Fyns Hoved
Driving around to find a free and calm place to pitch our tent for the night, we drove to the nothern most part of the Danish island, Fyn.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Osbecks bokskog beech forest in Hässlöv Hallandsåsen
Osbecks bokskog
Driving down from Gothenburg towards Malmö searching for a place to tent for the night we stumbled upon this amazing forest near Hässlöv.It is allowed to tent in Sweden any were as long as you are not in sight, too close to someones house. Osbecks bokskog just that perfect spot.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Gothenburg Göteborg Roda Sten kontshall
Röda Sten Konsthall Gothenburg
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| Jenn in front of Röda Sten Konsthall in Gothenburg |
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| Röda Sten Konsthall |
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| An awesome piece outside of the exhibition hall |
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| Wedding photography |
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| A piece inside of Röda Sten Konsthall |
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| Getting lucky under the bridge |
Bengans Skivor - Record Store
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| Bengans record store |
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| Inside Bengans |
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| No skitsystem makes John SKITARG! |
The flea market in Gothenburg
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| Parked next to the flea market near the harbour of Gothenburg |
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| The Flea market |
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| Joakim Pirinen inspired street art!!! |
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| All the nice impressions made John fly... |
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Runestones of Vadstena-Skänninge-Högby-Rök
Vadstena
Vadstena is known for its medieval monastery and the nun Birgitta that founded it. The city has a picturesque old town and a fancy castle complete with a functioning moat and all.
We wanted to come to Vadstena because we had read that there are many Runestones in the surroundings.
The tourist information had to our surprise no idea were they could be, except for the one that was in the church yard. "Well we don't know to be honest, but we do have a lot of medieval churches around here, and there is one stone in the church yard and I believe there is an other one in the nearby towns church as well."
Something was going on here...
We checked out the church and to Jenn's amusement an Organ concert of Bach just starting.
The Runestone we found just outside of the church. A rusty old marker told a sad tale. It had been used in the construction of the huge church.
Skänninge
There were no Runstones to be found in Vadstena other than the one in the picture above. Vadstena is cleaned up and the presense of Birgitta is all over. South of Vadstena there is a small town called Skänninge that we luckily stumbled upon. The city center is full of old houses and gardens. And the tourist info people are very knowledgeable of the cities past. For us it was just the break we needed. A long long haired viking descendant could point out were on the map we should take our car so we could see the stones. There are not even officially marked out. The first one was behind the tourist office.
This stone had been used as entrance stone in to the church. Face down it was places in the position were everyone that entered into the church had to step on it.Högby
To see maybe the most imponent of the stones you have to take a small sandy road out from the city. Here on top of a small hill the Runestone stands majestic looking over the yellow fields.
Some 200 meters further on inside the forest there are more stones. These ones are more art like, with organic curves and serpent shapes. Very inspiring to think that the people who carved them would take the time to decorate and erect a memory for someone who disappeared on a quest.
Rökstenen the Runestone of Rök
Now I say the tales in full. Someone ... I say the folktale / to the young men, which of the line of Ingold was repaid by a wife's sacrifice. I say the folktale / to the young men, to whom is born a relative, to a valiant man. It is Vélinn. He could crush a giant. It is Vélinn ... [Nit] I say the folktale / to the young men: Þórr. Sibbi of Vé, nonagenarian, begot (a son).
This stone has become the most famous of the all the Runestone because of the text chiseled into it. Written as a poem the writer goes on to tell the younger generations of the heroic voyages of the elders and the sacrifices they made.
For us it had the inspiring and encouraging message that in order too see and grow you have to make journeys and perhaps even sacrifices.
The tale on the stone ends with Sibbi who even at the modest age of 90 got a son... :)
A part from being beautiful and strong pieces of history and art these stones also represent oppression and a struggle to keep a heritage alive.
For when the Christian came you only had three choices
- Die
- Convert to Christendom
- Wear the cross but keep the old faith
Friday, July 12, 2013
Stockholm-Vadstena
Thinking about this trip
We have been thinking and talking about a road trip like this for years. Since Jenn is from Colombia and only recently got a Finnish residence-permit that allows her to travel inside the EU we can now finally after 4 years together in Finland make our dream a reality.Needless to say we are excited!
Ferry from Turku to Stockholm
For once the boat trip was easy. As a Finn you will travel on one of these boats at least once in your life. And at least once in your life you will have an unpleasant experience. ;)This is our planned route in Europe.
We took the day ferry from Turku and people were generally nice. Got some good sleep in the cabin and some goodies from the tax free-shop.
We got off the ferry delighted to get on the road again.
Stockholm to Vadstena
Ahh the country side. Even though we took the big highway E4 we could still could enjoy the surroundings.About an hour south from Stockholm we spotted him. Paying little attention to our excited nearing, he continued to gobble up the yellow sea.
We arrived at our sleeping spot for the night at Vadstena Camping at sunset 11pm.We drove here in search of Runestones.
Driving around Europe in our Nissan Micra
We travel on three planes
Traveling always gives you new insights about yourself and the world you live in. This is perhaps the most rewarding way to grow and expand. On this trip we will be driving with a little red Nissan Micra (2000) around in Europe.
Starting from Nagu, Finland we aim to drive until either the car, wallet or health gives up or we feel full and inspired enough to take road back home. We will be budget traveling but the Micra is not big enough to sleep in so our trusty tent will be were we get our precious sleep, most of the time.
Coming from Finland
From Finland you can take 6 different ways down into you Europe.- The ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm
- Ferry from Helsinki to Tallin
- Ferry from Turku to Stockholm
- Ferry from Vasa to Umeå
- Drive around the Baltic Sea east via Russia
- Drive around the Baltic Sea north via Lapland
Take part in our trip
We have a base plan for our trip, that you can see in this google map, but we are really open to change it in any direction. If you have any tips or recommendations, from an awesome back alley graffiti piece to a country side abandoned castle (do they exist?) then please feel free to fill in your recommendations on the map or leave a comment!
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