After three nights in Copenhagen, Marishka, our Ukrainian guide, led us to the train station for a short trip to Malmo Sweden. She walked us around the town, then set us free for lunch and other options.

This batch starts out with my bags (too many pants, not enough shirts, but still packed). The impressive bridge we crossed connects Denmark & Sweden a border/seaway long disputed. The gun sculpture was in response to the shooting of John Lennon (a lesson still not learned in the US), the church and town hall were impressive, as was the first/largest pharmacy in Europe. Some architecture, gardens, and finally Malmo castle – not impressive from the outside, but a great collection of history & art within…

Inside the Malmo Castle, an interesting blend of Swedish (once Danish) cultural artifacts and art…

Malmo Castle continued. For a short while, after the glory days of Renaissance kingdom action, it was a prison. I only did the simple tour, there’s also a science and natural history section…

Another shot of Malmo townhall, this one in sun rather than shade. Then, we took a lovely longer train ride to the city of Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest. Dinner, bed, and the next morning we took a ferry out to Vrango Island in the Gothenburg archipelago and went kayaking!

Great to go for a paddle on what the locals considered was the best weather on the island this year. Afterwards, some of us went to a floating sauna, but the surrounding water was skank (algaed & jellied) and the hot tub jets didn’t work. Napped on the deck. Eventually ferried back to Gothenburg…

During some free time, I went for stroll through Gothenburg to check out the fish market via some gardens (note the pot growing in a planter?). The fish market was more of an upscale food court, not open yet, but the gardens were impressive, including a botanical museum! Included, a cool playground adjacent to a historical wall. Along the way I got a haircut…!

Later that day, we trained to the town of Alingsas for a “Fika” tour. Fika is the art and practice taking a coffee break. We learned more about coffee, pastries, and the ritual. It was unique and interesting, but I’m not sure I like it. Taking a break is OK, but the conversation that seems to accompany it seems superficial. Perhaps there’s more to it, but I don’t want any more pastries or cake for a while…

Usually the first thing, the last thing we did in Gothenburg was take a city tour with our guide Marishka. The next day we took a very nice bus to get to Oslo, Norway…

Thanks for following along. Next up – Norway…!