Last day

It's our last night here in Sweden, and Europe for that matter. Again we continued to relax here at Svedängs Gärd, taking walks, boating, reading, etc. The highlight of my day was wandering deep into the woods. I took my book and read a few pages, but after getting practically eaten alive by mosquitos I decided it was best to keep moving. So instead of reading The Hunger Games, I decided to act it out instead. No, I didn't kill anyone, but I did make a couple of videos to share only with a few select friends whom I know have read the books (and whom I know will forgive my behavior). I'll give you a sneak peek only—see the end of the post.

Tonight we had a feast of leftovers and popcorn and packed our bags up. Tomorrow we have a 23 hour journey home. While I always love coming home, I am sad that September is over and with it our European adventures. But I will say, this month has given me a small taste and I am thirsting for more. I'll be crossing the sea again soon... Goodnight friends.

Here I am quietly enjoying the woods:


And reading The Hunger Games:


Then after I was attacked by hundreds of mosquitos, I got up and took action:


This is all you get to see:

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Location:Strängnas, Sweden

Winding down

Not much to report today as it was a quiet day full of relaxations. Reading, writing, eating, a movie on tv, a row to an island in a boat, a long walk and a sit on the dock, deep thoughts, home cooking and now bed. Here's some sights from the day...





















































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Farm life. Mmm...

I woke up and looked out the window this morning to find this:


Today was like slowly sipping a cup of hot chocolate, which I did after sitting on the dock and reading my book in the cool, crispy fall air.














We slept in, ate breakfast, wandered around the farm, then went for stroll through the woods. The forest here is so beautiful and different from Colorado. There is thick spongy moss all over the ground. You can go bounding through the landscape and if you fall on your face it's like falling into a pillow. This didn't happen by the way... There are all kinds of mushrooms everywhere too. I wish I was better prepared to identify them and am regretting not listening more closely to my dad when he got a poisonous mushroom book for christmas one year. Good thing I didn't eat any.














Anyway, after my jaunt in the woods I can easily see how Hans Christian Andersen would be inspired here to write imaginative fairy tales here. Maybe tomorrow I'll write a few.

So besides running into town for groceries we've just been relaxing and enjoying the farm. I've been reading the latest adolescent literature hit series, The Hunger Games, and it has me totally captivated. Visiting the woods I imagine the ways I would survive there if I had to. No problem...

Tonight we cooked some pesto pasta with sundries tomatoes, chevre, ciabatta bread with olive oil, and have been searching for a movie on the tele. Lovely times.


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Birds in gardens on islands in Sweden.

Stockholm continues to be so swede. We spent more time there today strolling the streets and waterways. We had brunch at the same little cafe called Chokoladkoppen and enjoyed (pretty much a whole bowl full of) a mochaccino:





We made our way to an island called Djurgarden where there were parks, nature trails, a carnival area, etc. We rented some bicycles, rode about the island and stopped at a highly recommended place (by lonely planet) called Rosendalgarden, where they had gardens of flowers you could pick, vegetables, and a little market and a cafe. We sat and had tea and cake for a bit. Though we ran into a problem:

Straight out of Hitchcock's movie! Can you believe their attitudes? Little

Now this evening we head to the farm/bed and breakfast we'll be at for the next few days. Super psyched for naps, walks in the woods, reading, thinking, drawring and being out of a bigger city again.

Well friends, adjo for now, as the swedes say! Couple more photogs:


Pirates!


A pretty cemetery:


Market:


Gardens:


I didn't realize Sweden had a king and queen. The royal palace:


Creepy window display, yet funny:


Raawwrrr!


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It's pretty swede...

This week the goal is to see how many times we can describe things as being "totally swede." I'm sure it won't get old.

So we've made it to our final destination on this eurp tour, Stockholm! I think Wahli and I are both already loving this place. It feels real good. And we've only had a taste so far. We're staying at a hotel/hostel right at the airport in a revamped old Pan Am Boeing 747. It's quite comfortable! I'm wishing this was what we could fly in when we go back home, and just lie down in bed to sleep the whole way.











Tonight we walked around old town a bit, had dinner then espresso and zert on a patio with comfy chairs, blankets and candles. When we walked in the cafe, the owner started talking a lot in Swedish and we had to stop him and ask him to speak in English. He said, "Oh sorry! You looked very Swedish." We were flattered, seeing as for a month we've felt very much like tourists. It was so swede of him to say...

Tomorrow we get a bit more if the city then head out to the country. Look at this pretty city at night...





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Location:Sigtuna Municipality,Sweden

Ahoy!

A guy told me and Meghan the other day that Prague was pretty much the same as Vienna. Not sure what he was smoking... There is a very different feel here, and not one I can easily explain. I mean, in Austria they say "guten tag" or "hallo" in greeting, and in Czech they say "ahoy," so that is a vast difference. So much more fun to say "ahoy!" Maybe it's the fact that I can actually navigate this city whereas in Vienna I was so turned around. Either way, I guess it is another beautiful city full of ancient buildings and incredible works of art. I like it a lot. As with all the places we've visited, I want more time here...

Today we saw the famous Charles Bridge, along with thousands of other people. There's loads of tourists here. We shopped for much of the remainder of the day. Great news: I have a new pair of pants! It's so refreshing. Meghan and I are both about ready to ditch all our clothes at the end of this trip! I'm so thankful to have a washing machine at home. And a plethora of clothing and shoes.

Tonight we kicked back and saw a movie in a beautiful old theatre. Midnight in Paris is delightful! It was sweet to see the city again soon after we left it, and it made me want to go back!

Anywhoozles... Tomorrow we head north for our last stop: Sveden! A new country and a new pair of pants, it's all very exciting. Can't believe we have less than a week left. Seems like yesterday we left Colorado, but also so long ago. Ahhh life.

Visuals:





A hot air balloon thingy in the background:














So clever:


Creeper:



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Praha

Twas a long day of travel from Vienna to Prague, but we made it. Meghan and I both seem to be fighting off sickness. Praying for good health come morning.

That's all really. Except for this...


You don't often see these numbers at home.

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Vienna

Vienna. I didn't know quite what to expect of this city going in, so it's been delightful to to simply be surprised. Tis beautiful here, like every other place we've visited, but there is an old elegance to it. The buildings are stunning! And even moreso the adorning marble sculptures everywhere. My jaw keeps dropping around every turn.











We spent a few hours at the Haus de Musik, learning all about Vienna's rich music history and about sound itself. This was my favorite part, conducting the orchestra:

We stumbled upon an awesome organic grocery store (whole foods nerds heaven) and it was refreshing to have some vegetables and lighter foods (and fresh kiwi juice). We've had so much heavy food the past few days. Tomorrow we plan to go back to get a European picnic for our 5 hour train ride!

Tonight we went to a performance at Palais Ausberg where Mozart first performed for the queen circa age six.





The dessert place recommended to us that we'd been planning on visiting was closed. So instead we got big bowls of ramen as we both are feeling strange hints of colds. And of course we're going to bed late and getting up early. Hopefully the emergenCs we slammed will help!

Time to go dream with a soundtrack of classical music. Goodnight.

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