Gothenburg, Södertälje, Uppsala, Hudiksvall May 5-17, 2017
In Gothenburg (Göteborg), I was a guest at the home of Jan-Inge and Anki Andersson, my friend Joacim’s father-in-law and mother-in law. Joacim and Jannike stayed there as well while I was visiting. Saturday, May 6th, was a beautiful sunny day and Joacim and Jannike showed me the best of their extraordinary city starting with Joacim’s home town.
Anddersson Home
Jan-Inge, Joacim, Anki, Jannike
Kungläv--Joacim’s hometown
Spring has arrived in Kungläv
Standing in front of the massive ruin of Bohus Fortress in Kungläv
Joacim and Jannike
A view of Downtown Gothenburg from across the Göta alv (River). Göteborg is Sweden’s second largest city. It is the largest port in Scandanavia
Al and Joacim at the Masthuggskyrkan overlook
Tables are full on a sunny day on Haga Nygata
Do you know what a fika is? The Swedes have perfected the art of the coffee break
Poseidon statue at Götaplatsen
Looking down Kungsportsavenyn (Avenyn), the main boulevard featuring nightlife, shopping, and restaurants
The country church where Joacim and Jannike were married
Our entertaining guide, Martin, on the Gothenburg Paddan canal boat cruise
Janne said that he hadn’t gone on the canal boat since he was nine years old
Gothenburg Museum
The Opera House
Lilla Bommen building named for the area is commonly referred to as “The Lipstick”.
Our canal boat ventured out into the harbor for a better view of the mouth of the Göta alv and its surroundings
Fish Church fish market
Lion Steps
King Gustav Adolph
Gothia Towers: The Heaven 23 Restaurant is at the top of the middle tower
The shrimp sandwich is one of their specialties
A wonderful way to spend the last evening with my friends in Gothenburg
On the way to Uppsala, I got off the train in Södertälje and spent the night at the home of Pål and Barbara. Pål is the son of Ulf and Elisabeth Skogtärn in Uppsala
Al and Barbara on a walk by the sound after dinner
It was a lovely evening at sunset
In Uppsala I stayed with my good friends, Ülf and Elisabeth Skogtjärn. I first met Elisabeth in the 1960s in San Diego. They have been to California a few times since and I always visited them when I went to Sweden.
It was snowing on the morning of May 9th when I arrived in Uppsala
Elisabeth and Ülf in front of their home
The 1000 year old church at Gamla Uppsala is built on the site of an ancient pagan temple
Near the church are three burial mounds built by Swedish kings prior to the arrival of Christianity
Coffee with Elisabeth’s sister, Anna-Britta, and her husband P. O.
Hagby, Uppsala County
Anna (Ülf and Elisabeth’s daughter) and Elisabeth. Anna cooked a meal featuring Swedish meatball, potatoes, carrots, and Lingonberries in my honor
Johannes, Anna, Elisabeth—dessert time
Alexander holds his sweet dog
Anna-Britta and Elisabeth. Hans and Anna’s home is in the background
Alexander, Al, Johannes, and Anna on the deck in the back of the house
Hans and Anna
We went to Sigtuna, the picturesque town on Lake Mälaren where Sweden began in 980 A. D.
Beautifully restored buildings
Shops that are mostly of interest to tourists
Among the daffodils
The old town hall
St. Mary’s Church (13th C.)
Elisabeth and Ülf decide on lunch
Walking along the lake in Sigtuna
On the way back to Uppsala, we stopped at the Stenige Palace (1698)
The gardens of the estate
The bell tower
Boats in the Fyris canal in Uppsala on a lovely sunny Spring morning
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Old warehouses have been converted into condos
Uppsala Castle from the park
Uppsala Castle reflecting pool
Fountain forms a rainbow
Old Town Hall
Entrance to the City Park
Daffodils surround the fountain
Flower pedestrian bridge over the Fyris River
Uppsala Cathedral
Uppsala Cathedral dates back to the 13th Century. It is the tallest church in Scandanavia and was used for the coronation of Swedish kings in past times. Several are interred in the church. Also buried within are Emmanuel Swedenborg and Carl von Linne
High Gothic
On the castle rampart overlooking the Cathedral
Sigfrid Westberg has been my friend since 1969 when we met at the student cafeteria at the university in Uppsala. He lives in his hometown of Hudiksvall
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Overlooking Hudiksvall
The warehouses at the wharf in Hudiksvall
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Standing by the fisherman statue
Road through the forest North of Hudiksvall
Beautiful Swedish countryside
Driving through small villages
Along rivers
The church at Forsa
Reeds by a pond
Sigfrid at the Dellen Lakes overlook
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Kuggörarna fishing village and nature reserve area on a sunny day
Zooming in on a cloudy day when we visited
Summer homes. The village seemed to be deserted
The summer houses were fishermen’s homes in former times
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Pastor Sigfrid and the Fishermen’s Chapel (1778)
Iggesund Ironworks Mill (founded 1684) is now a museum. Up the river a short distance is a huge paperworks mill
Sigfrid at the home of his grandparents in Njutånger, his original hometown. The house now belongs to Sigrid’s sister and her husband
View of the Baltic Sea inlet from the back of the summer house
Zooming in on the boats you see in the above photo
The parish church at Njutånger. Several members of Sigfrid’s family are buried here
Wooden carillion of the Njutånger church