Hotel Terraza Växjö

... store where the employees can hold meetings, decide the layout and how to arrange products for display, and visually check the colors and quality of the product before it is on the market. IKEA also has a strong policy about sustainability. They take a wholistic approach looking at transportation, minimal waste in the production process, minimizing the weight or products, packaging and shipping so that product ...

... and squished!) spider from one of the samples of pressed paper that was custom-made for the University of Stockholm. Ick! After the paper mill tour, we made it to Kosta Glasswork and viewed skilled masters create beautiful pieces of hand-blown glass so famous to this region of Sweden (called the 'Kingdom of Crystal'). A few of us stopped to buy some fantastic souvenirs to remember this experience. We also ...

... see that blog), after "bunking" in the back of our fine Renault rental station wagon, we headed into Göteborg. We walked around the Slottsskogen Park, which is a large, hilly park near the old part of town. Interesting park...locals attempting what was labeled "beach volley" and penguins in a small kiddie pool, strange place. Headed off to the older part of town where the canals and shops are before heading back to Almhult.

Denne dagen ble en transportetappe gjennom Värmland på vei 61 gjennom Arvika, Karlstad. Vi gjore en litt lengere stopp i Sjötorp som var en sluse i Gjötakanalen. Vidre på E18 til Kristinehamn hvor vi fortsatte på 26 langs Vänern til Jönkjöping. Der fortsatte vi på E4 til Värnamo hvor vi tok kveld på Värnamo Camping. Kjørt distanse: 388 km Gjennomsnittsfart: 75,3 km/t Bensinforbruk: 1,33 pr. mil Literpris på 13,54 gir SEK 1,80 pr. mil

... to be by the ocean again. Our last few days were spent at Henrik's grandparents' cabin, Ekviken. They have a cabin on a lake which has flooded with all of the rain Sweden has gotten this summer. The water was half way up the front lawn which made for less room for kubb (our favorite swedish lawn game) and lots of mosquitoes. So, we had our meals inside and doused ourselves with bug-spray while playing kubb.

... head back to Hyltebruk. We stopped off to buy some souvenirs and some more shrimp and then headed home. Monday morning we were on the road by 5 am to get to the airport. I think I walked in my front door in Los Angeles about 19 hours later. You can see all my photos from this trip here. http://crimmel.smugmug.com/gallery/2550 973#134169908

... the stuff inside was missing, but the thieves had installed a new car stereo(well "new" might not be the right word), so in some ways, the theft was actually an upgrade. Everyone is happy to have the car back. We never thought we'd see it again. This weekend Chris and I head into Gothenburg for a well-deserved weekend of debauchery. It'll be nice to sleep in.

... or two in the centre. The city is a little different at night and much colder too! But by no means did there appear to be much less people around, it was in fact quite busy. Friday was a pretty lazy day, hanging around the house before heading out with Michael for dinner in town in what was not only Friday the 13th but Denmark's 'Culture Night'. Tonight we rode the bikes into town. Why not, 500,000 other people did. This allowed me the ...

... a kid. George got to know his Swedish nephew and we finally met Mats parents and his wife, Lena. When Mats was with us he really did become part of our family. This visit felt so right, just like a real family reunion. We called both Ginny and Cathy but were unable to reach Welty or Lyle. We had a delicious meal in their home, much of what we ate was grown in their garden. After dinner we reminisced for awhile and then returned to Copenhagen at sunset.

... were defeated in 1543. The king strengthened the castle to prevent new rebellions. It was completed in 1580. The ramparts were armed with 50 cannons. Today it is in ruins but still in good enough condition that one can still fathom the strength of the fortification.