Getting the Hang of It

We enjoyed a very nice, healthy breakfast and then walked through the main hotel to see the antiques and parlors.

Slotteshotellet was a real find. We talked to a couple from Oregon and laughed about learning to drive in Sweden. They said they drove right down a sidewalk before they realized what it was. We shared what we had both learned about the meaning of signs so far and that helped.

We headed out refreshed and drove west towards the center of Sweden by the big lakes. We saw vast fields with many people out picking strawberries. We were back to seeing the dearest farms with little houses with gingerbread trim and red barns. Some had cows and some sheep and many had beautiful sleek looking horses. This mom had twins.

The country was rolling with increasingly higher hills, pines, birch trees and the much loved moose crossing signs.

There are many bike/walking trails everywhere, even in woodsy areas. We also saw many horseback riding trails. Just off the highway, we began to spot occasional tawny colored deer with tall antlers that went straight up. Bob thinks they were maybe Red Deer. We were so impressed with how clean everything was with no garbage or trash by the roads and yards so neat and clean with flowers everywhere. It was refreshing to my eyes.

We turned off the expressway onto a two lane road to the Kosta Crystal store. There were thick woods with cozy, quaint cabins. We stopped at the Kosta Outlet and were amazed to see three floors of every kind of discount stores from clothes and home to sporting goods.

Then up the escalators and out the back we came to the crystal factory.

There were beautiful, but very expensive things. We told the clerk our sister in law's grandfather had worked here and she asked his name. We told her Fagerlund and then wondered if that was the right grandfather, but she knew the name and pronounced it for us.

We grabbed coffee and a snack and got back on the road. It clouded up and we drove in and out of rain. We went through stretches of woods with huge pines, moss covered rocks, thick ferns and  sparkling little lakes.

 

There were also pretty patches of huge pink and purple Lupins on the hillsides. It was a mystical, magical area that gave us energy. Picture me sipping my Latte from Kosta, watching for moose and purring with contentment. 

"Go right on the rotary, second exit," says our Tom Tom. Bob is getting good at understanding these round-abouts. They have very few traffic lights here and lots of rotaries. It seems to keep traffic moving nicely.

We saw a stone circle through the pines and stopped to walk back and take pictures. The smell of fresh cut pine filled the air and it felt like home. It was a lovely stop.

Our next stop at the advice of a friend, was in the town of Eksjo. It was a quaint timber built town with the usual church center with a cobblestone town square used as a market place. We bought some fresh strawberries to eat as we drove. The rain moved in so we got back on the highway.

Our good friends and neighbors in Canada, Don and Sandy Steer, have long time dear friends in Sweden. When they heard we would be visiting, they contacted them and as a result, Vi & Tord invited us to visit them in Mariestad and then to go north with them to their cabin for Mid Summers Eve on Lake Vanern. We thought this was a wonderful opportunity and accepted. It was nice to have a local contact and we began emailing. We were to meet up with them after we got to our hotel in Mariestad and take a tour and have dinner. We were indebted to Don and Sandy.

We came out of the woods and could see Lake Vanern as we entered the town of Jonkopling and the first heavy traffic in a while. Thank God we brought the Tom Tom to guide us through it. Bob had it set to make a loud bonging noise when ever we went over the speed limit. They are very strict in Sweden. However every time it bonged, we both jumped. We decided it had to go and we switched to a CooCoo that at least made us laugh.

We went back into the countryside and drove along catching views of Lake Vanern till we reached our motel. Vi and Tord graciously picked us up a half an hour later and we went on a lovely tour of Mariestad. It was so picturesque. The church was absolutely awesome and my pictures could not capture it. It was built in the 1500s with so much history I can't wrap my brains around it. As we drove out of town a rainbow came out right by the church. It was beautiful.

We went to Vi and Tord's house for some nice conversation and dinner. 

Their house is full of books and paintings and historic pieces. It was an incredible opportunity and so interesting. They did very well with their English and made us feel most welcome. On the way out, they introduced us to their neighbor who is a fabulous gardener. She walked us through and showed us her cement art and cozy hideaways. What a treat.

 

We got back to the motel exhausted, yet neither of us could sleep. The view of the farm and horses across the street from the motel gave me peace.

 
  What will tomorrow bring!?