Category Archives: Sweden

Sweden ’14, Part 3: Torpa Stenhus


Some cultural education needed: one day we went to the nearby Torpa stenhus (Torpa stone house), a well-preserved medieval castle. The first stone house was built around 1470 as a fortress against the Danes – Denmark used to be pretty big these days. Nothing extraordinary but certainly worthwhile visiting.

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A side entrance into the building
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The stone house in total view
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The main entrance with a lady dressed in traditional Swedish clothes
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Very thick walls show that the building used to be a fortress rather than a residency
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A small chapel within the stone house and another lady in traditional Swedish clothes 😉
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The dining room
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The bath room…
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under the roof
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Steep staircases
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Lake Asunden at Torpa Stenhus

Sweden ’14, Part 2: Nabben – our most relaxing vacation ever!


With fish in our belly and even more in our shopping bags we drove to Ulricehamn to the summer cottage of our friend Henrik’s family. It’s nothing luxurious, but offers the most magnificent view over the water and the exclusivity of being all alone without neighbors and having your own “beach” for skinny dipping ;-). That alone was luxury. They’re currently toring it down and rebuild the whole place so we can hardly wait to see how it becomes.

Needless to say, it was THE most relaxing vacation we’ve ever had. Somehow the water, the trees and wood around had an instant calming effect on us that we immediately felt relaxed upon arriving. We barbecued in the garden and enjoyed our dinner outside while the sun was setting every night (usually around 9 or 10pm). We jumped into the refreshing water first thing in the morning and last thing at the end of the day.  We spent the day lounging around, reading books on the hammock, hiking a little, and eating a tons ;-). Since the cottage was on the other side of the river, going groceries shopping meant hopping on the motor boat and headed to town. Sweden is a very beautiful country, one of the most beautiful in fact, but they are doomed with very long winters and hence very short summers. Even in the middle of summer time, it could still get cold and rainy occasionally so you can’t really depend on it. Fortunately, we were blessed with 28-30°C every single day with very pleasant breezes in the evening. We couldn’t ask for anything more.

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“Nabben” the name of the cottage given by its owner

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The water pump – crystal clear and cold water you can immediately drink from the dwell (50m deep)
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Our favourite place in the shadow

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There must have been some heavy rain shortly before we arrived
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Job done: poured out the water and cleaned the boat
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The fridge from the old days
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P in the evening sun
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Playing card games on the front porch
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Morning yoga
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Evening yoga

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A look at Nabben out of the boat

Sweden ’14, Part 1: Gothenburg Fish Market

After having arrived in Gothenburg airport we drove to the “Feskekörka” which very much looks like a church with all those gothic architectural elements but in fact it is an indoor fish and shellfish market where you can buy all kinds of seafood delicacies. There’s also a restaurant inside. Nevertheless, we went for some takeaway food to eat outside in the sun. If you like seafood – this is the place to go.

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The “fish church” from inside
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Yummy lobster
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Waiting fro customers
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Happy after-lunch face