With friends, Greg and Carol, arriving on Friday evening, we’ve had several days of great experiences (and a couple days of me working and letting them play tourist).
On Saturday, we visited Uppsala, starting with fika (coffee or tea with pastries or other delicacies). Then a visit to the cathedral, where we listened to the 50th anniversary concert of the cathedral girls choir with an organ solo. We walked around the rune stone garden, the castle, overviews of the botanical garden, and a walk through the pedestrian street. The route went quite well for my first hosting of friends in Uppsala.
In the evening, we had another cultural event as we were invited to our German friends to watch the Eurovision song contest.
A fun night, but we all were incredulous over the winner. Seriously, the winner was at the bottom of our lists!
On Sunday, we went to the second service where the president of the main Lutheran seminary in Ethiopia was preaching. I met him in Addis in February. Then, we were off to Gamla (“Old”) Uppsala and the viking grave mounds for the afternoon–with a fika. In the evening, I finished the last details, and I submitted my manuscript to the printer (as stated on my previous post).
On Monday, I took some comp time and took Greg and Carol to Stockholm to show them around. The day included the changing of the guards at the palace, walking around Gamla (“Old”) Stan (“Town”), the vasa ship museum, a ferry ride back to the Gamla Stan (including fika), where Greg bought an antique map of Scandinavia, a walk around the shopping area, and home for a late dinner. Greg has come to appreciate Swedish fika!
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Greg and Carol revisited one day to Stockholm and one day to Gamla Uppsala and Uppsala. Another day to Stockhom for a canal trip. They are having a great time.
Today, I took another comp day and went with Greg and Carol to Drottningholm Palace, which is west of Stockholm about 30 minutes by subway and bus. This “Queen’s” palace is a world heritage site. My bucket list includes traveling to world heritage sites, and I had not been here before.
Here are a couple highlights from the inside.
Then we strolled the gardens.
There is a Chinese pavilion, as Chinese culture was stylish in the 1700s.
However, there are some design issues in this early cultural appropriation.
We did make sure we had a little lunch and fika here too!
We visited Saint Clara’s church, which is close to the Stockholm train station, before heading home. There was an informal service of praise songs and a short but enthusiastic homily.
Life has been full, so I’m just catching up a bit to let people know that I’ve been busy. Anya started her test week today. She has been extremely diligent it her studying all year and especially the weeks up to today. Keep her in your prayers with math on Friday, physics on Monday, and more through Wednesday.
With blessings,
Beth
So fun to be with Carol and Greg!!!
My friend says that all those characters are legit! Some she doesn’t know but they are real. Something about Chinese painting, spring(April), grass and writings.