Ride 'em ... uh ... dragon? Sundsvall's mascot
My friend Lottie picked me up at the train station in Sundvall on Tuesday evening. It had been a long day of journeying – left Bergamo at 8 am, shuttle to the airport, fly to Stockholm, 1 1/2 hour shuttle bus to the city centre to the central train station then a train to Sundvall which had one change in Gavle. So needless to say, it was great to arrive and even better to see a friend I had not seen since, well, it must be at least 8 years. She looks the same and as lovely as ever.
Down at the Beach, Lottie absorbs the sun
It is quite a change coming to Sweden from Italy. I have spent the last 1 1/2 months surrounded by history and people with only a little bit of nature. Now I have come to a large northern country with only 9 million people and lots and lots of nature. As soon as I landed I admired the expanse of forest and the green lush fields as they are deep in the middle of their summer. I thought too that it might be a little cooler here but the sun and the heat seems to have followed me as the forecast is 28C and sunny the whole time I am visiting.
Down at the beach, Oxsand
I also have had the opportunity to meet Lottie’s partner of 4 years, Mike. One thing I remember and love about the Scandanavian people as they are active and healthy. And both Lottie and Mike are a testiment to this. They live in this great house right beside a lake, running, biking and cross country trails and downhill skiing.
Mike and Lottie as we dine before going to the Festival
I choose my timing well too because Lottie has the week off work and it is the Street Festival here in Sundsvall all week. Sundsvall is a city of 100,000 about 400 km north of Stockholm. It is right on the ocean. At 62 degrees north it is far enough north to experience the midnight sun. It doesn’t get dark here at this time of year. It totally got me off guard as I have never experienced the midnight sun. It is pretty weird. I couldn’t believe it was midnight the first night here because it was so light out. So now time to experience Sweden.
The view from my bedroom window at 1 am
Soooo, you had to ride the dragon, eh. Way to go….
Sundsvall and the Oxsand beach look nice. I look forward to reading your second Sweden blog.
Remember, if you make your way to Stockholm, please stop by the Palace to say “hello” to Queen Silvia.
Just one question: what are you doing up at 1 am?
Already saw good ol’ Silvia. She was wondering how you were doing?!!!! It is hard to sleep here because it never gets dark.
Question: when you saw Silvia, did you talk to her in Swedish or German? lol
It must be weird to go to bed when it isn’t dark. I don’t think I’d ever sleep in Sweden then, because I’m one of those people who needs the bedroom to be dark, but you should have no problem since you like to have fun all day and all night. HAHAHA
Hmm, trick question. German?
You will be loathe to leave Sweden – seems to be a great place. I have only been to Norway and mostly in the winter although a very b rief visit in summer.
Yes I was trying to remember the place you went to in Norway. I know I took a picture of the train station when I was there in 1988 for you.