Falkenberg in brief...

We're due to depart Falkenberg early in the morning tomorrow, so I don't have much time to write if I want to get some sleep. I'll make this short and sweet...


The main reason for wanting to visit Falkenberg is because one of my favorite movies from recent years, titled "Falkenberg Farewell" was filmed here. It's an incredible film that, in my opinion, all men in their twenties and thirties should see. It's about growing up in a small town and not knowing what it is you want to become or do with your life, yet so much more than a slacker movie. Every time I watch it I am affected in a profound manner. We visited the tourist office and they gave us a map of some of the locations that the film used. While a handful were not in Falkenberg proper and seemingly very difficult to find, many were close to our hotel or in the old town. I've included those photos tonight. Being in some of those locations was actually quite moving.  The film is not available on DVD in the states, but if you have an all-region player it is definitely worth buying on the internet. Or you can come over to my place and we'll watch it.

I'll post more on Falkenberg when I can.


Until later, friends...

You want me to talk about food, huh?

Theater Building in Göteborg

I had a request from my friend Petrel to talk about the food in Sweden.  Where should I start? How about this: Swedes eat more bananas than any other country in the European Union. Every year the average Swede eats 19 kilograms of bananas! In case you’re not good at the conversion, that’s over 40 lbs.  I don’t know about you, but I can guarantee that I haven’t even eaten 40 lbs of bananas in my life!

Göteborg

Today we had our first ice cream treat - which is the perfect word for it when you’re in Sweden. Glass (the Swedish word for ice cream) is nothing like the ice cream in the USA, and I’m sure it has a lot to do with the lack of preservatives, guar gum, etcetera, etcetera. Kate had a cup of chocolate and hazlenut, while I enjoyed one scoop of vanilla and one scoop of Chocolate-Orange, which was a lot more refreshing than I expected. The richness of the chocolate cut with that refreshing citrus zing!

As far as the food goes: It’s pretty amazing. Our first night in Örebro is going to be hard to top. We had a gorgeous sit down dinner at the hotel where we stayed. I had the steak with 2 sauces: red wine reduction and a cream sauce that was amazing. The sauces balanced the pepper-crusted filet very well and according to our server, has been prepared the same way at the restaurant for 40 years. Kate had the Zander fish with a morel cream sauce. We have had Indian food in Oslo, quiche (greek and curry chicken) in a small cafe in old town Göteborg and gourmet pizza on the Avenyn, that although very tasty is much different than in the states. It’s an even THINNER crust than Donatos serves - and I wasn’t crazy about it. We also had our first roadside kebab stand dinner tonight. I had the hamburgare meal, which really was more the circumference of a pie and instead of just ground beef, tasted like there were spices in the meat, but not gristly like sausage. Kate had the kebab platter, which was gyro meat over a bed of lettuce and tomato. While it wasn’t the best meal we have had, it was more than adequate and definitely the cheapest meal we’ve had yet. Breakfasts are included with the hotels here, and are nothing like the bagel and a cup of coffee you get in the states. Everything  from a eggs prepared numerous ways, yoghurt, filmjölk (Google it), granolas, sausages, vegetables and fruits, and so many different breads and cheeses that you’d have to spend the entire 4 hours of breakfast to try them all. It really is quite the spread.

Göteborg

Since we didn't have any particulary sights we wanted to see today we decided to take a leisurely stroll by the canal... but it was mostly a day for shopping. I got a new pair of jeans, and made a new Swedish friend at the same store. Are they still called pen pals now that e-mail exists? I bought my friends’ child a really nice book in Swedish and English. I feel like I need one for myself to help with my Swedish vocabulary. Where’s the nearest bookstore? I bought some postcards, so that is what I plan to do later this evening. Maybe you’ll find one in your mailbox in the next week if you’re lucky. Kate bought a few gifts for family and found “Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest” in paperback for herself, since she JUST finished the other two Millenium books.

Nonviolence: Göteborg

Jared & Kate arrive in Falkenberg. Take 14.
Those who know about my love for cameras know what I'm saying.

We arrived in Falkenberg earlier this evening and I can honestly say that for the first time since we’ve been here that it is cold. The hotel is right on the beach, overlooking the Kattegatt (again, Google it) and the stiff wind is enough to chill you to the bone. Hopefully once the sun comes out it will warm up some. Falkenberg is definitely the smallest town on our trip so far, and seems very quaint - with an honest to goodness neighborhood just one street over. Tomorrow I hope to visit some of spots I may recognize from one of my favorite films: “Falkenberg Farewell”. So we’ll stop by the Turistbyrån tomorrow morning and see what trouble we can find.

Until later...

One street over from our hotel in Falkenberg.
A typical neighborhood.

Our hotel in Falkenberg, as seen from the pier

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.

These statues look angry!

Hello dear friends...

As I write this I am sitting in our hotel, which overlooks the heart of Göteborg. I can see the ferris wheel at Liseberg Amusement Park and the statue at the top of Avenyn and I’m relaxing after a glass of wine and a night stroll through the city. We passed a restaurant tonight called “El Corazon de la Noche”, and after saying the name aloud in my sexiest Spanish accent, I have discovered how much I like the name.  Therefore, I will now ask that you address me as such. It will be my nickname from this day forward. Please don’t forget

What a great day we had today. The troubles we experienced getting into Oslo last night were more than made up for today as we visited the city.  We couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather for walking.  We began the day at the Vigeland Sculpture Park, which was amusing, beautiful and somewhat disturbing at the same time. The sculptures all seemed to have been done by an artist whose outlook on the human condition originated from a place of darkness, judging by the pained expressions on many of the sculpture’s faces.  I took over 100 photos today so you’re just getting the best of the best.

After spending a couple hours walking through Vigeland, and witnessing the social habits of many dogs in the dog area (don’t ask), we took the tram back to the heart of the city and spent the rest of the day wandering the waterfront, exploring the main pedestrian shopping area and generally just enjoying the cool but sunny weather. We did get to see a street performer who played numerous instruments at the same time. I was both fascinated and thoroughly entertained. However, if you open the picture keep an eye out for someone who had a slightly different opinion. For those of you who enjoy Mentos, you’ll be thrilled to find out that the USA is getting the short end of the stick with the varieties available.  I picked up two packages for my friend Dave while in Oslo: Rainbow (which includes flavors such as watermelon and pineapple), and Fresh Cola.  I’ll be sure not to eat them before I get home, Dave. It’s also incredibly refreshing to find pop here that isn’t made with that High Fructose Corn Syrup nonsense. It’s pure sugar all the way, and the soda is more refreshing because of it. I’ve particularly taken to Lemon sodas by Schweppes and Solo. Fanta makes one as well, but I’ve yet to try it.

Still no moose sightings, but we haven’t given up! Kate is doing her best to cure me of my fear of tall bridges over large bodies of water. We drove across one today between Oslo and Göteborg in preparation for the big one: Malmö’s Oresund, which is 2800 feet long (8000 meters), and connects Sweden to Denmark. Stay tuned for updates

We stopped just over the border between Norway and Sweden at a scenic lookout to find some beautiful views of a place that, according to the GPS in my camera, has no name - although it can pinpoint it on a map. We arrived here in Göteborg about an hour later just in time to see the sun set over the city, and it was stunning.  We walked the Avenyn to find a place for dinner and ended up at a pizza place, where we both witnesses something that neither of us had ever seen, nor could endorse:  A man putting ketchup on top of his pepperoni pizza!  That’s worse than the soda water that Kate keeps accidentally buying and/or filling her water bottles with. Her reaction: Soda water!!!  Apparently she’s not a fan. I can’t really blame her. It has to be a shock expecting a nice smooth drink and getting a bitter shock of fizz. Poor thing!

Tomorrow we start fresh in Göteborg, but for now our room has a huge tub, and it is calling my name.  So until later, I bid you “god natt!”

Welcome to Sweden!

Kate and I shortly after arriving in Sweden

As requested, I've taken lots of photos already in our first two days to share with all of you back home... so much so it looks like there will most likely be a blog entry of just "outtakes" when the trip is finished. It's been an interesting trip so far. No problems with Hurricane Earl, but more interestingly we did sit near a group of dudes in the Newark airport who could have easily been "Jersey Shore" casting rejects.

Somewhere between Stockholm & Örebro

Somewhere between Stockholm & Örebro

St. Nicolai Kyrka

When we landed in Sweden it was a "brisk" 4 degrees celsius. We decided to take the scenic route between Stockholm and Örebro, where we spent our first night.  Luckily it warmed up to a comfortable 20 degrees or so (that's about 70 to you and me).  After walking around the town for a little while, stopping to take in St. Nicolai Kyrka, the Örebro Slott (Castle), and the beautiful surroundings, we decided to have a coctail, where we met a man who, once he found out we were from Ohio, had to share his obsession with OSU and all things American Football - a subject neither Kate nor I are particularly well-versed in.  We also had a fantastic dinner and decided to make it an early night in order to reset our internal clocks.

Örebro Slott

Örebro Slott

Örebro Slott

A bridge in Örebro

After sleeping about 11 hours (because I accidentally set my alarm for pm instead of am), we woke up around 10:00am ready to go.  We did a bit more in Örebro, including shopping, where I found a great new pair of Adidas and two wonderful hoodies at the WE/SC to help combat the chilly evenings.  We had breakfast  in the cafe atop Svampen, the Örebro water tower and departed for Oslo, Norway.  While there have been plenty of Moose Crossing signs, we have yet to see any Moose, much to Kate's chagrin. She's actually pretty obsessed and swears that she will, by God, see a Moose on this trip! Maybe if we walk into a forest at dusk we will stumble upon one... just hope it doesn't use us as a tree to mark with its antlers.

Pathway to Örebro neighborhood

Svampen - Örebro Water Tower

The drive into Oslo was not what I would consider fun, but definitely a learning experience.  We were on that G.D. E6/E18 circling the city for what seemed like 2 hours before Kate had the brilliant idea of just venturing through the city. So... if you're ever here and you can't seem to find your exit, here's a tip:  Get off the expressway and follow the "Sentrum" signs into mid-city and find your way from there. We finally got checked in to the hotel, got the car parked and ended up having dinner at "Mister India", whose logo, strangely enough, seemed to be an italian chef. Hmph. But it was a great Indian meal and the perfect ending to a long, tiring drive.  Tomorrow we'll get to the Vigeland Sculpture park and see where the streets take us. The water is beautiful, so maybe we'll venture down there as well to see some of the sailboats.  Until later, friends...