Blogs from Sweden, Europe - page 2

Another hotel down, bags packed and out onto the streets again. Well maybe. Drive up the car park ramp - doors didn’t open. Hmm. Out of the car and got Chris to hold the person door open while I hit the intercom from outside to get the garage door opened. Voice says what is the problem. I answer can’t get out. Nothing happens. I get back in the car and back down the ramp looking for maybe another exit. Nope. Back to the original ramp. That is when I notice the button to open the door. D’oh. Anyways. Out on the streets now. Me looking really stupid but on our way. Heading to the IKEA museum today. When in Sweden what else is there than a dose of IKEA and Lego. Some interesting scenery along the ... read more

We are now over 6 weeks since we left home. Seems just like yesterday - not really. Had breakfast with Christer again and bade him farewell. We have had a great time with him and have learnt lots about Sweden and Karlstad as well. He has been a fantastic host and I think he enjoyed having company to look after. A few farewells, photos and finally away. We were heading to Gothenburg via a few places Christer had recommended. First stop was Fjallbacka which is on the coast across from Karlstad. Not sure what to expect but once we parked the car we walked down into the Centre of town. Lots of people, boats and dogs. Turns out that Ingrid Bergman (of acting royalty) decided this was to be her happy place. Even bought a house ... read more

A day on the high seas - well almost. Christer had us fed well got breakfast then the plan was to go on his boat onto the lake which Karlstad is famous for. We packed a lunch and a few drinks and on our way to destinations unknown. Through town then onto areas that didn’t look like boat places until we came to a river where the boat was moored. A little 21 foot cabin cruiser. A vintage diesel putt putt effort. Got organized and away we went. Very comfortable and re-assured by the skipper, in his skipper hat, that we were safe and sound on his boat. Out through the channel then lots of weeds and into the expanse of lake Vanern. This lake is huge and feeds out into the sea. Christer is taking ... read more

Bags packed, up and away. Our train to Stockholm didn’t leave until 1421 so we had a bit of time on our hands. Didn’t have to check out until 1200 but left earlier as we were up and about. Dropped the bags into the luggage room at the hotel so we could wander without the bags being a hassle. Stopped at a place we had passed every day. They made fresh sandwiches which looked pretty good. There was an American couple outside eating one and showed us what they looked like. In and waiting. Order up and out they came. We sat at the tables on the street and people watched. They were huge, and nice - sandwiches not tables. We both decided that half was enough now so asked for a bag for the other ... read more

Nukuin hyvin. Aamupalan jälkeen tein pienen kävelykierroksen. Hotellista piti lähteä klo 11 ja kitaramuseo aukesi klo 12. Kun ryhdyttiin siirtämään autoa halvemmalle paikalle, auto ei käynnistynytkään lainkaan. Netistä ei löytynyt puhelinnumeroa, josta olisi saanut apua siihen hätään. Jukalla oli onneksi mukana kaapelit, ja saatiin virtaa toisesta autosta. Olin ehtinyt googlata akkukaupan. Ajettiin sinne, jätettiin auto käymään vapaalla käsijarru päällä ja mentiin ostamaan uusi akku. Liikkeestä olisi saanut lainaan työkalut, mutta Jukka totesi että hänellä on omat työkalut ja hän vaihtaa uuden akun myöhemmin. Ajettiin sitten keskustaan kitaramuseon lähelle. Siellä vierähti tunti, ja poikettiin sen jälkeen kahvilla ja System Bolagetissa ostamassa viinipurkkeja. Auto ei käynnistynyt taaskaan. Jukka yritti ottaa virtaa uudesta akusta vanhaan akkuun, mutta se ei onnistunut. Hän yritti irr... read more