June

Our experience of Sweden in the summer, so far, has been nothing short of spectacular.  Ever since summer solstice, we have mainly had sunny days, blue skies, and that sort of perfect warmth that comes from regions close to the sea.  Breezy, really warm in the sun, sometimes chilly in the shade or evening.  Never humid.  This is where the kids have really come to experience the kind of life I hoped for them to have.  Immediate access to safe spaces outdoors, plenty of room to explore and let their imaginations run wild. Of course, if you’ve ever met Linnea or Nora, you’d know they are not lacking in imagination!  Nonetheless, the open spaces give them more fuel for their dramas to play out.

Right in time for the Swedish celebration of midsummer, my parents arrived.  Their main goal was to see our way of life.  Where we live, how we shop, what we do….

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

•  One of our first excursions was a nearby lakeside beach in Diö.  
• A 2 year old can pretend to be a train on the tracks or a 4 year old can, you know, plant a tree. 
• A visit to Råshult’s ecologically minded café was rewarded with the experience of walking back into time to see how Carl Linnaeus had lived in the 1700s. 
• We made it back to Råshult for their annual Midsommarfest-a display of traditional Swedish dress and folk dancing, songs, and dancing around the maypole.
• My mother is a church musician so I wanted to show her a typical Swedish “kyrka”, or church.  It was my first visit to the village of Stenbrohult’s kyrka.  It is in a beautiful setting. Here one can see pastures with cows grazing, a view of Lake Möckeln, and an amazing variety of wildflowers in the meadows. 
• Our next adventure took us East to Kalmar and then Öland.  We visited historic Kalmar slott, or castle and then continued to the place we were to stay in Öland, called Svalgården.  We had a lovely stay in the old granary that was converted to two little apartments. The area is close to a World Heritage site and is well-known for the great bird-watching opportunities. There we took day trips to a nearby lighthouse and beach.  
• On our way back home, we stopped at Kosta Boda for a guided tour. We learned that Kosta is the oldest glassblowing business in Sweden.  We were able to go to the hot shop, to see a few pieces being created by the skilled artisans from beginning to end. 
• The final Swedish adventure was at Stenshuvud National Park.  At the café outside the park we had the best cookies and cinnamon rolls and lunch ever.  We were looking for the famed “all you can eat cookie buffet” but instead ended up at a different café which was far more quaint, charming, and delicious (I think). Then there was a short walk through the woods to the beautiful white sand beach where we spent the rest of the day. 
• To wrap up my parents’ visit, we all took to Copenhagen, Denmark for a visit to Tivoli.  Along the way, we stopped at the Catholic church to see the pipe organ. The organist was playing when we walked in, and I don’t think I can find the words to explain the music and the way it filled the space.  At Tivoli, we enjoyed the usual child-friendly rides and special once-a year treats like candy-floss.  On the walk back to the subway, we stopped by Nyhavn where the view of the canal was spectacular at sunset. My parents flew out of Copenhagen the next day and made it home safely.  Now we must prepare ourselves for the next family adventure where we plan to explore the glacial valleys, mountains, and fjords of Norway. 

Advertisement