Last day in Bangkok

Thursday, our last day, well morning, in Bangkok. After another great breakfast ( no I didn't cause the toaster to catch fire this morning ), we hit the streets. Amazing that anytime before 11 am the streets around Chinatown are relatively quiet with light traffic. As we walked down to pier 5 to catch the water ferry all the street merchants were busy setting up for the day. All types of fish was being cooked, as was chicken kebabs, fruit vendors were making juice or roasting what looked like chestnuts. All-in-all it was activity and great smells (the nose was assulted with the wide variety of aromas ). At the pier there was a swarm of rather large fish just waiting to be feed. A local was selling food to feed them.

Fish waiting to be feed

Caught the boat and got off at Pier 8 ( to see the reclining Budda). Cost a 100 Baht each to get in. The temple was enormous, courtyard after courtyard. I would recommend paying that little bit extra and hire a guide (300 Baht for 2 people). There were Budda statues evrywhere (see pictures below). After approximately 2 hours outside in the heat and humidity we were wet.

Caught the ferry back to pier 5, walked back to the hotel, showered and checked out.

Wat Pho temple - reclining Budda

I highly recommend the Shanghai Mansion as a place to stay in Bangkok, especially if like to stay where there is chaos, clutter and wall to wall people just outside the entrance. If that is you, then stay in Chinatown.

Wat Pho Temple

The taxi ride to the airport went smoothly. Cost only 300 Baht for a very long ride (about 20 km's). Taxis are very cheap here in Bangkok (NZ$1=25+ Baht).

Drive to airport 

We had checked in online, which mean't all we had to do was rock up to the internet checkin line , pick up our boarding ticket, drop the bags off and then shop (well Regan did). At the ionternet counter there was no que, so in a flash we were good to go.

Went through immigration and security (take your belt out of your jeans, and take off your shoes etc) we were there- shops evrywhere (each wing of the airport had the regulation duty free shops). Interestingly when you purchased using a credit card you could choose to pay in Baht or NZ$. When I checked the NZ $ part, they were converting at 24.5 Baht to the dollar, making things a little more expensive.

Flight left on time and was full (we were surrounded by a group of Israelis, which mean't Kosher food everywhere. The flight went well, after 46 hours of actual flying time we had exhausted the movie and TV selection so was left either listening to music (Thankgoodness they had the latest Beachboys -"Thats why God made the radio" to listen to) or to watch our progress over Australia on the interactive maps.

Auckland domestic airport was chaotic (being the Friday of Labour weekend), so couldn't check in until 90 minutes prior to departure. This mean't sitting around for 2 + hours, smelling and feeling grouty. Unfortunately due to bad weather in Wellington our flight departed around 45 minutes late. But we got there.

Lynley was there to pick us up and we were safely back in Greytown by 7 pm. The trip wsas at an end.

So, this ends the ABBA chronicles. However, I will work on some suggestions for travelling in Sweden (which is different to NZ). Overall, Sweden is a great if expensive country to visit. The majority of the people speak English and the one or two we meet were most helpful. The food, well not very different to NZ. Breakfasts are different, fish, fish paste, cold meets, eggs etc. But excellent cereals, different kinds of yohurt including sour milk. Tea, well no English breakfast, the closest was Earl Grey. Toast was so small you needed a microscope to see it. But their bread selection was incredible. Toast was different to the rolls and bread yyou could cut yourself (too big for the toaster). Wish NZ had the same variety of breads as they do, especially the dark grained bread.

Coffee was a little weak for my taste, but still most welcome.

Our hotels:

Would strongly recommend the Best Western Goteburg in Gothenburg- very large rooms with great views over the harbour. Kalmar Hotel, where we had a small apartment with seperate rooms plus a lounge for watching TV was also great.

The Radisson Blue in Uppsala, was also very good, modern and very clean.

Overall, most of the hotels offer coffee, tea, cookies and freshfruit 24-7. which is great, you can relax after arriving in the lobby area and enjoy a hot drink.

The floating hotel in Stockholm is also highly recommended, very central (one stop away from Central station and about 100 metres away from Gamla Stan and the history.

I think in my last blogg I will offer a few suggestions about getting around Swedend, as the large transport companies do not or discourage you from using cash, all cards.

So endth the chronicles. I'm glad I saw the northern lights and that I have visited Scandavia.   I know Regan will be going back sometime in the near future. I think he and Evan want to chase the lights again but this time in winter ( -25 degrees).

Finally I would like to thank my 3 kids for looking after me during the trip. Special mention and thanks to Regan my travelling companion for the entire trip. His good humour and easy going nature made it a real pleasure. His constant monitoring of my health certainly saved me from what could have been a serious situstion in Bangkok where I went hypo (such is diabetes). His quick action saved the situation. Spending time with the two boys was a real pleasure, after a long career as a teacher and principal (which didn't allow quality time with my own kids) it was great share an adventure like this with Regan and Evan.

Where to next? Not sure, but I do know I will spend time reviewing my bucket list and wait for the feet to itch again.

One Day in Bangkok

Another clear, dry, very warm day awaited us. After a very good breakfast, where yours truely set the toaster on fire ( never put crossiants in the rotary toaster) we set off to catch a river ferry to the Kings Palace. Ferry was very crowded, but enjoyable (met a grumpy sercurity guard at one of the piers who insisted on tapping me (forceably) with his walkietalkie antennae to move downstairs.

From the river

Another unknown temple

 Anyway got off at the correct pier only to be confronted by a mass of guide tours (wall to wall people). There was a long que to get pants for Regan (must be covered, so no shorts allowed), so we skipped going inside. 

Palace from outside

Caught a tuktuk back to the hotel (it was a brief short excursion). 

Tuktuk driver

Refreshed then caught a cab downtown to the MBK mall. 

This an enormous mall unlike anything I have ever seen

What a place, wall to wall shopping Evan would love it. After that mall Regan led me to yet another mall, all looking to find a specific brand of glasses and ralph loren shirt for Evan, but no luck. On the 4th floor came across a car dealer, seriously. The cars were for serious shoppers -Rolls Royce, Jag's, Maseratis, lamborghais  and lotus's. Impressive. After 3 hours of looking and checking out Samsung products we grabbed a tuktuk back to the hotel ( to rest tired feet). Actually came across a H&M department store (go Sweden). 

couldn't believe the mass of humanity at these malls, as well as the contrast with Chinatown. Modern verses old time. Wide (multi lane road verses single lane (both ways). Types of prducts sold- name brands verses cheap chinese rip offs. Overall and interesting day. Actually saw a food shop called "Aunty Anne's". Regan had to get a shot to sent to my sister.

Tonight we are off to the night market, which should be interesting.

Observation: last night we set out to follow the Shanghai Mansions Food trail (Regan acting as guide). Well notice a large number of eating houses were offering shark fin soup (which I think is morally wrong). After walking the food trail and not finding one of the recommended eating houses but did see a rather large rat running around, we returned to the area around our hotel and ate at a resturant that specialised in shark fin soup (so much for taking a morale stand). The street food venders were extremely busy and couldn't find a spare seat.

Regan also introduced to to the Thai 7-eleven (who actually accept 1000 Baht notes). What they sell is very cheap by NZ standards.

Bangkok grows on you and I'm sure Lynley would enjoy visiting this place.

After dinner in the hotel - The Cotton resturant and bar (no live jazz until 8 pm), we took a taxi down to the Patpong night market. Anyone who has been to Penang island or Malysia would yhink they are back there with one exception- the strip joints. we were approached many times, some clubs even had near  naked young women outside tempting you in. Regan assured me that was the honey trap, the actual perforers would be more a 5 or lower (based on the movie 10). Sorry folks weren't tempted. Must observe they madethe moves on Regan not me, the old gramps tagging along. Brought a couple of itms, the locals weren't keen to haggle (well compared to when Regan was here 3 years ago).

An example of whats on offer.

you can only walk around a market so many times, so caught a tuktuk back to the hotel to rest the aching feet.

Tomorrow we head back to New Zealand not too soon for Regan as his cold/flu has really worn him down, he now has sore chest muscles from the constant coughing. Which reminds me, Karla txted us, she has the same cold but is in Helsinki sharing it with her host parents. Fun, fun-not.

 

Step 7- Return to Sender

Had a arise at 4:30 am on Monday morning in order to get the 6:20 am flight back to Arlanda/Stockholm. Just managed to make the 5:45 am check in deadline. The hotel had left out a packed breakfast, which while being very decent of them, wasn't necessary as we got a light breakfast on the plane. It was dark and around -9 degrees when we left Kiruna and -5 degrees when we arrived at Arlanda/ Stockholm around 8 am.

The green is the weak northern lights. Regan and Evan looking at them in -9 degrees

What we did notice was the lack of moisture in the air around the far north when compared to say Stockholm or Uppsala (consideringwe were running around in -9 degrees the previous night and didn't notice t until the wind got you.

Anyway on arrival Karla booked into a mini stay hotel at the airport (her flight to Helsinki wasn't until around 4:30 pm. We decided to catch a bus back to Uppsala with Evan and kill a few hours with him. Uppsala was very cold (very heavy frost, Evan said one or two of his friends said there was a little snow on the ground in Uppsala). Spent about 1 and a quarter hours in Uppsala, then said a rather sad farewell to Evan (not sure when we will see him again as he is arranging to extend his exchange to a full year). Always sad to say goodbye to one of your kids not knowing when you will see them again.

Uppsala again. Near the railway station.

The flight to Bangkok was full. Full of families young and old having a break in Thailand. In flght movies were the same as what were on offer going over to Sweden in early October. Arrived Bangkok around 5am. After clearing immigration and customs we caught a taxi into our hotel -The Shanghai Mansion located in Chinatown. The taxi driver was a rally driver, hitting 140 km/hr, but thankfully traffic was light. Arrived at the hotel around 7 am, check in was 2 pm, but for a little extra (NZ$40) we could have a room until then. We grabbed it, showered and slept until around 12:30 pm, then we moved to our rented room. The Shanghai Mansion is a little oasis in the middle of chaos.

Inside the Shanghai Mansion

Our room

In the afternoon Regan lead a walking tour around Chinatown. The markets were wall-to-wall people with vendors (and their carts), motorbikes (deliverying goods to the market stalls) and one or two pickups. So, the people in the market were like a river, running slow at times, then when congested ran fast. Every stall was selling almost the same stock as the one next door, but it was fun.

The traffic is chaotic. A mixture of cars, truck, buses, motor cyclists and tuktuks. Crossing the road is an expedition but dangerous. Mind you from my observations the cars etc gave way tp those pedestrians who were prepared to take the risk.

Go - the lights had just turned green

Tonight Regan is leading a food tour of the Chinatown district. Should be fun.

Should mention today was sunny and hot. Great, after the cold of Sweden. This place is chaotic to say the least so feel the more ordered Sweden was a better place to walk around.

Roundabout in Chinatown

Step - 6 - Chasing the Northern Lights around Kiruna

Our quest to see the Northern Lights did not get off to a great start. Guess the story started at Arlanda airport where Evan managed to spill a large cup of coke all over himself. He spent a considerable amount of time cleaning himself up. The flight up was uneventful if very crowded (on the airplane that is). Arrived Kiruna airport around 10:30 pm to -8 temperature and snow flurries. Then we had our second little set back, no Budget representative to meet us. After much ringing around we got no where, so called a taxi. After a 30 minute wait and an 8 km ride we arrived at our Hotel (the ride cost is 350 SEK or NZ$70). The hotel reception closes at 10 pm, but they leftour key in a locked box. Here we struck snag number 2. They had mixed up Karla's and our bookings, thinking we were the same (Karla had booked a room in the hostel). End result, 4 of us in a room with 3 beds for the evening. Unfortunately, Karla lost out and slept on the floor (with mattresses provided by us), it was not a very comfortable night for her. As it turned out the office clerk had booked her for September and had charged her cancellation fee. This morning we started to sort things out. The hotel did not charge Karla for last night, gave her a hotel room for tonight at hostel rates and threw in a breakfast. The Budget rental agency was just 50 metres down the road from the hotel. When we visited them thi morning they had no booking for us in their system- A BIG thanks to Budget International, thanks for nothing!!.

Anyway got a car, then realised we didn't have a plan of action for the day. Drove around the block, then retired to our hotel room to sort out a plan. Decided to walk to the tourist information centre to get some ideas. The day was sunny but cold (around -4 degrees). Finally found the information office- they were closed for lunch (11:15 am to 12 noon), so we had to wait 25 minutes. Signed up for an underfround iron mine tour (needed 12, with us 4 there was 7!). Told a decision would be made at 1 pm, so we walked around in the cold and snow looking for a cafe. Finally found one in a little mall (very little), think half of Kiruna was there for lunch or coffee.

Arriving at Kiruna

Look at the temperature on our arrival!

Church in Kiruna

Returned at 1 pm- no tour (snag 3?). Decided to drive out to where the Ice hotel is built every year (thought of Rodger Thompson, who I think built a suite a few yeads ago). The hotel is in a small village- Jukkasjarvi ( about 20 km south of Kiruna). While there visited a church that was built in the 16 Century and was used by protestant priests to convert the Sammi or Lapplanders. The interior was wery interesting as were the murals inside (see photo below)

Interior murals

We then decided to drive 90 kms to Abisko, totry and see the Northern lights when it got dark (this is the place to see them in Sweden- the information person said the weather conditions were right and we had a 90% chance of seeing them- Yea right. Waited up there until around 7 pm. By then it was beginning to snow, the temp was down to -4 with a wind chill of at least -10. Regaan checked the lights predictor and saw that tonight the likelyhood of there being any activity was either low or non existant (the predictions are updated every 2 hours). Decided to head back to Kiruna as the sky looked very clear. Then we hit another snag- a full moon, the light of which makes it hard to see the lights. We stopped once for about 20 minutes. Regan thought he saw an indication, so we froze our buns off - to no avail.

So here we are in the hotel (at 10:20 pm) waiting to see if the next activity prediction gives us a reason to go out into the cold again. Karla has given up and gone to bed. Evan and Regan are kean as to go out to the local skifield if the conditionds are right. As for me, well I think I will follow Karla's lead.

Abisko 

Random photos from today

Outside the hotel in the morning

Venturing out in the morning

Regan and Evan drove out of town looking for the northern lights. It was clear around Kiruna but cloudy to the north and west. Had no luck and returned around midnight.

Day 2 - the penultimate day in Sweden.

After breakfast, which by the way was very busy with an extra large group staying in the hostel part of this establishment. The manager was very generous to Karla and allowed her to stay tonight in her hotel room at hostel prices (still making amends for Fridays cockup). Went for brief stroll to the ICA market for car supplies then headed south -east to to a small town of Vittangi that has a Moose farm on the off chance it may be open (yea right). Anyway got there around 1:30 so had lunch (at the only place open). Got talking to the guy making the pizzas, he was saying that the village had full employment as there is an iron ore mine located near by. He was saying they work one week on and one week off (and very long hours). Apparently an Australian rents the rooms above the pizza palour. 

The trip out to Vittangi was really a long boring drive through the boreal forest (conifers), remind me very much of driving the Alaska highway, but with snow this time of the year. 

The pizza man said it was nothing but forest to either Pajala or Karesuando (both on the border with Finland, so we decided not to carry one. Evan was on a campaign to drive to Narvik in Norway, which is about 4 hours away (plus we needed to pay an extra 200 SEK for insurance coverage. Hard to please everbody all the time (the 80:20 principle applies here. We weren't sure as the road can be dangerous due to blizzards (Evan then informed us it was snowing up at Abisko). 

 Drove back to the hotel for a break before venturing out tonight in search of those elusive northern lights (don't like our chances). Pictures below are from that Vittangi village we stopped at. 

Should mention while there we ventured down to the river, where i tried walking on the frozen part of the river- you guessed it, the ice cracked but thankfully I didn't fall in.

Footnote: Price of 95 petrol here is 14.6 crowns (SEK) per litre. Which makes it around NZ$3 per litre.

10:30 pm- saw the northern lights. It was weak but could be seen by the naked eye. Had to drive about 60 km north of Kiruna (-8 degrees). Evan has some good shots on his SLR using along exposure. Tomorrow morning ( early) we fly back to Stockholm then on to Bangkok. Evan travels to Uppsala ( to continue at uni) and Karla flies to Finland to visit her host parents for a few days. She will be back in NZ in late November to begin work at Victoria University.

Travel Day

Here it is Friday Oct 18. We are currently on a SJ fast train to Stockholm. The fast train leans in corners so you don't get that jerking motion. The train runs very quietly (electric).

We left Kalmar at 11:50 on the dot (they are very punctial here in Sweden. Everything leaves ans arrives on time), now isn't that a little unlike NZ? The day started out as overcast with a very cold wind blowing off the Baltic.Once inland it became very sunny. Changed trains at Alvesta (a regional train) onto the SJ high speed train. While it was sunny at Alvesta the temperature was cold (almost got our beannies and gloves out).

The land scape is as you expect from Scanadavia, flat with forests and lakes that gives way to flat arable land. Plenty of hay stacked and some of the fields ploughed.

Next stop Stockholm where we cahnge trains to Arlanda (where the airport is located), then a 2 hour flight north to Kiruna, which is about 200 km's inside the artic circle. The temperature there at the moment is -4 degrees, when we arrive (around 10:30 pm) the temperature will be around -10.

Karla (flying in from London) and Evan (busing in from Uppsala) will join us at the airport.

The SJ fast train offers free wifi, tea/coffee and fruit while you travel, which is great allowing us to check up on email, send txt messages and read the NZ news.

Hard to believe our time in Sweden is coming to an end. Just this weekend up at Kiruna before flying out to Bangkok on Monday morning. Karla is flying to Helsinki to visit her host parents (she did an YFU exchange year in Finland when she was at high school), and Evan returns to his studies at Uppsala University.

Travelling first class according to Evan is for beta males, but I must admit it great for us more elderly travellers (who like a little comfort every now and again).

What will I miss about Sweden? Well the cinnamon buns are great ( needless to say I have eaten a few). What I will not miss is the super orderly life style. Everything is done by numbers.You enter a shop and in order to be served you take a ticket and wait until your number comes up. Also, their drive to be a cashless society. You need credit or debit cards for everyhting. If you want to pay cash and buy a ticket it costs you a little bit extra.

I'm hoping to include a little video of this train ride, it is so smooth. 

Step 5 - Kalmar

Today we travelled from the wset coast of Sweden ( Gothenburg) to the east coast (Kalmar). After a brief splash of sun the day settle to a gray dull overcast day. A good day for travelling.  At breakfast ( which was very good), they were playing ABBA music as background music -go the ABBA chronicles.

First thing this morning.

Said "good bye" to Evan at the Gothenburg train station. He travelled back to Uppsala via Stockholm. Seems to have had a good trip as he sent Regan a photo of the lunch he was served ( courtesy  of the BoD). By now he should be working his little buns off doing our washing. Sad not to have him travelling with us, but will see him on Friday for our trip to Kiruna to try and see the Northern Lights.

One last refection on Gothenburg- the number of people begging on the streets. There seemed to be one evry 30 metres outside the central mall. Also, the number of people checking out the rubbish bins ( pretty well dressed people at that).

Enough, now for todays trip. We spent anout 4 hours traversing forest, bogs and finger lakes. The forest appeared to be a mixture of conifers and decideous trees (like silver beechs or Elms). We passed through numerous little town (all had two story houses) and in the larger towns forestry ( lumber mills) seemed to dominate. Saw only a few paddockswith cattle or sheep. All were fenced in with stone walls. It wasn't until we were approaching Kalmar did we see more arable agriculture. So trucked along listening to the Beach Boys - "that's why god made the radio" and Clapton and JJ Cale " on the road to Escondido". Tried very hard not to sing-a-long much to Regans relief.

We are staying in a hotel facing the main square (Torg) in an older part of town. The old part Gamla Stan was burn't down sometime in the 17th century. The locals then moved to a small islan nearby, where we are currently staying. After checking we decided to check out the maritime museum ( Kalmar Lans museum. The  whole museum is dedicated to one ship - the Krogen. The Krogen was the biggest man-o-war. It sank about 4 days after the Vasa. This time it was undone by tacking in heavy wind with too much sail. It heeled, cannons broke loose, cannon portals weren't closed. It not only rolled over, the gunpowder on board caused and explosion which finished it of. Of a crew (including marines ) of 840, only 40 survived. The wreck was re-discovered in the early 1980's, and once again thanks to the brackish nature of the Baltic the wooden construction was well preserved. By the way the naval battle was between the Swedish and combined Danish-Netherland navel force. The items that have been recovered is amazing. Well worth a vist. The musuem covers 4 floors, 2 floors dedicated to the Kronan, one to pirates and piracy (apparently that was a booming business in the 1700's here in the Baltic (part of the viking hertiage), covered piracy in the Baltic, Mediterranean and today around Somalia. Other exhibits were promoting local artists etc. The top floor included early 20th Century general store and a Kafe shop (great blueberry tart).

Tomorrow its off to see the Kamlar chuch and castle. Should be a fun day.  

Woke to another gray overcast day, some rain fell during the night. The hotel we are staying at is the Calmar Stadshtell. It is an old hotel located in the main square ot Stortorget. The hotel is very comfortable, our room has two bedrooms, a small lounge and bathroom. Very pleasant.

Our hotel

The square

Hit the road around 9.30 am and headed to the castle - Kalmar Slott. Built in the 16th and 17th century to protect this part of Sweden, mind you the Danes lay seige to the place and made them surrender. We could walk around the fort and its ramparts but could see the exhibits as the castle is closed for winter. In reality most of Sweden tourist attractions are closed for winter and are open on the weekends. They obviously they make sufficient during there summer season so don't need to open in the off season.

Kalmar Slott (castle)

After the castle we walked into Gamla Stan (old town) that was burn't down sometime in the 17th century. Kamlar was re-established on a nearby island called Kvarnholmen. It evan has a wall around it ( well parts of the orginal wall). 

There was a cold wind blowing off the Baltic. We noticed that there was no salt smell you normally get from the ocean, in fact you wouldn't 't know you were on the sea shore. Guess this is a result of the brackish nature of the Baltic. Not surprised really as the Baltic is closing and getting shallower as the surrounding land continues to rise following the end of the last ice age ( isoststic readjustment).

Walked around it before returning to the hotel (Regan was suffering badly from coughing fits). In the afternoon we continued walking around the island, before it began raining and we retreated to our hotel.

Typical houses found in Kamlar

Some further general observations:

* a lot of Sweded smoke, evrywhere you look you see them smoking. They also use snuff (like chewing tobacco).

* One of the local English online papers (thelocal.se) in an opinion piece staes that Swedish women are one of the most attractive in the world. While I'm not an expert on this, i tend from general observation would have to agree with their statement. I know Evan subscribes strongly to this opinion.

thats about all for today.

Gothenburg

Today dawned sunny if a little cool. Had a slow start to the day due to the effects of heavy colds on all three of us. Once we got underway our first stop was the Feskekorka (Fish Church). The building looks like a church from the outside but is a fish market. A little smaller than the one we visited a few years ago in Helsinki.

Walk along one of the canals until we found the Avenyn (whic is the main shopping street in Gothenburg. Walked up it admiring the trams until we arrived at a Museum and the Posidean statue.

From there we found the Vasakyrkan (Vasa Church), Vasa I think is the name of an important family in Sweden (nobility). Walked through the Vasa park and saw the university.

We had read there was a self service laundry somewhere around Nordstaden (where there is the main shopping mall and central station. No luck.

Checked with the information centre, they suggested a pace up on Sodra vagen. After much walking we found a dry cleaner who did washing for you. So we flagged it.

Evan then found reference to a trip to a few islands just off shore, unfortunsately we were too late to catch the ferry. Saw a marine museum (closed) and the opera house before a little more mall seeing. Regan did a little buying, then had coffee and the famous Swedish cinnamon bun. Regan brought into mass marketing and brought Bjorn Borg underpants called "weapons of mass seduction"- go figure!

Observations: there is not much to see in Gothenburg. What is suggested is closed for the winter. Surprisingly, everything closes at the end of August. They seem to be in hibernation mode, which is frustrating.

2nd observation: very few people ride bikes in Gothenburg, which is different to other places we have visited. There may be a correlation between riding bikes and tall thin Swedes (here we observed more overweight ones than in Stockholm and Uppsala).

3rd observation: this place has a great feel to it. Lots of canals to walk along and enjoy the sun. What is also very obvious is the significant number of new immigrants who have made Gothenburg their home. it appears that very people actually work as around 2 pm the mall was crowded with people shopping their little hearts out.

4th observation: evening meals are very expensive in Sweden. Just had Italian tonight, cost about NZ$170 for 3 of us.

Tomorrow Regan and I head to Kalmar while Evan returns to Uppsala (he will join us on Friday for the trip up to Kiruna). Kiruna weather is looking decidely cold. Max temp -3, min -6. Bot no snow is forcast. Should be fun. 

Currently both of the boys are dying loudley from very heavy colds, lots of coughing fits and runny noses, not much fun for them.

Step 4 - Gothenburg (Sweden)

Woke to a nice sunny day in Copenhagen, a treat after yesterdays rain. After breakfast checked out and walked down to the centrail train station to catch our regional train to Gothenburg.

Gothen burg is Sweden's second largest city, and is located on its west coast. It is a port city.

The train trip was good. Stopping at a number of towns along the way e.g. Malmo, Lund etc. Our first stop was Copenhagens International airport. Pick up a whole swag of Swedes. Once underway two men suddenly jump up, put on high vis tops labelled Customs and egin to quiz everybody and look at their bags.

The landscape was flat, and arable farming was evident. The exact scenary you see when you watch Wallendar (spelling) on UK TV. A lot of the paddocks had there winter crop well established while others were being either worked or had the stubble fafter the harvest. Only saw two paddocks of sheep. Clustered on this landscape were wind generators (usually in clusters of 3 to 5).

Arrived in Gothenburg aroun 3:15 pm. I rea;;y like the concept of having the railway station right in the centre of town. In the case of Gothenburg it led straight into a big mall. Thanks to Evan's GPS on his phone we found our hotel (right on the water front). The hotel room is big with a great indoor balcony with views over thw harbour

 Ourbalcony 

Typical view from the balcony.

This afternoon 

it was decided to undertake a different type of sightseeing- Mall seeing. Regan wanted to get a SIM card for his phone (with 1 Gig of data) and Evan was looking for a shirt ( Ralph Lauren -Polo, oxfoed button down, pretty preppy my youngest). Found themat the upmarket NK store for around NZ$ 200. Needless to say he didn't buy. Instead he hops online and get one from the UK for around NZ$140 with a 10% student discount. 

In the evening walked over to the old town for a meal- Indian.

Gothenburg has a positive feel to it, lots of canals, cobbledstones and old buildings. Mind you the cobblestones are quickly destroying my bag. Discovered yesterday one wheel is had it and the outside was wearing due it being dragged over the cobblestones. Ah, such is life.

Final reflection: Copenhagen I believe is much over rated. Expensive.

Step 3 - Copenhagen

Arrived at the Copenhagen central train station about 40 minutes late (i shouldn't complain about the Wairarapa train service so quickly). Found our hotel - Copenhagen Crown, checked in and hit the hay. Room alittle on the small size for three of us.

Today, after breakfast we hit the tourist trail. Being a full time tourist is very hard on the body, hit the road around 10 am and walk, view, walk for the next 7 hours. Todays started with a visit to Christiansborg ( The palace). Denmark currently has a Queen. We viewed the rooms of the palace but didn't run into the Aussie crown princess.

The banquet room

They were impressed

The throne

 From there we headed Nyhavn. What the tourist brochures show isn't like it really is - wall to wall tourists and in the wings cafes etc waiting to help you spend your money. Lunch (for three) came to over NZ$100.00. The high prices remind me of one or two famous plaza's in Rome, where you pay for the location.

Nyhavn

After lunch we hit another palace -Amalienborg with guards in big furry hats.

Next stop was a big church (sorry don't know its name), then onto the Kastellet ( an active fort laid out as it was in the 18th Century. Very similar to the fort in Quebec City. By now the cold wind was getting to us, so we decided to head back to the hotel. On the way back we stopped of at the Rosenborg Palace ( where the Crown Jewels are on display). 

The Fort

We then stumbled on Stroget (the shopping mall or street that goes for KM's. It was very busy, full of people shopping their little hearts out.

Finally arrived back at the hotel around 4:30 pm absolutely stuffed (very sore feet). Tonight we went back down the Stroget to eat. Less crowded this time.

The weather today started with a promise, but got very cold and windy. Wind seems to be a constant given the number of wind generators we saw in the harbour today.

Tomorrow's weather calls for rain and cold temperatures, so we will hit a museum or two. Unfortunately the musuem to the Danish resistance (WW2) is closed due to fire (arson). So tomorrow will try see the Danish museum (Vikings, the Little mermaid and Christiania.

Travelling with my sons is interesting, both a very different but get on just fine. I am enjoying their company.

Day two was as the weather forcasters said it would be, wet, wet wet.

Today's weather. Wind generators across the harbour.

Today we had a better idea off where we had to go, not like yesterday which was a meander to say the least. 

The picture below will hopefully give you an idea of todays weather

First stop, the National Museum, where we visited prehistoric Denmark exhibits including The Vikings. The museum had a special Viking exhibit, we unfortunately due to time did not join the rather long que to visit the exhibit (they only admit a few at a time). After 2 hours we moved on.

In the afternoon we walked over to see the little mermaid (we were only about 100 metres from the statue yesterday).

Little mermaid. Based on HC Anderson's children's tale ( very similar story to Pania of the reef).

From the statue we crossed over the harbour to another island which houses Christiania. 

Entrance to an alternative lifestyle.

Christianai was established in the 1970's by hippies. They set up an alternative life style (including openly selling and using weed and oil. The Danish authorities have turned a blind eye to this alternative to urban living. As we walked through the green district (no photo's allowed) there were a number of traders selling their wares. I suggested we stop and have coffee, but the boys declined as they were worried something might be in either the coffee or the cookies. Evan siad he could smell pot and Regan just felt uncomfortable, it didn't appear to be the safest of places to be. 

We retraced our steps back to the hotel, arriving back around 4:30 pm, with very sore feet. The last hour had us walking in pretty solid rain.

It is currently 9:30 pm, the boys have gone down to the Tivoli Gardens. The Tivoli is a 19th Century amusement park. The current theme is Halloween. It has been described as "Disneyland with culture". So I hope they enjoy themselves.

Bikes and Biking. Biking is full on over here. Almost everybody bikes. You see parents with kids in carts (like a delivery bike used in yesterday, woman doubling one another all dressed up etc. The concept looks great. they have dual lanes seperated from the motor traffic. As a pedestrian you have to be always aware of them (they appear to reach high speeds). While the bikes look like something from the 1950's, thet infact are 12 or 18 speed. All have lights on etc (according to Evan, who has such a bike at Uppsala, if you don't have lights or a bell you are fined. Apparently you also get a ticket for being drunk in charge of a bike).

Bikes as far as the eye can see.

One last thought: It appears you can't get a danish in Denmark. I come to this conclusion as I have been trying to get one for the last two days, but to no avail.

One further thought, you do get tourist fatigue. All three of us have it. Sore feet, legs hips etc. Playing tourist can be demanding. This infliction has be enhanced by all three of us suffering from colds, coughs and sore throats. I brought in over from NZ and have now shared it with Evan and Regan. We actually blame it on my sister who brought it over from Australia (about 4 days before I left NZ).

Tomorrow we leave Copenhagen and return to Sweden. We have a 4 hour train ride up to Gothenburg. Looking forward to it. One further observation both Sweden and Denmark are very expensive to travel in. Food wise you don't by NZ standards get value for money. Until tomorrow.