Godis Huset

Every Saturday in Sweden is a goodies day.  Goodies can be found everywhere, in the grocery stores such as ICA, COOP or Lidl.  We usually go to the Godis Huset, located near the center of Arvika.  These pictures were taken there on one of our first Saturday visits.  I am shamed to say we went a bit crazy that September day, spending 175 sek or $22 .  We have learned to limited the amount!  Norwegians come over the border to buy goodies in Sweden.  Kurt fills his bag with chocolates,  Lily likes the squishy sweet and sour goodies, Yarrow goes for a variety, leaning towards chocolate and I like the soft goodies, think Easter Peeps that have been left uncovered for awhile.   The most famous goodies in Sweden are Ahlgrens bilar  ”World’s most sold car.”  Lily loves these and both girls sent a few bags home to their classmates at WKE.  If you want to see these cute little cars up close, you can check out their web site at:     http://www.ahlgrensbilar.com/

Ice Skating

Wild skating in several parts of Europe is a big deal.  In Minnesota our snow usually comes so quickly that skating for long distances on (safely) frozen lakes is an ephemeral sport.  In the Netherlands skating on the lakes and canals is a big deal but climate change has reduced the possibilities for them.  On the other hand, Varmland has historically gotten good snow but has gotten less and less in the past 20 years, but often gets cold enough that, at least, the smaller lakes freeze every year.  This is a skater’s paradise.

Kyrkviken, with it’s easy access from the Arvika city harbor, looks like a park, with people skating everywhere.  We even saw people in ice sail boats, ice fishing and on kick sleds.  

On a second visit to the harbor, Betsey and Lily saw and overheard a small group of people, speaking heavily accented English, who were just driving through Arvika and purchased new skates just to be able to skate on that day.

The best skating ever.

 

Ice skating, last week, on the Glasfjorden bay, Kyrkviken, is a real treat. The ice is smooth and our colder weather has ensured safe conditions.

Arvika from the middle of the bay.

 

A refrozen crack...as far as the eye could see.

 

Wish you were here.