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…albeit only for several short-term trips loaded with more work than leisure time. I basically spent every other week in the last summer months in the Madrid area.
As I live right next to the prestigious Karolinska university hospital which also undergoes massive construction with plenty of new, modern facilities I tried to combine the modern architecture with some autumn inspiration.
Bergen, old Hanse city, isolated at the west coast of Norway, surrounded by 7 mountains and build alongside lakes and fjords at the bottom of all the mountains like a ants nest is the one city you have to visit in Norway if you only have the chance to choose one. Sorry Oslo but for me you only rank third after Bergen and Trondheim.
According to Wikipedia, Visby is the best preserved medieval city in Scandinavia and as such a UNESCO world heritage. And I have to say it is not only old but also a real beauty.
From Kalmar one could take the direct road back North to Stockholm. But instead we decided to take the bridge over to Öland and spend a day on the island. Instead of much photography the time was well spend at the beautiful sandy beach at the most northern part of the island. At Böda Sand you’ll find kilometre long sandy dunes and beaches inviting you to relax and swim.
Leaving Skåne with a last step-over in Kivik to enjoy the sea and a refreshment in the insanely hot Swedish summer we were heading towards Karlskrona. Most famous outside Sweden nowadays probably for the Soviet submarine diplomatic conflict in the 80’s when a Soviet submarine ran ashore just outside Karlskrona at one of the hundreds islands.
Big words for someone who has only been there once and obviously whatever I will write now is not right for everyone. But as Österlen is one of the favourite holiday destinations for Swedes within Sweden I suppose that the things that I liked most must be at least on the list for all the Österlen veterans as well.
When in Österlen, the most southeastern part of Skåne, I think it should be mandatory to make a stop at Kåseberga if you haven’t been there before. And no, it is not pronounced Kaseberga but Koseberga as the Swedish “å” is pronounced like an “o”.
Probably one of the finest beaches in Sweden is the beach at Falsterbo at the most South-Western part of Skåne. Endless sandy beach and calm dunes to take shelter from the wind and relax in private.
Generally, I would say that most housing projects in Sweden lack creativity as most new built places look alike. At least in Stockholm I am still looking for an area that proofs me otherwise. In Malmö, though, it seems like the city planner came up with something really smart and innovative.
Probably the best way to enjoy the beautiful rural countryside of Skåne is by cycling.
In the short period what is worth calling summer up here in Sweden it is worth to stay in the country and discover the vast beautiful nature. It’s the period when Swedes try to spend every second out in the sun to get enough sun tan to make it through the winter. The crazy travel period always starts with Midsummer and lasts until mid August so if you want it calm I suggest going on a trip the weeks prior to Midsummer like I did back in June this year.