We Could Be Heroes

If you're still reading this blog, I probably don't have to tell you that we threw ourselves a going away party, and that it was a costume party. The theme? Superheroes!

Ecdyso & Zlatan!

Since all of our costume supplies (and so many wigs!) are hiding in our garage in San Diego, we had to get a bit creative. Jeremy brought us a big roll of leftover mesh, a roll of duct tape, and a boatload of zip ties. (Thanks, Science!)

That paper on his arms is from Flügger Färg!

I started to make Chelsea an elaborate mesh skirt, covered with torn out book pages. Halfway through, she changed her mind. Having not learned my lesson, I then went to work on an elaborate mesh cape for Savannah, which she also decided she did not like. Finally, I learned to leave them to their own devices and worry about my own outfit.

The Librarian & Emoji Girl!

Captain America & Santa!

Super Sisters!

Costumed buddies at the feast

Not everyone was able to join us, since the party happened when many Swedes take their summer vacations, but I was thankful for all of our friends who did make it. We asked folks to bring a dish to share, and the table overflowed with beautiful and delicious homemade specialties.

Our own smögåsbord

Gorgeous summer evening = sitting outside, of course

We had to steal an extra table from inside! (SHHH!)

We gave out a bunch of silly prizes in made-up categories, which were just random items we had collected at our house over the past 6 months and wrapped up.

Chelsea, I mean, "The Librarian" handing out prizes

Winner for Best Power: Super MOM!

ROWR!

So creative, these scientists!

These two should've won "Cutest Couple"

Fancy Fucus Federation and... Drunken Aquaman?!

Canada Man and Pippi (the Original Swedish Superhero)

I had to remain in character all night.

Can't remember what he was, but he's super happy about it!

Before we came to Sweden, people warned us that it would be difficult to get to know local people. They said that Swedes are helpful to a fault, but that it would take a while to truly become friends with anyone. Because of Jeremy's affiliation with the lab, we've been fortunate to stumble into this little international community of scientists and their families. It has made our time here infinitely better.

I'm so glad to have had the chance to meet so many kind and friendly people during our time living in Sweden. Hope to return their hospitality and generosity in San Diego someday... we can wear all the wigs!

May we meet again!

Everything is Better with Friends

We are nearing the end of our time here in Sweden, and these last few weeks have been a bit anti-climactic. The tourists are here in full force, which makes going into town less pleasant. The locals have all left for summer homes and vacations, which makes the lab like a ghost town. Many of the friends we made were only here for the summer and have gone back to their regular lives in other parts of the world.

And we have gotten to the point where every time we do something or go somewhere, it is probably for the last time. 

Luckily for us, we have some friends from home who are adventurous enough to come visit us. They have totally transformed our "last times" for the better. Experiencing it with friends, we get to show off all of our favorites and see it through their "first time" lens. Instead of having a bunch of sad, last visits to our favorite places, we've had a highlight reel of the "Best of the Best".

Last time taking the boat out to Longholmen

Last day at Daftöland

Last fika at Cafe Mellow

Last pre-Djungelland fika at Espresso House

Last drop off playtime at Djungelland

Last visit to ginormous candy wonderland

Last walk to Saltö beach

Last swim at the indoor pool

Many thanks to the Motiwallas for trekking all the way to Sweden and for making our last week so much more joyful than it would have been without you!

Hornbore Ting

When three Swedish families that we know here all raved about the Hornbore Ting Viking market, I knew we had to check it out. I found the website and was dismayed that it had no button to click to translate the whole thing into English. I took this to mean that this event is not targeted toward tourists. I also took it as a challenge.

In addition to not really knowing what the Viking market was, I also didn't know how to get there. I knew the name of the town the market was in, and I figured if I could get to the town, it couldn't be so hard to find a Viking market happening there. Just follow the line of cars, right?

After about an hour's drive, I found the adorable town of Hamburgsund, but not the market. Quick pit stop at the tourist information booth, and we were there!

As soon as we arrived, we noticed many people in Viking-style clothing, simple linen and wool outfits with bare feet. Turns out, if you dress up the entrance to the market is free. Being a huge fan of dressing up AND of getting in free, I was sad that we hadn't worn our Viking garments. (Side note: We do not actually own any Viking garments.)

Carving runes into a rock?

Market stalls lined both sides of a path. Many stalls were in open tents, large canvas cloths held up by wooden beams. The sellers dressed in period clothing and nothing modern could be seen in the stalls. They sold handmade goods such as leather crafts, silver jewelry, knitted items, and carved wood. Some sold items you might use to make your own crafts: skeins of wool and bolts of linen.

Viking clothes for sale, so you can get in free NEXT year

Behind many of the tents selling various wares stood other tents where the vendors and their families slept. We saw babies napping on beds covered in fur pelts and families eating from hand-carved bowls with wooden spoons. The Viking market lasts for three days, and it seems that the sellers simply live there, hardcore Viking-style, for the duration.

A few vendors offered food. We ate sausages served in a rustic flatbread that had been cooked on a stove made of rocks. One little girl had a small booth that reminded us of a lemonade stand, except she was serving fläder juice (elder berry, I think? It's our new favorite.) in rough clay cups that we returned after we finished the drink.

Cooking the flatbread

Korv med bröd, Viking style

The Vikings offered a few activities. There was jewelry-making, archery with homemade bow and arrows, and one stall where you could throw a hammer at a target. There were also talks and performances. Since they were all in Swedish, we didn't pay too much attention. But at one point, a large crowd gathered in a clearing and many Vikings dressed in chainmail and carrying shields and swords began to put on a fighting demonstration.

Vikings fighting in a clearing, surrounded by tents

We climbed up to a rocky overlook, which had an incredible view of the water and surrounding areas. A group of kids, all dressed in linen and wool, were chasing each other barefoot around the path at the top, brandishing handmade wooden shields and swords.

Sweden, you're too beautiful for words!

I have never attended a Renaissance Fair, but I think this was effectively a Swedish/Viking version of that. I imagine that a Renaissance Fair in the States would be much bigger, more crowded, rowdier, and more commercial. People wearing store-bought costumes, rather than homespun garments. I can't imagine any fair being as small, charming, and lovely as this one.

Back to Sweden: Malmö & the Moose

Luckily for us, our drive back home from Copenhagen took us through Malmö, Sweden. I have been hoping to visit Malmö, ever since we visited Lund (they are about 20 minutes apart). We only had time for a quick stop today, but at least we can say that we've seen a bit of Malmö.

If you wait long enough, the eye blinks. No joke!

To reach Sweden from Denmark, we crossed the Øresund Bridge. It starts as a 4-km-long tunnel on the Danish side leading to an artificial island. (Fun facts: The island was made out of rock and soil unearthed while building the tunnel and bridge. They named it "Pepper Island" to match a natural island nearby called Salt Island. Those funny Danes!) The crossing continues on an 8-km-long bridge that feeds into the city of Malmö.

First stop in Malmö: the Turning Torso, the tallest building in Scandinavia and the first twisted skyscraper in the world! It's not that tall by worldwide standards, but fun to see nonetheless. Just as we were leaving, a big bus pulled up and spilled out a gaggle of gawking tourists, so I guess we weren't the only people interested to see it.

Almost got all of us in it!

Torso looming over nearby playground

On the way to our next stop, we saw a playground that was too cool to pass up. We walked through an elementary school campus to get to it. The school's playground had interesting play structures, fruit trees, berry bushes, and a little brown bunny scampering among the low plants. The city playground had a space theme (what, no boats?!) and devilishly steep tube slides. The park seemed enormous, and it was surrounded on all sides by swanky apartment buildings.

Too cool for school

"Who's ready to leave?" *crickets*

After dragging the children away from the playground, we went into the gamla staden (old town). We stopped to peek inside St. Petri's church when we passed it along the way. It's a gothic style church built in the 1300s. 

Who doesn't love a flying buttress?

Gorgeous white interior

Ornate designs against the stark walls

Facade selfie

Finally, we made it to the Stortorget (main square) and stopped for a fika. Now that we're back in Sweden, we are required to fika regularly! Good fuel to start the mega-drive back home to Tjärno.

I didn't get a good shot of the square, but this person did!

Climbing on the fountain

Fountain heart. That's how you know it's in Sweden.

Swedish fika makes everyone happy!

Chai latte. As delicious as it was beautiful.

Dear Malmö, you are lovely and interesting and our time together was far too short. May we meet again someday!

***

BONUS: Close to the end of our drive home, I saw a black speck in my peripheral vision and yelled, "MOOSE!" We knew that there were wild moose here, but we had basically given up on actually seeing one. 

See that black speck? Neither did my family.

Jeremy admitted later that he thought there was only a 50/50 chance that I'd seen a moose. Even I admitted it was most likely a very dark cow. But we turned the car around and sure enough, there was a moose!  It was munching on the grass in some family's big yard. We took a million terrible photos of it, and Jeremy wisely forbade anyone from getting out of the car to get closer. 

That's a wild Swedish moose!

It took us 5 months to find you, moose, and you were worth the wait. You felt like a perfect "welcome back" gift from Sweden to us!