've previously experienced.

{Some people like the taste of Schnapps more than others, lol}

The entire country observes the holiday, retreating to either the family's summer house on the sea, a campground, or simply their homestead. A traditional meal is served (herring), a song of toast is sung with each round of Schnapps, and the girls wear floral wreaths. Considered a fertility holiday, the belief is that when a girl collects 7 varieties of wild flowers and sleeps with them beneath her pillow, she will dream of her future husband.

 {Driving on E22 to the seaside town of Rafshagen}

 {The beautiful Baltic Sea}

 {He wanted to touch it.}

A Midsummer pole is constructed and danced around.

{Driving back to Kalmar after a fun day - these are the speed limit signs. 110km is about 55 mph.}

But most of all, the holiday is a time to be together. It was a lot of fun to experience and the location of our celebrations beside the Baltic Sea was beyond compare.

Scenes of Sweden

Dear Travel Diary,

What began at 5:30 p.m. Minneapolis time has culminated in a whirlwind travel adventure across the Atlantic, touched down in one American city (Newark) and two European ones (Copenhagen and Kalmar), and 24 hours later - we dropped off our bags at the First Hotel Witt in Kalmar, Sweden.

So it would make sense to collapse into that bed, correct? NO. Instead, we force ourselves to stay awake, seeking the most caffeinated beverage sold in the city (triple shot espresso THANK YOU) to help us keep up with the local time. That is the secret to winning the fight against jet lag. Until I had my coffee, I could have sworn 'tired' was an emotion - I felt that shit deep in my soul.

The city of Kalmar has quite the historical account to tell amongst its modern city planning. Cobblestone streets and brick pavers still compose the majority of the roads and sidewalks. The city is located on the Baltic Sea, so a stone flood wall constructed in the 1600s still reports for duty. There are ancient cannons still poised, and though one hasn't been shot for centuries, their presence tells a unique story. This scene predates the treaty signed in Medieval times by the Scandinavian countries to maintain peace amongst them.

 These photos were taken at 10 p.m.

There is a castle built in the 13th century, and today, parts of the old jail have been converted into the glass-blowing studios that create Sweden's famous glass. I was in awe as I walked in the footsteps of Scandinavian history.

 Kalmar Castle

My final sentiment? There aren't enough hours in a day, days in a week, months in a year nor years in a lifetime to fully appreciate all this world has to teach. I do feel I received the essence of this portion of Sweden - a lovely summary described in the hundreds of photographs I brought home with me. These images trigger so many memories I'm so honored to have.