A Swedish Weekend Adventure

It was in the beginning of October that I asked Nhu if she wanted to go to Sweden with me to visit our friend Stefan.  "Of course!", she exclaimed.  We would drive over on Saturday the 22nd and return on Sunday.  As time came closer to the date of departure, I was getting excited about our Swedish weekend adventure.  Nhu and I made plans about the weekend.  We would stop at a market on the way and pick up some food.  Nhu must have won the lotto because she insisted on paying for everything.  But Stefan had to make dessert in return.  I suggested that we bring our own bedding because it would be too much for Stefan to do 2 beds for just one night.  Electricity is expensive these days so if we brought our own blankies, it would help out on Stefan not having to run the washer and dryer after we left.

On Thursday before departure it was a beautiful sunny day here in Copenhagen.  I was looking forward to the drive on the coming weekend - just a quick hour away.   It was going to be fun to drive over the Öersund bridge - or as I like to call it: The bridge to nowhere.

I was looking forward to the amazing view from the top of the bridge where we would be able to see for miles over southern Sweden.  Friday was just a tad hazy and then on travel day, Saturday, I woke up to this:

All that blue that I was expecting to see from the top of the Öresund bridge - the sky and the water - was nothing but gray.

Nhu said something rather odd to me before we left: "Eddie, I want to stop in a nice market and enjoy the experience of a Swedish market - I like to check out different products."  That was strange because I too like to go into foreign markets and see what they have.  I don know of anyone else besides Nhu and my friend Carlos from LA , who enjoys spending time in a market.  He's asked me a number of times to send him photos from the markets I shop at.  But actually, before Nhu had even asked, I had already checked out on google maps where the markets in Sweden were that we could stop at on the way to Stefan's.

We found a great one.

First was this thingy.

We were looking at it like we were in a museum.

What is it?

Did NASA find these things on the moon and bring it back with them?  Apparently it turns out to be some kind of Product Scanner that you take with you around the market and scan the items before you put them in the shopping basket.  Here in Denmark we scan the items using our phone.

some kind of flat bread?

It was interesting to see they had Squeeze Cheese in all sorts of flavors.

Chorizo

Ham

God Jul = Merry Christmas

The label says: The Year's Unique Christmas Coffee - Dark roast with tones of almond, apricot and dark chocolate.  An exclusive and limited blend made from 100% Arabica beans.  This year's signature bean comes from the Chiapas region in Mexico, which contributes to the roundness and smooth sweetness.

 

Some kind of strange horse-shoe shaped sausage.

After Ms. Money Bags paid for the food, Nhu was too sweet to buy me a cup-a-java and a danish.  We sucked it up and chowed it down in the parking lot like a typical American tourist couple would do.  Bet you didn't know you could have a blast in a foreign market.  

Once we are ready to go, we get back in the car and continue on our journey.  And then we arrive at Stefan's Country Bed & Breakfast Cottage. 

Nhu is sooooo happy to see her old roomie again.

And Stefan is in the process of his de-lish home made apple pie.

Freezing in Stefan's huge yard.

Stefan says to me, "How do you like your meat?"

Jokingly I say, "Grilled."

Nhu and I continue getting dinner prepared.

"Where's Stefan?" I asked Nhu.

"I dunno."

Then a few minutes later, Stefan walks in the kitchen with a 

platter of hot grilled stakes.  I was floored.  

He really did grill the stakes.

"But???? - where did you grill them?  it's too cold to go outside."

I had to laugh because he actually did grill them on the front covered patio/porch of his home.

I didn't know you could grill inside the house.

After dinner we sit and chat and have a nice evening catching up on what has been going on. Eventually it was time to get to dreamland.

The following day we get up and put our face on and get a huge breakfast going.  After we eat, Stephan asks, "Do you guys want to go for a walk?"  We said yes.  It would be nice to move around a bit and see the countryside.  Stefan says we first need to drive to an area about 40 minutes away.  I was thinking we should just put on our boots and jackets and walk in his area.  But Stephan ended up drive us to this beautiful forest.  I was in love with it.

Here's the view just 10 minutes down the road from his home.

Then we get to the beautiful Rövarekulan nature preserve.

I was calling this Nature's confetti.

It's not so obvious in the photos but the colors were so rich.

Now take a look at the colors of these berries - so wild !

and look at how colorful these two characters are.

I was almost becoming light headed with excitement over the beauty.

Throughout our hike we came upon crazy mushrooms and fungi.

Eventually we ended up climbing up and out of the forest to an open field.  It was soooooo reminiscent  of The Sound of Music that the girls just couldn't help themselves put on their best Ms. Andrew's

Then back down the last hill to the parking area.  These two were way ahead of me the whole time talking and talking.  I had to keep running up to them to catch them.  I was always lagging behind taking photos because I was just so mesmerized by the colors and feel of the forest.  It was beautiful.

Back at the parking area with signs asking you to be kind to mother nature.

On our way back to Stefan's cottage, we passed this church.

And just beyond that, we come to this area in Flyingeby that is all about horses - riding, training, competition and all kinds of education about horses.

Now we are back and pulling into Stephan's quarter mile long driveway.

We pulled into the parking area, walk up to the covered front porch and pull off our muddy boots, and make ourselves a few sandwiches and coffee.  After a short chat, Nhu and I pack up our stuff, toss it into the back of the car and we head back to Copenhagen.  

I want to thank you sooooo much Stefan for a very wonderful weekend.  It was exactly what I needed.  And a special thank you to Nhu who put so much into this adventure.  We really had a great time and hopefully we can do it again this spring time.