Blogs from Jönköping County, Sweden, Europe

JonKoping is about halfway between Kristianstad and Stockholm so makes a good place to stay on our trip north. It is perhaps best known in many countries as the birthplace of Agnetha from Abba, but we’re hoping it also has something interesting enough for a 2 night stay. Southern Sweden is home to most of the elk in the county and we find an “Alg” park not too far away. This park also has Red and Fallow deer but the standout sight are the Elks (or Moose). There are 4 male elks with huge antlers, 3 calves all born this year and 5 females. The elks have names and are tame enough to come close to the safari wagons for feeding. Eskjo is a nearby town with pretty old wooden houses, mainly painted red, which surprisingly ... read more

Jeffrey is only 1 years old so this trip has exposed him to several new experiences. First his encounter with the big red London buses. He decided the only way to deal with these monsters was to attack them barking furiously. He also has had to endure 6 hours in a kennel on the ferry which he did not like but at least we were able to visit him and take him on a small dog deck a few times on the journey. We then had a few miles and countries to cross to keep our deadline for the Stockholm marathon on the 2nd June. This meant unfortunately being stuck in a couple of large traffic queues. Jeffrey took exception to the large lorries and I have attached a video of how he would see them ... read more

Szwecja przywitala nas w tym roku deczko lepsza pogoda niz rok temu, kiedy to w czerwcu musialam kupowac welniana czapke, zeby przezyc. Nie padalo. Bylo za to rownie drogo, a moze nawet drozej. W Sztokholmie ograniczylismy sie w sumie do wloczenia sie po naszej ulubionej dzielnicy Sodermalm, gdzie jest mnostwo malych sklepow z pieknym niczym, knajp i kawiarni, gdzie siedza wystylizowane na brzydko Szwedki, popijajac kawe z przelewowego ekspresu, sprzedawana w systemie "all you can drink". A wsrod tego wszystkiego wlocza sie wydziarani mlodzi tatusiowe z wozkami, ktorzy maja jakies tonu urlopu tacierzynskiego i wydaja sie byc absolutnie zrelaksowani. Jedynym odstepstwem byla wizyta w Skansenie, gdzie przeniesiono fragmenty szwedzkich wsi z calego kraju, co najlepiej obrazuje, jaka tu jeszcze niedawno byla bieda. Pol roku lezal snieg, a ludzie chodzili w butach z brzozowej kory. Ale byl ... read more

Hot! Hot! Hot! Lovar att bli en grymt varm dag, klockan är kvart i elva och det är redan 30 grader i skuggan. Kommer att bli varmt på de sydsvenska vägarna...... read more

During my first week in Sweden I fell into a mild case of depression, mostly caused by a visa situation that looked bleak, to say the least. The notion of being unable to return to Sydney like planned caused 10 sleepless nights, and when I finally got word that I had been granted some additional time in the Land of Laidback-ness, I could barely contain my elation. ‘Giddy’ is the best word to describe my immediate reaction, and I’m forever grateful no one was around to witness me clench my fists and utter unintelligible nonsense in a fit of joy. After all, I have an image of cool savoir-fair to maintain. After this past weekend my heart is bursting at the seams with gratitude and love, and I don’t see why I shouldn’t spend the rest ... read more