We took the express, Stina Charisma from Goteborg, Sweden to over to Frederikshavn, Denmark. No customs. The boat has a full restaurant and duty free shop. Kids under 12 eat free and can "fish" for a free gift. The trip took 1 1/2 hours.
We started our summer travel adventures with a trip to Denmark with Camilla, Anders and Leia. Prior to leaving for Denmark, we moved out of our apartment on Saturday, Juli 4th and spent the night at A/C/L house. Kurt and I went back on Saturday to clean and Sören, (works for Indian AB) moved in several hours after we left. His daughter, Emily, is delighted to be living there, as she has a horse in Camilla’s barn. Moving was a stressful process, family dynamics and all… BUT it is done and over. Yeeha. The pain was eased by a hot bath and a gin and tonic, courtesy of Anders.
We left for Denmark on Sunday. The initial plan was to leave 5 am and catch the 9:30 boat in Goteborg, however, we decided to take the 12:30 ferry across to Frederikshavn, Denmark. Much nicer!
Several years ago, a car drove off the bridge into the water..
We stayed at Gronhoj Feiricenter, with 140 rental units. Anders had stayed here as a 6th grader and again with his family. The North Sea beach was 400 meters from our apartment.
Yarrow won at mini golf (by one point!)
We traveled from Gronhoj (nearest large town Lokken) on the West coast to the Skagen area and visited the Nordsoen oceanarium (The North Sea). Here Lily makes a friend of a harbour seal.
This shark had been attacked by an Orca. This was on the beach near our apartment. We spent a lovely time on the beach, collecting shells, swimming and sunbathing.
At times we felt that we were in the desert. This picture is of A/C and L in "The Sand -covered church." Built in the 12 century on the flat ground midway between the two most important settlements of the parish. It was closed in 1775, when the maintenance and the shifting, growing sand dunes proved to much for the parish. Parts of the church were removed and others still lie under the sand. All that remains is this tower, registered as a ancient monument.
Our right legs are in the North Sea and our left are in Baltic. Look at a map of Denmark, we are at the very northern tip!
Near Rubjerg, north of Lokken, on the North sea, are 100 foot sand dunes that stretch for miles. Here, there was a lighthouse that was slowly claimed by the sand and abandoned. The wind was wild and the sand flew into eyes and ears.
Artsy fartsy shot taken from the abandoned lighthouse.
Meadsinsweden's Weblog 
July 16, 2009 at 6:11 pm |
Hello,
Thank you so much for sharing your adventures.
Taking the entire family to experience another country is a wonderful idea. Thank you for sharing your inspiring story.
I live in London now (I’m actually American but I’ve lived A LOT of places) and I have friends in Arvika. I very much have Sweden on the brain and I want to spend in Arvika as well.
What do you reckon will be the things that you miss most about your Swedish experience?
Again, keep well and thank you for sharing!
Enjoy the summer!
November 29, 2009 at 5:04 am |
Deirdre,
I am quite sure that we did not reply to your question (on our blog) about Sweden and about Arvika. Apologies. Life gets going so fast sometimes that it’s hard to slow down!
In retrospect, the thing that I think I miss most (Kurt, here…the dad) is the people. This is something that you may already know about Swedes: Many Swedes have walls around themselves. They hide behind these walls and they only let certain people in. When I met someone new, in a random place, they were almost always very reserved with me. Very cautious. They were embarrassed that their English was not good enough (even if it was quite good) or they seemed pained that they were making me stumble my way through their language (in which I can communicate and understand the basics pretty well, but only the basics!). I actually got to feel as though I must be an intimidating person, which is so not me.
My first Swedish job lasted 3 months and during that time, there were people who were there every day who never spoke to me during that entire time (at the time I knew so little Swedish…) and others were, actually, very friendly and with whom I still communicate (it was black and white, on or off with that crew). Now, if I was introduced to them through a friend, or if they have been to Minnesota, or if…whatever, they tended to open right up. With that opening, most people were immediately very warm to us.
We did meet so many really great people (I’m getting a little emotional right now, actually) and we were made to feel right at home by them. It felt very much like home and that Arvika could really be our home town. We have a great life in Minnesota, so staying was never an option for us, and that was so hard.
The people, for sure. We shall return, though!
Have you been to Arvika since you posted on our blog?
Kurt
July 19, 2009 at 12:56 am |
The whole trip looks phenomenal…but that last photo? Print it large, kids, and FRAME IT.
July 19, 2009 at 7:32 pm |
Lily set up and took that photo. Kudos to her. K