Category: Sweden
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The Bohuslän Coast Road Trip Part 3: Tjörn
WE ARRIVE IN TJÖRN in time to see the late afternoon sun cast a warm magical glow to the town. As with the two towns we stopped by today, there are not many people, and the gentle sounds of the ocean are all that we hear. Tjörn is one of the area’s most popular islands,…
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The Bohuslän Coast Road Trip Part 2: Fjällbacka
AFTER OUR PIZZA LUNCH IN SMÖGEN, Yanyan and I continue our drive north to Fjällbacka, another coastal town in the Bohuslän region. This place carries a certain cachet to it, being the favorite summer place of Ingrid Bergman. That association certainly belies the fact that Fjällbacka is really a sleepy fishing town with fewer than 1000…
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The Bohuslän Coast Road Trip Part 1: Smögen
GOTHENBURG MAY BE A DESTINATION IN ITSELF, but it’s also a convenient gateway to the Bohuslän coast. Here, lovely coastal towns feature colorful timber cottages, pine trees, and rugged granite rocks that all make for great photo opportunities. In summer, it draws crowds both from Sweden and neighboring countries, while in the off-season it’s either depressingly…
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Gothenburg: Neoclassical and Industrial
MOVING ON FROM STOCKHOLM, Yanyan and I travel to Gothenburg in the evening to experience another side of Sweden. The country’s second largest city is replete of Neoclassical architecture, interesting museums, and elegant pathways that make it one of Sweden’s most beautiful cities. It’s a cosmopolitan place as well, not only because it’s home to the biggest…
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Uppsala: Sweden’s Historical Heart
IN THE AFTERNOON Yanyan and I make our way further 40 kilometers north to the city of Uppsala, considered to be the historical and spiritual center of Sweden. It’s a city steeped in history as evidenced by the number of buildings from bygone eras in the city center, most notable of which are the cathedral…
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Sigtuna: Sweden’s Oldest Surviving Town
ON OUR FOURTH DAY IN SWEDEN, Yanyan and I move away from Stockholm and take a day trip to two sites around the capital. In the morning, we go by train to Sigtuna 40 kilometers north. At first glance, the center of this compact little town seems like every other Swedish town with its cobbled streets…
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Stockholm: Cobblestones and Waterways
I’M DRENCHED FROM WALKING IN THE DRIZZLE through the cobblestone paths of Gamla Stan’s narrow alleys. My aching feet are chiding me for opting to walk around in this soggy weather for three hours instead of resting in the hostel. But I feel very much fulfilled nonetheless, seeing the city radiate such charm even in the…
The Tourist Gaze 