Day 24 & 25 - Magnus' Svenska Sommar Hem (Swedish Summer Home!)

Day 24-25   Gota Canal and Strangnas, Ostergotland

Up for frukost where Diane and I discovered how wonderful muesli and yogurt are for breakfast.  Today, Christina is able to accompany Carlos, Diane and I as we head off for Lilla Berga – what remains of the several small farms that were home to Diane’s paternal great-great grandfather as a child until he immigrated to America in 1909 (I now have this date!).  First stop, the Klockrike church where Diane (and Christopher’s) mother’s paternal great-great-great grandparents are buried.  Although there is no grave marker left after so many years, Carlos and I are still able to visit the oldest part of the cemetery.  We then travel into Lilla Berga where we are advised by a local farmer about the history of “Bobbob’s” Lilla Berga at the turn of the century.  In my excitement to search for a house foundation, I wander into a beehive and got one very angry bee entangled in my hair … right next to my Ireland scalp scar.  Didn’t get stung, but that was a very, very long two minutes trying to free him and listen to his angry buzzing.  But considering that I have a photo at home that I can now recognize as this Lilla Berga location – it was well worth the potential bee sting!  Carlos continued to patiently translate all that the farmer shared with him as he too learned about his great grandparents.

With our heads buzzing (literally) with all we’ve learned, the car headed back towards Nykoping with a restaurant stop in Berg on the Gota Canal.  There, during our lunch, we had the opportunity to watch how boats are moved through the locks and transported along this manmade water highway.  It’s absolutely fascinating to watch the locks fill and empty.  Many a Swedish couple spends their day moving their boats along this waterway, but unfortunately it’s nicknamed “The Divorce Ditch”.  Seems that the husband is behind the wheel of the vessel shouting out orders to his wife who is on deck, rope in hand.  Her job?  To jump off the boat, secure it to the cleats with just enough line, jump back on, and hold the line while the water gushes out of the lock like Niagara Falls.  Oh, and since there are up to 5 boats in each lock, she must also keep the boat from hitting the other boats.  Oh, and she needs to do this while people in the restaurant are watching the performance.  Oh, and while the husband is standing behind the wheel shouting orders (and doing nothing other than standing behind the wheel of the vessel shouting orders).  Repeat this drill about 25-plus times in one day.  I actually applauded one woman who completed a lock transition in front of us.  She looked at me with gratitude in her eyes.  “Divorce Ditch.”  Makes sense to me.  Are we having fun yet?

Returning home, Carlos, Christina, Diane and I had a spontaneous fika (coffee break) in Norrkoping to meet Marie, the lovely young woman who partners with Carlos and Christina’s son Petter.  Such a lovely young woman who speaks flawless English without an accent – her trick being listening to American TV shows and movies.  Then back on the road for the return to Nykoping, a load of clean clothes, and the sad process of packing to continue our trip.  As with our mothers’ maternal relatives, it’s hard to say goodbye to our mothers’ paternal relatives as well on our last night with Carlos and Christina.

With our bags packed in our rental Volvo, the next morning finds us following Carlos and Christina as we head to Strangnas, the cluster of red stugga’s owned by their son, Magnus.  To have a cabin in the Swedish countryside is a dream of many a Swede.  We can see why.  Located lakeside, these 3 cabins are wonders … simple and homey, on the water surrounded by grass, birch and pine trees.  They all have running water, but share a separate outhouse (cute as a button!) that has a working sink.  They were built in the early 1800’s.  Added are a cabin that contains a shower and sauna (very modern), and another small building with a washer/dryer, and freezer.  Magnus, Petter, Christina, and Carlos frequently work on the place (as you can imagine) almost every weekend.  There is a dock that runs out through the shoreline reeds to the warm, clear lake water.  Diane was in heaven and kept commenting that the place would be so much fun for children – even she was dashing about looking at everything (including the biggest snails and slugs I’ve ever seen outside of the ocean).  What a fun place to escape to during the summer and fall months. CLICK HERE- FOR A PERSONAL TOUR OF HIS SUMMER HOME!

But, with a 5-hour drive ahead of us, we had to say goodbye and thank you to Carlos and Christina for a wonderful visit with them over the past 3 days.  We head off into the north of Sweden towards the province of Dalarna for the village of Leksand.  We arrived this evening at Korstappans Herrgard, an old-world hotel that was built in 1906 as a private resort.  Our room is on the third floor and beautifully restored with period furniture including the Swedish wall stove.  Won’t need it tonight though – it’s warm and bright out at midnight.  We are in the land of the Midnight Sun.  Time to draw down the black shade and try to get some sleep.  Tomorrow is Midsummer Eve and the village is filled with merrymakers.  Doorways and cars are covered in birch trees, and flowers are everywhere.  Absolutely magical!