What's a "loppis"?

Center-city.

Word of the day: Loppis (Swedish term for what we would call a Flea Market). We saw this word roadside about 10 times between Stockholm and Örebro, and I finally remembered to Google it.

Today we woke up in plenty of time to have breakfast at the hotel and before we knew it, it was 5:00 and almost dinner-time.  In between there was walking, shopping, walking, canal boating, walking, taking the tram to the Botanical gardens, walking, picture taking, and...you guessed it: walking!  After two big walking days my dogs are tired and ready for a breather. Kate and I will be headed out for a post dinner drink and dessert soon, but thought I’d get in a bit of writing beforehand.

We took a boat ride around the city and through the canal, which was really beautiful. I’m particularly thrilled with how well this Hipstamatic camera for iPhone is working. I love the way the B&W setting works, but with how gorgeous the weather has been, it would be a shame not to use the color “film”. The blues really pop and it really is representative of what great weather we’ve had the last couple days.  I tried talking Kate into visiting the Volvo factory and museum today, but she agreed that she wouldn’t try getting me to the Rope making museum if I resisted the urge to visit Volvo.  Ahh, the wonders of negotiating. I actually don’t think we were interested in either of those things, but it was fun to joke about.  We covered quite a bit of the city today (down            by the water, the main shopping drag Avenyn, the old town and the Haga district as well as the neighborhood out by the Botanical Gardens) and the streets were filled with young students visiting the kiosks that local politicians had set up in the town center. I am guessing this was a school field trip that was used to teach classes about government and politics.

Those of you who know me well know of my love for movies, and particularly Swedish movies. Today I found my first DVD store on this trip and I picked up a few movies that I can’t get in the states unless I pay S&H from Sweden via the internet. I also was able to replace the Sweden flag sticker for the back windshield that has been missing for a few years. I can now christen the 2010 vee-dub so I recognize it in a parking lot from all the others when I get home.

Tomorrow we head to Falkenberg, about an hour or so south, but we’ll spend most of the day here in Göteborg. We plan to walk the canal, take a look at the statue “Poseidon” at the top of Avenyn, which, according to the “Rough Guide to Sweden” is ‘a giant, nude, bronze body-builder with a staggeringly ugly face (it’s true - I saw it on my 2004 visit). The size of the figure’s penis caused moral outrage when the sculpture first appeared in 1930, and was subsequently dramatically reduced’.  My opinion? If you have an ugly face, you have to make up for it in another way to distract from  your shortcomings. Apparently the Swedes of 1930 didn’t agree. We’ll get in a little more shopping - I am on the hunt for a pair of nice jeans!  I know a few of you made requests, and I’ll do what I can to follow-through.  The post card situation isn’t ideal as the ones here aren’t very nice and the ones I bought in Oslo have since been lost somewhere in Norway.  Hopefully the next couple cities will bring better luck.  Also on my list: SUNSCREEN! It’s easy to forget when it’s in the 60s how much sun your face can get.

Until next time, friends!

A bee doing what bees do best, at the botanical garden

Old town.