From the moment he saw the mist coming off the fountain he knew one thing had to happen.
The only thing that could happen and that is for this wall of mist to blow over him so that he could feel the complete effect. So here he waits but so far nothing.
Nope,that didn't work. Why not get a little closer?
Not happening. Let's try it from over here. "I think it's coming!" Almost, ....almost. Not yet.
And when you least expect it. The mist will rise up to meet you.
From the moment he saw the mist coming off the fountain he knew one thing had to happen.
The only thing that could happen and that is for this wall of mist to blow over him so that he could feel the complete effect. So here he waits but so far nothing.
Nope,that didn't work. Why not get a little closer?
Not happening. Let's try it from over here. "I think it's coming!" Almost, ....almost. Not yet.
And when you least expect it. The mist will rise up to meet you.
For about $10, we rented bicycles for an entire 24 hour period. For little "O" this means that one may never dismount their bicycle and that we are to ride them everywhere. No problem if you are riding on a flat surface but we're in Visby, home of the cobble stone streets and an elevation that starts at sea-level and then rises to this huge cliff on top of the walled city. Oh and lets not forget that we are in the middle of a heat wave that even has the locals complaining. After about an hour or so, my giddy-up got up and went. It was time to intervene with a suggestion, "Why not ride along the sea coast bike road?"
Nothing made me happier than when this sweet boy agreed with much enthusiasm.
So off we went to see what we could discover.
First up, a family of swans. Who were so very sweet. "Do you know they mate for life mom? Just like humans."
We continued on past beautiful coastal scenes on the left and incredible clifts on the right.
We arrived at a little fishing village.
We had rode 5 kilometres and so it was time to turn around and go back to Visby.
As we returned to Visby a long line of bicycles with little wagons on the back of their bicycles were getting ready to start by the looks of it, a very long journey.
"Where are you going? Little O asked.
"We are biking around the entire island and staying in little huts in the evenings." Informed the biker papa.
"How many days does it take to go around the island?"
"Oh about 4 days if you don't stop too much but as you can see we have many children with us so it will take about a week."
Boy, that caught his attention. His eyes were all sparkly with the notion of biking around the whole island. "Can we do it today mom? or should we put it on our life list?"
Without a moments hesitation I said,"Life List!"
So with that idea we said good bye to our newly made biking friends.
and look forward to a ride around the island one day. One day we I get a loveseat for my bicycle.;)
Ahoy mate! What are you spying?
Intently he keeps looking.
When he finally says," I see........... a pirate ship."
Known as the rock concert of politics, Almedalen Week is an annual event taking place in the first week of July in and around Almedalen, a park in the city of Visby on the Swedish island Gotland. With speeches, seminars and other political activities, it is considered an important forum in Swedish politics.
During the week, representatives from the major political parties in Sweden take turns to hold speeches in Almedalen.
The origins of the Almedalen Week are the speeches held by Olof Palme every summer in Visby, beginning in 1968. The first official Almedalen Week took place in 1982, when the Social Democrats started to organise economic seminars. As a response, the other political parties started to take a more active part. In recent years, the event has grown larger, with hordes of journalists (350 2008), lobbyists, local and national politicians and representatives of non-governmental organizations, all coming to Visby to meet, discuss politics and socialize.
After everything is said and done, there are a few reminders left behind.
A Swedish flag on top of a
medieval wall in Visby Gotland, Sweden.
Around the corner and through the archway, led us to the ramparts.
Nearby, under a tree, was a scale model of the ramparts the city had reconstructed on the wall.
Totally engaged and completely inspired, the boy sets how to figure out how to build his own city wall with ramparts for the fairy village.
I think our fairy village is going Middle Ages. In fact I'm sure of it.
All of us here on Gotland are wishing our sweet Zaina a very happy 21st birthday today. We miss you sweet girl.
There is nothing better than a kind friend waiting for you.
who's that? she asks.
"It's Valli and Omar."... and that's about as excited as she gets, but we'll take it.
Every summer, around midsummer time, Swedes head to their summer houses for a month or more of just pure vacation with family and friends. I've decided to do the same this year and so my little man "O" and I have headed to Gotland where we will visit family, stay at a horse farm called Avonlea, visit all of our neighbors, especially our good friends "The Svangrens", go to viking camp, and just live the island life of Gotland.
We are needing a couple of days to adjust to the new time zone and be kissed and hugged profusely by our loving family. We'll be back in a very short bit to share our summer life with all of you. Until then be well.
By Per Svangren
On the Ferry to Gotland
Four days break in Sweden as it is Kristi Himmelsfärd. Thursday was a red day, meaning people are off work and school, then Friday, klämdag, a day between a red day and weekend, so many people take a vacation day from work. And then it is Saturday and Sunday and most people are free from work. So most Swedes have four days for a vacation.
For me it means Gotland. So Wednesday afternoon after work, we went to Nynäshamn and took the ferry to Visby and Gotland. It is a trip of 3 hours and 15 minutes. Today the ferry was completly full, which is 1500 passengers. The trip was calm, as it often is and 3 hours will give us time to eat, watch the movie, read or work a bit.
Food is for us homecooked food we brought with us. The food on the boat is not so good and too expensive compared to what is served. So a home made salad with some sandwiches is perfect together with hot strong coffee. Todays movie was ”This is it” with Michel Jackson.
Sunny days will be perfect for sitting outdoors on the deck to watch islands and houses first and then the open sea.
When coming closer to Gotland you see the old town Visby getting bigger and bigger until the boat is in the harbour and we can drive our car out from the boat and head towards our goal, Rute.
Can you believe it's snowing again today in Sweden? It's the end of April and it's snowing. I've heard from a very reliable source that this is just the way the weather is in April. Totally unpredictable. So let's not think about this anymore. Let's think about a warmer day last fall, when the flowers were still in bloom, and the vintage/antiquing was fine.
As we were meandering along country roads on our way to the next castle, we happened to pass over hither and yon to find a very large red barn in the distance.
On the side was the word "Antique" or Antik, in Swedish. Who's in? Per asked. The car was stopped. All car doors flew open and out popped the gang to venture into the "old".
As we walked in, Swedish records from the 1940's were playing. It smelled old and it took my eyes a couple of minutes to adjust and then it was as if I was at my grandmother's house.
Old painted chests,oriental carpets, household items,wooden furniture,china,pottery.
Oh....all the things that I love and that are wonderful. They even had a "modern" vintage room with everything from the 60's and 70's. That's when we found the stairs, which would lead us two more flights up, each floor filled with old antique furniture,bathroom items, and......and......fabric. If I ever need to furnish a house, I'm coming here.
Now wasn't that little vintage excursion much better than showing you endless photos of snow in April? Maybe another day we'll do that but for now, let's think sun and warm weather.
Back on Friday ..........oh, before I go, anyone up for revamping a swing set? This one needs some help.
