http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/5-Swedish-Meatballs/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from 5 Swedish Meatballs en-us Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:01:55 +0000 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:01:55 +0000 I wrote the following blog just two weeks after we returned...that was almost 2 months ago. I've been using the excuse that I wanted to add some good photos but that's just an excuse. It's the last one and then the adventure is truly over. I'm not sure I'm ready for that. Like most things the memories get better with a little time and distance. Our friends the Marchionne's fellow American http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/blog-427733.html In one of my first blogs I said it's one thing to say you're going to live in another country for a year and entirely another to actually do it or something like that. Well we did it. We're home we're safe we're grateful. I wanted to share some recap and reentry thoughts with you.I blogged about my unsightly tooth gap weight gain and bad haircuts. I've decided to live with the gap fo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Minnesota/blog-418938.html When I was little my Mom frequently said those words as we returned to the farm following an adventurehellipand an adventure might have been a trip to the local pool the doctor or the grocery storehellipthat didnrsquot matter. I loved when she threw that bit of whimsy onto the end of a trip and I still think those very words when I drive into the farm where I grew up. Home again home ag http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Minnesota/blog-418923.html In our eighteen years of marriage Jeff and I have moved a lot. Emma moved seven times her first seven years. Good bye is not a foreign language for us. We are SO excited to go home but that doesn't make good bye any easier. Rather than dwelling on that word I'm just going to share some of the events surrounding those words.These past few weeks have been unseasonably gorgeous. On more http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/Halland/blog-413220.html It's quite possible that our Midsummer didn't have enough drama to really suit Shakespeare. This is another long post but I hope you find it easy to read. Midsummer is celebrated in many countries however it's the Swedes who hold fast to this particular tradition that welcomes summer with great fanfare. We were lucky enough to land amongst a group who were willing to share their celebration http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/Vastra-Gotaland/blog-411015.html If the sun shone in Sweden year 'round I would never have gotten lonely. I don't blame people who don't want to visit during the dark winter days if given the chance I would have packed my bags and been out of here during that time. Neal not only survived a winter vacation to Sweden he really seemed to enjoy himself...but Neal's not your average traveler. In the past six weeks we've had fo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/blog-408975.html We've had guests since May 2nd my sister and her husband have just left after one of the most fun weeks of my life. Just a quick guest list as much for myself and remembering. David Jeremiason Jeff's Bro Jan Jeremiason Jeff's Mom Joan Day Jeff's Aunt Chelsea Valerie Andrew GAC students who spent a Monday with me while Jeff was in Norway Kristen Rob Johnston my Sister husb http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/blog-405170.html Most of you know that I hail from a large family. It could go without saying that I've missed them this year but I've said it already and it's a fact. I'm the 8th of 9 and number 9 is my little sister Kristen two years my junior. We had our share of battles when we were young stupid stuff like you used my brush normal stuff for sisters. We grew out of that fortunately and now I'm he http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/blog-404152.html I just returned from a long weekend in Greece with my husband. Living in Minnesota it sounds impossible to just pop on over to Athens for a weekend getaway...however it's not only possible when you're living in Europe I highly recommend it Before you get the idea that we're living the high life over here let me just say that a lot of things really fell in to place to make this trip happe http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/Attica/Athens/blog-402177.html Greetings from Joan and Jan who are enjoying beautiful Scandinavia Along with Jeff David we recently headed to Oslo to begin one of the popular ldquoNorway in a Nutshellrdquo Fjord Tours. Traveling by rail from Oslo to Myrdal we experienced our first look at the spectacular Norwegian scenery. The Bergen Railway traveling through the Finse area rises above the trees to an altitude of 1222 http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/blog-400237.html Hej I've been a bit out of touch but it isn't because it's been gray and I can't pull myself off the sofa...this is a great delay. WE HAVE GUESTS Jeff's brother David arrived on May 2nd the first of our 6 glorious weeks of visitors. I will write more later when I'm not heading to Gunnel's for a herring feast or packing for a long weekend in Greece yes aren't I living the life. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/blog-400259.html For all the complaining I did about the gray days this winter and fall and spring I can't sing the praises enough of our weather the past two weeks. Trees are leafing out bulb flowers are in full bloom with daffodils found around nearly every corner. Birds that we can't identify are singing songs we aren't familiar with it seems to be the universal Song of Spring trilled in Swedish Bird. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/blog-395318.html Jeff's time in the lab is dwindling and the benefit of that is more time to explore. He's been training to run the Stockholm Marathon so one of us has gotten fit this year and has had many foot miles to explore this area. One of his favorite discoveries has been Sr Vsterskog a nature reserve that was once a summer place for Sweden's Gustav V. Just 3 12 mile from our place it's a gr http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/Halland/blog-393686.html Spring has arrived in Sweden she's shaking out her glowing locks flashing blue skies putting her face to the sun and is whispering in my ear don't get too comfortable you're a shorttimer here. Looking back over the winter months I find it hard to believe that Sweden is endearing herself to me. The winter gray was brutal the short days felt like the longest days of my life. I'm a Minne http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/blog-391497.html Before I tell you about Paris I want to let you know that you can view the photos better by just clicking on the first picture in this blog and then paging through them...you'll get a bigger pictureI can admit this now that I'm home I was scared to death to go to Paris. Jeff didn't join us on this trip for a couple of reasons but primarily because it is the most expensive city we were plannin http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-390297.html I'm having a hard time getting this blog organized in my head we saw SO much in our two short days. Rather than write a long story or give a history lesson which I would surely do poorly I'm going to TRY to be concise and just give you the highlights along with a lot of pictures.Day One Thursday We departed Kullavik shortly before noon for the 12 hour journey. Three hours to the ferry http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Germany/District-of-Berlin/Berlin/blog-386065.html We've seen zoos before of course...but each zoo has it's own unique charm and characters and the Berlin Zoo is no exceptionZoo HighlightsBaby Elephant...12 days old. You don't see that everyday.Koi Pond...the koi swim up to you and want you to stroke themMonkeys...a mama monkey with her baby on her chest swings down in front of the window ROLLS in front and throws her arms open like tada http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Germany/District-of-Berlin/Berlin/blog-386153.html This blog is coming to you mostly in pictures and one great video. I was asked to participate in the stations of the cross at our Swedish church Kullavikkyrken. I was given the role of Maria at Golgotha and assured that I simply had to look sad. That translates I can do sad. I have to admit though that during our dress rehearsal I was expecting Ashton Kutcher to jump out and yell you've http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/blog-384400.html No we haven't gone back to Italy...I simply realized I didn't do the Verona blog. A gross oversight since that was one of our favorite days in Italy I nearly didn't go to Verona because that was the morning that my hippiriformoussciatia issues really made themselves known. I was in a lot of pain and I knew that if I stayed home there would be enough room in one car for everyone. Howeve http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Verona/blog-381337.html Today I had a field trip with Gunnel and an American friend who moved to Kullavik shortly after we did Perrin. I'm not a shopper but I do love things for the home so our destination was Ekelund Master Weavers since 1692. Yes you read that right I didn't transpose...1692. They're good. The fact that they are located in a town called Horred was simply a bonus. I actually received an Eke http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/Halland/blog-378508.html