May 24 - Central Station and Gota Alv

 

Our plan for today was to take the tram to Central Station and walk along the river - Gota Alv.  After that we would figure out where we wanted to go next.

Central Station

We went into central station to see if we could find where we would need to go next Thursday to take a train to Malmo, Sweden to see daughter #3 and family.  There was this statue of a little girl with a sign above her that read something like "Happy or sad?"  Is she playing a game like "Hide and Seek" or is she crying in misery?  There is no answer.

We exited the other side of Central station to this piece of artwork.  I have no idea what it means/

The walk along the river was cold and windy.  But thank goodness - not wet!

The Opera House.

The ship with the high sails is a hotel according to Michael.

The old port.

Now turning away from the water with its cold and winds we head back into the city.

Street art along the way - these two are part of the same mural.

Oh wait - I need to take a couple more photos of the river!

Back to the city and its canals.

We needed to stop somewhere to get something to drink and get off our feet for a while.  I did this backwards as the picture of the building is 3 photos below.  Inside we found a ?  well - I can't call it a restaurant as it was just an open area with lots of seating around the middle of the area - and stores all around.  Maybe call it a booth?  They had glass cases filled with sandwiches and also many sweets on display.  You could also get drinks, like coffee and soda.  In Sweden they have something called Fika - which is to have a coffee and a sweet.  So that is sort of what we did.  I had a diet coke - but it was called something else, but did have the red label.  Michael had coffee and a twisted cinnamon roll thing.  I ended up drinking a glass of water with my Bounty cake - a chocolate/coconut very rich desert.  The bathroom was up stairs - so I did take a look around.  There was a tiny antiques store to the left.  And on the right two other stores.  

Downstairs - close to our table was this second hand English book store.  This couple was not typical of the cliental - Mostly it looked like gay couples going in.  

The store by the front door - well past the flower shop in the entry way - was called "The British Shop"  

The entry way - past the flower shop and the area where we sat for rest and enjoy sweets.

Back past the statue near the main Visitor Center and the onwards toward the Gota Platsen - which turned out to be another healthy distance away.  We walked along a canal.

We passed a park with this statue.  Both of the men have knives and seem to fighting for their lives.

Another theater building

I know these are hard to see - but instead of half naked women - these are half naked men.

We passed this statue of a gun with its barrel tied in a knot.  The building next to it was called "The Bishops Arms".  A coincidence?

Then we were at Goteborgs Platsen.

There was quite a bit going on here - all a little disjointed.  The fountain of Poseidon is central in the Platsen

I have no idea what this four person bicycle has to do with the Concert hall just behind them.  They are dressed quite formally with white hats and white gloves.  They just stood there the whole time we were there - maybe 20 - 30 minutes.  The guy on the right has a formal suit with tails - not sure about the guy on the left. 

I don't know what direction this was - but it was to the left of the concert hall and facing what seemed to be a music museum was this group of people with a hot air balloon.  You can see the basket on the left and the balloon itself on the ground toward the right in the photo.  The balloon is blue and gold - which are the colors of the Swedish flag.

There was also some music concert going on.  There were so many people dressed to the 9's - the women in long gowns and the men in coat tails.  They all took turns taking photos of each other in front of the Poseidon fountain.

A few more photos of the area.

We walked up this hill and didn't even realize we were walking up hill!  Not until we walked down it and were shocked at the steepness.  

One last shot in the area and then we headed for a tram that would take us back to Frolunda.  Back at the mall we stopped at the Hemkop for a zucchini and some chocolate and then headed home.  

UPDATE:

Per daughter Alexis - the event would have been a graduation celebration for candidates who have successfully defended their PhD's.  It is a very formal ceremony with the graduating PhD's dressed in tails and white waistcoats with that kind of sailor hat - exactly as the 4 people on the bike for four were dressed.  The professors all wear a similar outfit and pin on all their decorations and metals.  The ladies all wear long dresses - and even with temps in the mid fifties - a lot of them did not wear a coat!