6-8 Varborg

 Well, I already started to post about Sunday in the last post - but then Alexis and Fam left for the train and we had the rest of the day to fill.  Michael needed to nap and I needed to put my foot up.  So an hour later we packed for our car ride to Varborg.  Michael put in the coordinates for a restaurant as we would arrive around 1pm.  The restaurant is an area of wetlands protection area for birds.  There are a lot of paths outside of the restaurant - unfortunately - they are dirt and have puddles of water.  I can't walk on them with my crutches. First lunch.  I decided to have the Schnitzel  which we have seen on a couple of menus of the day - but always looked too big - and it is still way too big!

Michael had this flat white fish dish - I got a bite of the fish and it was delicious - no idea what it was.

After our meal we walked out the back of the restaurant to see the views.  I could not walk far - but it was pretty.

Our restaurant is to the left - on the right is "the ice cream parlor".

Then we drove on to the Varborg harbor.  Here is some history.  You can join the yacht club and be able to sail these ships from the past.

a couple of very cool old buildings.

A replica of an old ship that kids/and others can climb on.

These are some of the old boats you can learn how to sail.

Scenes of the harbor

The old fort up on the hill.  We did not go there as it required more walking than I could do.

A highway scene on the way home.  I thought the clouds were interesting - especially as they have just been very gray lately.

 

6-7 Alexis and Family make it to Gothenburg

 After all the drama in the last few days - they made the train trip to Gothenburg and then took the #1 Tram to Frolinda Torg - our stop.  Michael went to the tram to meet them and guide them to our apartment.  Sleeping quarters will be tight tonight - but hey - we are together.  

They arrive around 1-2pm.  All of us are hungry.  We decide to go out for lunch, and also need to do shopping for snacks/breakfast stuff.  And because of my boot I can't walk to the mall.  But there is not enough room in the car for 6.  Alexis and Rob decide to do the shopping.  We make a list - everyone seems to prefer a different snack.  We can get them all - as long as Alexis and Fam take them home with them.  We leave in two days.  

Meanwhile Lia and I are trying to figure out games the whole family can play together.  She is looking at on-line games.  I am looking at old-school games you play with your mind and voice.  Turns out we need them both.

We took them to Da Mario - our third time there.  So many choices of food.  Two people got pasta, 1 salad, 1 kabab pizza and 1 kabob plate.  

My kabob plate - kabab meat over French fries covered in kabob sauce.

I did not take photos of everyone else's choices - but all seemed to enjoy them - and several people helped finished my plate.

Lia had set up a game of "Family Feud", unfortunately, she could not get the questions to download properly and had to enter them all manually which took quite some time.  Meanwhile the rest of us played one of my games.  This was an ABC game where the first person had to say where they wanted to travel and what they would take with them - all starting with the letter A.  Next person does B and then c etc.  We played a couple of rounds of this until Lia finished the questions and Michael finished a phone call.  

One round of Family Feud was enough - as it would take too long to enter all the questions for the next round.  So on to another game called:  Gartic Phone.  You can play it on your phone, tablet or computer.  It is a drawing game/sentence game.  You start out with everyone typing in a sentences - the weirder the better.  These are assigned randomly to other players to draw a picture of.  Those pictures are sent to other players to describe.  Then to another player for a picture.  Sort of like telephone where you whisper a phrase into each other's ears and in the end it comes out very strange.  In this case the sentences/pictures change over time and can be very funny.  There was much laughter and loud exclamations - but no neighbors complained.

Sunday morning Michael and the granddaughters went to the mall to the Hepkot to get doughnuts.  Everyone slept reasonably well.  I was in a very dark room and could not fall asleep - I am used to much light now!  After breakfast A and family packed up - Lia and Natasha were keen to play another round of Gartic phone.  We played one round - and of course they wanted another - but they need to catch the train back to Malmo.  It was so great to have them here.  And we need to be in the same space - otherwise someone is always having to sacrifice something.

6-6 Your coming today - what no? Tomorrow? Wait - not until June 27?!!

 Today is a national holiday in Sweden.  So long ago we had planned that Michael and I would go to Malmo for the 4 day weekend - last weekend and also holidays and Alexis and family would come to Gothenburg for this 3 day holiday.  They had booked an Airbnb near us and just decided on Thursday which train they would take to get here.

We talked on Signal on Thursday night - they thought they would take a morning train to have more time with us - except that they had still not heard from their Airbnb about how to get into their rental.  Normally you would get this information at least 24 hours in advance.  They tried to contact the host multiple times with no response.  Finally they called Airbnb who said they would contact the host.  No response was had and finally Alexis went to bed.

Friday morning - still no response.  Alexis calls Airbnb again.  Has to start a new case as the old chat expired after an hour of no texting.  Airbnb will contact the host - still no response.  They wait several hours finally call again.  It is now 11am - Airbnb finally agrees to cancel the reservation and refund them the money.

We all start looking at possible accommodations on Airbnb or hotel.  Alexis finds a "last minute deal" at a hotel.  It is a nice hotel with great views!  She books it and sends us the booking info.  They will come today as they still have time to catch the train and arrive here before her VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS PHONE CALL" at 4:30.  

A few minutes later we get a panicked phone call - she booked the hotel for the wrong dates.  She has made an un-refundable booking for June 27 - 29.  Michael and I are leaving Sweden on June 10!  Now what?  

Michael and I have the same thought - could we find enough places for them to sleep in our Airbnb?  We have 3 bedrooms here.  The 3rd one is tiny with a single bed and no room for anything else.  There is a blanket there.  There is a single bed in a corner of the Livingroom.  There is a couch (not a pull out bed) that will work in a pinch.  There is also another single bed in my bedroom - with cover and pillows.  There are lots of pillows - we are just missing blankets.

This is hours later - not enough time for them to get here by train before Alexis has her VERY IMPORTANT CALL.  So they will catch an early train Saturday morning and spend the day and night with us.  They will bring extra blankets on the train.  They will take the train back to Malmo some time on Sunday.  And take the NM salsa and cans of baking soda we have brought from ABQ for them.

And they have a bonus trip to Gothenburg on June 27 - 29!  

6-5 Island visit to Skarhamn, Tjorn

 Today we are heading to an island just off the coast (not part of either the North Islands, or South Islands) called Tjorn to visit the town of Skarhamn.  

As we headed out of town we passed by the Amusement park that my grandson, Arti has been talking about.  I don't remember the name of it.  

Heading for the bridge to the island of Tjorn.

Once on the island we headed for the town of Skarhamn.  There were many bucolic scenes along the way.

Entering Skarhamn.  Damm - it is very picturesque!

We decide to drive through the town - to the outskirts and then make our way back.

Oh, Oh, I guess it is road construction season here!

We stopped along the road just outside of a parking lot.  Michael was trying to park as close as he could so I did not have to walk very far to take photos.  This is becoming a reoccurring theme - as Michael says - got off your foot and I say - but I need to get this shot!

I notice these starfish.  What does this mean?  One of the road construction people comes by and tells us we must move our car.  Michael moves it into the parking lot.

We are finished photographing here - and ready to have lunch.  We had passed a restaurant earlier and will go back and find it.  Michael walks back to the parking lot to get the car.  No other road construction machines have arrived in this area - there was no need to move the car!

We found the restaurant.  It seems like this area has a lot of retirees.  One of them came up to us - as we already had food and I am sure asked in  Swedish - was it good?  Above is the picture of our salad which Michael got from the salad bar.  The red cabbage Cole slaw was very good - not near as mayonnaisey as the one from the grocery store.  

We got two mains - the fish and chips which had a very light breading on the haddock.

And the curry haddock - with mashed potatoes around it.  Both were good.  

Then we walked across the street to take more photos.

We saw this sign which said that until the 1950's this area was much more commercial.  And now it is all about boats and yachts and tourists.  

There was this ode to the boating industry.  There is a close up further on.

The island is actually quite rocky.

Proof that people in Sweden wear shorts!  I think the temperature is at 64 degrees - but the winds are crazy.  Always windy with gusts of strong wind.  Enough to almost knock me down.

More starfish.  It seems these are marking a walking/biking path all around the island.

A better closeup of the ship statue.

I thought that was a church across the way - but why is there a smiley face?

And now we are heading home - back to the rural parts of the island.

The bridge from the other side.

I can't remember what this is called - a kite surfer maybe?  We saw them in El Campello, Spain.

I kept taking photos to show the Archipelago of the area.  This is not great in showing what we were seeing.

Now heading back into Gothenburg.  On the other side of the road is this big rig truck filled with I think are graduates.  They have the same hats as the doctorate graduates we saw on Goteborg Square many days ago.  They are yelling and people passing by in cars are honking at them.

Our GPS seems to be putting us right through downtown Gothenburg.  I a have no idea what this statue is about.  It seems to be a women high up in the air.  If I find out what it is about I will let you know.