I can’t buy a Swedish SIM card until I have a person number. Yesterday’s trip to the tax office was the first step, but now I wait “a couple weeks” for the person number to arrive in the mail. This means that I don’t have GPS on my phone to help me get around a new city yet. When I was in Norway, I walked 14 km (8.7 mi) to the airport with my map app on a path I had never walked before. (Yes, you can walk right up to the airport in Stavanger!) I have to figure out another way to get around for now.
This morning, I was up about 7:30 am and ready for a nice walk. I knew that a very important historical site was not too far from my host’s home, only 2.1 km (1.3 miles). I mapped the walk on my phone.
Then I took several screen shots, zooming in on the route to be able to view landmarks on the satellite map image. I was out the door before the others were up (at least out of the bathroom).
It was a beautiful morning with lots of blue sky and the perfect walking temperature with a very light jacket. There are plenty of green spaces around, including football fields (think soccer).
I arrived at Gamla Uppsala (See the Old Uppsala link on Wikipedia), where viking kings are buried. It is one of the most important historical sites of Sweden. It used to be the center of Norse religious worship, complete with sacrifices. When Christianity arrived, the temple was destroyed an a Christian church was built upon the very site. The first church was burned by a fire, moving the cathedral south west across the river (which distinguishes the city’s landscape). Another church was later built again on the spot.
There has been archaeological studies of the area which confirm the old Nordic temple foundation under this area, with burial mounds from at least the 5th century. Wow, that’s old!
After my walk, a shower, and lunch, Kristina drove Anya and me to the airport to pick up her wallet. She had lost it somewhere between Arusha, Tanzania, and Dubai, UAE. I filled in an online form for Emirates Air, and indeed they found it and sent it to the Emirates office just 20 minutes away. Except for some US cash, it was all there, including Anya’s new driver’s license. We are glad to have this back!
Along the way, I was talking in my beginning Swedish with Kristina. She is so patient and helpful! I think my Swedish tutor from Sammamish would be proud of my efforts. (Thanks Catharina for a great foundation!) As Catharina says, “There are always more words!” so I’m working on vocabulary as well as improving my understanding of Swedish grammar.
Kristina and I then went grocery shopping. I love international markets! This one was very new and large!
There is much new to me!
Another new thing is the locked shopping carts, which is an effort to keep shopping carts from being pushed away from the store.
The afternoon allowed for a nap before studying more Swedish. However, the beautiful weather mean a nice time outside with my grammar book.
Other than the trip to the airport to get Anya’s wallet, there was nothing else I HAD to do today! This was the most relaxing day in many months.
With blessings (med välsignelser),
Beth
Tack för komplimangen 🙂 allt verkar gå bra.