Sweden -- Day 3 -- June 21, 2009

First impressions -- Sweden is green.  Both as in verdant and as in eco-friendly. There are bicycles everywhere, and folks can safely travel on two wheels because there are separate bicycle paths along just about every road.  There were hundreds of bicycles at the train station in Linkopping when we finally arrived last night at around 9:00 p.m.  People ride their bicycles to the station and then take the train to work.

Our journey was long.  We took a plane from Raleigh to London.  American Airlines.  Nothing eco-friendly about that 3,860 mile journey.  Bottle water came with the meal -  despite that we had our own bottles of water with us and that you could request another beverage.  No recycling.  All meals served in plastic everything, which all went into the trash.  There was not a recycling bin in site.

London was better to the extent that there were recycling containers throughout the airport. And they served sustainable coffee. I did not see much of the Stockholm airport because we had to run from the gate to the to the train station. Midsummer is a big holiday in Sweden, and very few trains were running, so we had to catch the last train.  I have to say that it was the most relaxing leg of the journey, though. Very smooth and comfortable.  

I saw what I am sure will be the first of many windmills. You can see here that the sun was just starting to go down, and it was after 9 p.m.

It really is very beautiful here.  My brother lives in the countryside, where many Swedes have their summer homes.  He lives within walking distances to a network of hiking trails (and, interestingly enough, to public transportation).  The roadsides here are covered with lupines in full bloom and are dotted with yarrow and other wildflowers. The forest floor is covered with moss, and the streams are clear but dark due to the high mineral content of the water, which is potable. Unfortunately, stinging nettles are also very common, and Grayson walked right through a patch. Very painful, but she is fine now.

My sister-in-law has prepared a feast, and her sister and brother-in-law have come to dinner, so that is all for now.  More tomorrow about the cottage (and the outhouse).