My regular readers know we have our vacation house in Sweden, on lake Vänern (northern Europe’s largest lake). Along the lake there are some small villages with an old charming atmosphere and fascinating history. Sjötorp has become my favorite, and we often go there for an afternoon ice cream or to play mini golf. Last weekend they had their yearly folk festival and since my wife was back home reading for her exam, I walked around and captured some of the days activities with my Nokia mobile phone. I’ll gladly take you along:
Although in the middle of Sweden, far away from the ocean, the village is oozing with maritime atmosphere. You see: if you are looking for a pleasant canal-side life, visit Sjötorp, the Göta Canal’s port to Lake Vänern. The canal was build 175 years ago and is one of Sweden’s biggest tourist attractions both for boaters, bikers (beside the canal) and other tourists. At the village, there are 8 locks. You can see one of them in the background to the right in the picture if you click to enlarge. Click also here for information about Göta Canal from my post last summer.
So back to the folk festival then, with stands for hand crafts, flea marked, smoked fish, seafood and of course ice cream:
There where also quite a bit of fun for the children too (for all ages you might say, but I saw mostly young ones :-)
I also hope you could tell we had the loveliest of sunny days with warm weather (25C – 77F). The children were breaking out their summer shorts, while the growing ups (especially those at the sailing boat on the first picture) were more conservative. After all it is the beginning of June and they dress more according to the calendar. Never the less, it was my first real taste this year, so since this blog also is about our four seasons: I hereby declare the summer season 2007 for opened in Scandinavia! Apropos that: It’s almost midnight here, the sun went down a little over an hour ago, its still dusk outside, and the birds are singing.
I hope we would have the time to go out in the sea this summer.
Enjoy the sun Renny!!!!
What a lovely day Renny and I know I’ll have a blast spending the whole day here….eating, fishing, shopping etc.etc…..wonderful!
Ahhh…this is life Renny :D
i think i would most like to experience a midnight sun in summer and a day of darkenss in winter. just to see the extremes. do enjoy your lovely scandinavian summer!
Ah yes, RennyBA, it’s springtime and you are outside enjoying it all!
Remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes…I think I should make that my motto! LOL
Take care, Renny!
It’s summertime here too, Renny. Gardens are producing lots of fresh vegetables now.
Our sun sets about 8 pm and rises about 5:30 am. The days will get longer until summer solstice then begin getting shorter again.
Loved your pictures, especially of the folk festival.
Have a wonderful week and good luck to Diane with her exams.
Hugs,
Diane
Yes, Vikings know how to enjoy life :)
Had a taste of those short nights while in Hamburg!
How do Scandinavians interact with each other, can each of you use your own language and still be understood in a Scandinavian country other than yours??
What a wonderfully fun day! I cannot imagine the sun setting at 11 o’clock. It sets somewhere around 9 o’clock here now and I still want to stay up until all hours.
Do you know Edward Davenport?The grand property at 33 Portland Place is one of the finest houses in London.
http://www.33portlandplace.com
I’m glad you did take us along. My wife is also finishing off the last section of her diploma…. thankfully!!
25c that’s warmer than Scotland has had so far this year, enjoy.
@AL: Please keep us posted then!
@Shionge: so do you come along next year then?
@Lime: Yea you got it right: the contrast is fascinating!
@Susie: well, almost summer I would say!
Thats a great motto and I learn something about that when you posted from India some month ago too you know!
@DianeJ: Own grown vegi is the best!
At solstice in Oslo, the sun sets 22:44 and rise 3:54.
@Mar: yes, mostly, except for the Fins.
@Fleru de Lisa: Well in a couple o days it almost does (22:44).
@Portland: Sorry, never heard of it, but it sure looks very nice. Why?
@Mirk: Congrats to your wife then!
I’m sure you’ll come after us soon with the warm, sunny weather:-)
Seems all the fun is happening in Sweden!
What a great opening of the Summer Season. Looks so pittoresque there.
Looking forward to coming over in July.
I see the summer begins for everyone! Mrs lifecruiser with bikini and sandal and you with the folk festival in Sjötorp! For me it will begin only in july with the summerholiday! I’m so tired! With my 26 pupils of 3 and 4 years old who are so excited since a few day! The day during later they go to bed later! and of course the exams of my two daughters! It seems I will again doing the bac!
thanks about all the nformations about the canal! And
good luck to Diane for her exam I know this situation because i did my studies at the faculty when I was married and with babies! When I was waiting the first for the master (law student) and for the second the entrance examination of teacher!
And the folk singers are singing with the birds! I’d love to hang out there and listen to guitars and do some singing!
It looks so relaxing. And blessedly warm! Another splendid event, Renny!
My goodness. Your pictures definitely show the awesome summer weather there in Norway.
I think that the seasons in temperate countries are more interesting than in the tropics. Here in Manila, the length of days are the same every day of the year. But in temperate countries, there is variety, even in Buffalo, around June, it is still daylight at 8:00 PM, but around December, it is already dark at 5:00 PM.
Enjoy the summer Renny !
I want to go to this marveloous looking folk festival! It brings back meories of the renaisance fair we used to go to when i was a child. I will have to write a posting about it on my hippie child blog.
Awww. You are such a child at heart, Renny! :)
That looks like SO much fun, Renny! I wish I was there! :-)
77 degrees F is the most perfect temperature! That is so neat that the sun sets near midnight! Here, it sets around 9pm. I loved the cute little guys with hats and beards in the craft shop. :-D
It’s almost like being there!!
Renny
It’s warm in the USA too. Liked your pictures of food, made me hungry. Thanks for the pic of Oslo, I miss the city, seems like a long time ago when I was there.
Kay L