The Bridge to Nowhere

Bounty has been begging us to please take her for a ride to see her favorite Swedish babysitter, Stefan  and her new little cousin, Jackson.  So we packed up all the doggy supplies and took a 1 hour drive east from here.  I don't dare snap pix while driving so these pix of the bridge between Sweden and Denmark is taken from the web.   It's a funny bridge and rather unusual because it just ends in the middle of nowhere. Therefore, that's what I like to call it:  the bridge to nowhere.  

This is looking towards Sweden.

 This is over Sweden looking towards Denmark.

Can you see that the bridge doesn't really go anywhere?

Stefan lives out in the countryside just a few minutes away from the really cute town of Lund.  The ride is just 80km away - almost all of it motorway.  The day before we were to leave, it rained like crazy.  I was not crazy about making that drive only to end up in the country-side in the rain.  But what a fantastic surprise; when we woke up on the day that we were to drive, the sun was out with beautiful white puffy clouds.  When we got to Stefan's house, we emptied out the car of all the doggy things and our over-night cosmetic bag - which weighs about 50 pounds.  

Stefan wanted to take us to this little café he knows of just outside of Ystad.  Ystad is the town of departure for Danes who are on their way to the Danish islands of Bornholm and/or Christiansø.  This entire area of southern Sweden as well as the Danish islands, has very beautiful nature.  Centuries ago this entire area was under Danish rule.  Lots of wars between the 2 countries changed the border lines several time throughout history.  Now the area known as Skåne, belongs to Sweden. The Danish islands Bornholm and Christiansø were under occupation by the Russians during WWII.  It was the only land that Russia gave back after the war.  That's the short version.

 Starting our tour.

 The pretty country roads of Southern Sweden.

 Our first stop is at this monastery which is now a private residence.  Part of it is open to the public.

 This is the garden to the monastery.

One of the many fields and farm houses we passed on the way.

 The double water towers are the landmark for the town of Ystad.

The café Stefan is taking us to is rather unusual in that it is a kind of all-you-can-eat buffet.  They serve small sandwiches from the menu card (which is not part of the buffet) or you can buy coffee by the pot - as much as you can drink and small cakes and cookies are included in the price - all you can eat.  They bring out the sandwich and the coffee but you have to help yourself to the cookies and cakes - imagine that - all of which are home made and.... just help yourself?  With pleasure!  So if you are a cookie monster or cake freak - this is the place to go, hang out, stuff your face and enjoy the outdoors.  This particular coffee house just happens to be right across the street from the beach.

 This is the entrance to the coffee house.

 Here we have the coffee house.

We sat in the garden enjoying the blue skies and sunshine.  But if you want, you can sit in-doors.

 They have a large shop as well selling nick-nacks and edible items.

 Our shrimp n' egg sandwich and coffee has arrived.

Stefan pours us a nice cuppa-java.

 The sign tells you that the coffee shop is open.

 And just across the street is Mossby Beach.  You can get here by bus as well.

 We take a little stroll on the sand.

 

 

This is one of several private cabins along the coast line.

 

That's it for now.  Back to the car and back to Stefan's country home.  The ice-cream-mobil was not open.  Probably because it was a Monday afternoon. But when it is, I am sure the line is long.

 

 While on the way back, I snapped a few pix of the coast line from the car.

Here you can see a sign that tells you about an upcoming event.  

The symbol represents the letter Y for Ystad and it is in the shape of the double water tower.

 Once we get home we have a little bit of Rosé, get the grill started and the doggies inspect the weenies and chicken to make sure everything is ok.

 

 The temps are dropping and it's getting a bit nippy.

 

Thanks Stefan for a wonderful visit and a bit of fun.

SKÅL !