Ponies Replace Yachts in the Västervik Wintertime

One would think that visiting Sweden in the winter time would not be ideal. However, in a town like Västervik located on the south-east coast of Sweden, some unique experiences can only be had during the winter months. Since the 16th century, Västervik has been a shipping industry. It is no wonder that it is notorious for its summer home to the yacht club. But as soon as the first flurry of snow takes place, there is a wonderland of adventure to be had.

Winter Activities

One of the best ways to fully immerse yourself in all Västervik has to offer is to saddle up and embark on a guided tour of the town on horseback – Icelandic horses to be exact. As highlighted by the name, the pony-sized breed is reared in Iceland and is well regarded as a sturdy, dependable horse well suited to the harsh rigors of winter. Led by a knowledgeable guide, the excursion can be experienced individually or with a group of up to seven other enthusiastic riders per tour keen to soak up all the town has to offer. With a plethora of accommodation packages available, visitors can enjoy the experience for a couple of hours or over several days.

Food & Drink

With a focus on ingredients reared, tended and harvested locally, the town’s restaurants offer some of Sweden's best culinary experiences. A mainstay since its inception in 1991, the Briggen restaurant is one of the town's oldest eating and drinking establishments and along with a wide assortment of tasty meals to choose from, the restaurant and pub also has over 60 different types of beer and around 150 different single malt whiskeys for punters to select from. Briggen also holds weekly quiz nights throughout the year. For tasty dairy treats, then look no further than Saltmagasinet. An ambitious enterprise that also houses conference facilities, the establishment has been voted Västervik’s best restaurant every year since 2006 and is regularly on the list of top eateries in Sweden for its variety of organic dishes. While locally revered for its dairy delicacies, Salmagasinet also serves up a veritable feast of cosmopolitan cuisine, peppered with traditional Swedish favourites. It is a must for connoisseurs of fine cuisine.

Getting Here

Regional train services run regularly from most major cities to Linköping, which in turn has trains that travel to Västervik daily. The town is also a few hours’ drive from at least three airports: Skavsta, Linköping city airport and Norrköping airport. All of the above as well as being easily accessible via all major modes of transportation make Västervik an attractive and ideal destination to unwind and while away the winter blues.

Portions of the above information are from the online website:
http://www.thelocal.se/

Sincerely,
John, Don, and Lena (Our new intern)

Stockholm's Grand Hotel

In many of Stockholm’s panoramic views one of the most recognizable buildings is The Grand Hotel. Ideally located, this 5 star property offering deluxe accommodations is a far reach from lodging offered in the 17th and 18th century.

In the late 18th century the Swedish Pomeranian officer Georg von Pollet commented “The Inns are altogether bad, one could scarce be worse served in the Marburg Post House than in the foremost inn of Stockholm “Malmens Källare”. Small unkempt rooms, inferior food and inflated bills are the lot of every stranger”.

Even in the beginning of the 19th century conditions seemed largely unchanged although by this time there were a few exceptions. Bergstrahlska huset by Riddarhustorget, Kastenhof on Gustav Adolfs torg, Reisen on Skeppsbron, Franska Värdshuset on Regeringsgatan, and Den Gyllene Freden on Österlångatan were some of the better taverns and eating houses in the city.

The Hotel Garni could perhaps be regarded as Stockholm’s first real “hotel” as we know it today. It was opened in 1832 by the court confectioner Abraham Christopher Behrens. The hotel’s trade card stated in Swedish and French “ In this tastefully decorated Hotel, located at #3 Drottninggatan, are three floors of furnished rooms for travelers , for families as well as individuals, with adjoining Servants’ quarters. Stables and servants rooms also provided”.

In January 1858 the Hotel Rydberg was opened to the public. Stockholm finally had a continental-style hotel. It was an astoundingly luxurious building for its time. In addition to rooms for travelers, the ground floor contained storerooms, a carriage room, lodging quarters for the hotel manager and a wash-house with a water pump. Gas pipes were installed and the hotel was illuminated with modern gas lamps. There were also bathrooms with bathtubs and bath attendants. Not even the royal family had such splendor in the Palace.

Just one year later Régis Cadier (who would later play the crucial role in the creation of the Grand Hotel) managed to purchase the leasehold for the hotel. Calmly and methodically, he built up the business.

Few things have been more significant to the development of Stockholm than the opening of the rail link to the capital in 1862. In one stroke the journey time from Gothenburg to Stockholm was cut to 14 hours opening Stockholm to the outside world. Never before had the Swedish capital seen so many travelers arrive.

It soon became clear that a new hotel was needed and Cadier was asked to come up with a solution. Attention was turned toward the harbor and Cadier discovered three interesting properties on the southern side of Blasieholmen.

Work began on the new hotel in March 1872. From records it would appear that the roof was completed by the end of the year and work on the interior continued throughout 1873.

How did Cadier finance a project of such magnitude? One story has Cadier filling a wheelbarrow with silver coins at the Hotel Rydberg then wheeling it to the new building site to pay the construction workers. The story may be a myth but it makes for a good antidote.

By the spring of 1874 the interiors were nearly completed and the first guests checked in. It was at this time that the name of the new hotel was made public: THE GRAND HOTEL.

Today elegance abounds in the Grand Hotel’s 368 rooms each room being one of a kind. 42 spacious suites, with conference facilities accommodating most needs. To remind you of Régis Cadier enjoy a refreshment in the Cadier bar appropriately named “From the Founder to the Future” and breakfast, lunch or dinner in the Veranda Restaurant overlooking the Bay. A fine dining experience awaits in Mathias Dahlgren’s Restaurant specializing in “Natural Cuisine”. A 2,800 square meter spa and health club will be completed during 2009 in collaboration with Raison d’Etre and available for hotel guests.

And of course, location in the center of Stockholm with a magnificent view of the harbor.

Portions of the above information are from the web site http://www.grandhotel.se/

Sincerely,

John and Don

A Swedish Walled City?

Yes, there is one right in the middle of the Baltic Sea on the island of Gotland and it’s called Visby.

Just 56 miles from the Swedish mainland and easy to reach either by regular air service from Stockholm or by ferry from Nynäshamn just south of Stockholm.

Visby is on the west coast of the island and is populated by 22,000 inhabitants and is listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

With a background spanning 5,000 years the city and island abounds with history having been a Viking stop off and trading port and one of the most important ports during the years of the Hanseatic League. The port is still active today hosting numerous cruise ships and ferries.

The wall (Ringmuren) surrounding Visby is 3 kilometers long and one of the best preserved in all of Europe. When walking through the town visitors are greeted with the fragrance of roses and quaint homes restored to their original form. Magnificent panoramic views of the city and sea meet your eyes as you approach the 12th century Visby Cathedral officially opened in 1225. The cathedral, was dedicated to Saint Mary and reshaped in the 13th century to its current appearance.

But there is much more to see on the island including sandy beaches, a number of unique churches and at the north end of the island another island called Fårö. This name is often misinterpreted as meaning sheep island although there are many sheep on the island the name actually comes from “far” to travel and “ö” for island or travel island. It is connected to the main island by ferries and is known for the stand rocks, quaint fishing villages and the home of the late and well known film producer and director Ingmar Bergman.

A visit to Gotland and Visby may be just the answer to add a special compliment to your Scandinavian adventure.

You may wish to visit www.Gotland.net for more information.

Sincerely,
John and Don

Visit Lillehammer Norway!

No doubt most of you know Lillehammer as the host city of the 1994 winter Olympics but there is so much more to Lillehammer and it is just two hours northwest of Oslo by train or car.

In the city centre there is a collection of wooden houses from the early 1800’s and it is in a picturesque location with the influence of Lake Mjøsa the largest lake in Norway.

Of course, there are still venues left from the Winter Olympics of 1994, yet there is another attraction that should be of interest to all visitors and that is the Maihaugen Museum.

Anders Sandvig, the founder of Maihaugen, came to Lillehammer as a young dentist in 1885. He had contracted a serious lung disease and thought he only had a few months to live. The climate in the town was considered to be good for people with lung disease and he gradually recovered completely. He later passed away in 1950 at the age of 88.

As a dentist, Sandvig was responsible for all of Gudbrandsdalen. On his travels, he began to collect objects from the old farming culture that was in the process of disappearing. Nordiska Museet in Stockholm was buying old objects in Gudbrandsdalen at this time. Sandvig thought it was important for the old objects not to disappear from Norway.

He not only collected precious, special objects, everyday objects were just as interesting. He also bought old buildings and reerected them in his own garden in the centre of Lillehammer. This gave him the space to exhibit the objects. The collection was moved to Maihaugen in 1904.
Today the museum has nearly 200 historical buildings.

How about a visit to the Norwegian Olympic Museum it is the only museum in northern Europe that tells the entire history of the Olympic Games from 776 BC up until the present day. You will see collections from Sonja Henie who was the youngest Winter Olympics participant at 12 years old in Chamonix, France in 1924, and Kjetil Aamodt the most decorated alpine skier with 37 international medals.

Then there is the Norwegian Post Museum giving the visitor an historic view of the development of the Norwegian postal service.

There is much more to see and do including the Garmo Stave Church from 1200, hand craft and farm life exhibits from the 1890’s.

When planning a visit to Norway a visit to Lillehammer and the Maihaugen Museum should be a part of your itinerary.

Portions of this blog are taken from the Maihaugen Museum Web Site. You may wish to visit the site for further information.

Sincerely,
John and Don

A FJORD IN DENMARK?

Yes, there is a fjord in Denmark the Roskilde Fjord and it runs almost 25 miles through the island of Zealand and at the very base of the fjord is the city of Roskilde. Although the fjord is quite shallow and no more than 19 feet deep in most places there are approximately 30 small islands with pristine areas featuring largely untouched flowers and wildlife. It is even possible to experience the fjord on a Viking ship.

But what of the town of Roskilde?

Only a short distance from Copenhagen, Roskilde is one of Denmark’s oldest cities. During the Viking period it was an important trading post and developed into one of Northern Europe’s most important cities. The Roskilde Cathedral was built in the 12th and 13th centuries and was the first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick and is the burial site of Danish monarchs. The cathedral organ dates back to the 1500’s and can be heard at regular intervals throughout the year.

The Viking Ship Museum houses the restored remains of 5 Viking ships sunk in the harbor in the 11th century to protect the city from attack as at that time Roskilde was the Danish capital. Besides being a tourist attraction the museum staff researches Viking ship building and seaworthiness. Visitors to the museum learn the differences between longships, warships and smaller fishing and ferrying type boats.

In the city center is a walking street a market square, and the former gasworks that is today an art gallery and workshop where artisans create their works. These venues together with an active harbor area provide a wide variety of activities for visitors to enjoy.

Certainly, Roskilde is a must visit as it is only a 30 minute train ride from downtown Copenhagen and several sightseeing tour combinations include a visit as well.

For further information:
www.roskilde-info.dk

Sincerely,

John and Don

Discover Lofoten, Norway

Could you imagine a place located well within the reaches of the Arctic Circle where average temperatures barely drop below freezing?

The Lofoten islands are a natural Norwegian beauty situated between the 67th and 68th parallels. The mild temperatures in the winter are warmed by the Gulf Stream, making it inhabitable year-round.

While fishing and agriculture is a main industry in that region, tourism is also a large industry. Although the population of Lofoton’s largest city, Svolvær has a population of 4,290, approximately 200,000 tourists visit each year!

Svolvær began as a transit harbor, and continues to be a major stop along the Hurtigruten cruise route. Just some of the activities can include kayaking through the archipelago, wave surfing, fishing, hiking, catching a glimpse of the northern lights, experiencing the Midnight Sun or Polar Night, biking, shopping, viewing one of many art galleries, and visiting the largest house discovered from the Viking Age, at 275 feet long, which has been reconstructed as a living museum with findings reconstructions, exhibitions and domestic animals.

125 miles southwest of Svolvær, on the steep and towering islands southwest of the populated island of Røstlandet you will find the "home" to the largest number of nesting birds across Norway – with approximately a quarter of the country’s seabird population. That is about 2.5 million adult birds! Scientists, Ornithologists and bird lovers travel from all over to regularly visit this region with average temperatures that remain above freezing all year round.

Traveling to Lofoten has gotten much easier in the past few years. The most popular route for tourists is commonly the Hurtigruten Cruise Line. Also popular is via airplane - the Lofoten area has three small airports in Leknes, Svolvær and Røst. If driving from the mainland, prepare for a lengthy drive, but it is now possible! In 2007, highway E10 finally connected Lofoten with the mainland for the first time via roadway. Ferries are also available and public bus transportation as well.

For any additional information, please visit Lofoten’s official website at http://www.lofoten.info/

Sincerely,
John and Don

The Beautiful Danish 'Skagen'

Did you know there’s a place in Northern Denmark where you can actually walk out on a sandbank and place your right foot in the Skagerrak and your left foot in the North Sea?

This place is called Grenen ("The Branch" in Danish) and is located just north of Skagen. This is where the famous Danish painters Ancher, P.S. Krøyer and Denmark’s national poet Holger Drachman lived and worked.

Skagen is thought to have been founded in the 13th Century and began to flourish during the 1800’s when painters and poets discovered the area and during that period Skagen was regarded as Denmark’s most fashionable holiday destination and is still today one of Denmark’s most popular tourist areas.

65 kms of white sandy beaches meet visitors and sand dunes make the area perfect for outdoor activities and bathing. The beach along Skagerrak to the west can have powerful waves and treacherous currents, while the Kattegat beaches to the east are milder and more suitable for leisurely bathing. In Skagen there is a wide variety of flora and fauna with many rare birds that attract ornithologists from far and wide. Skagen Harbor is a focal point for visitors with thousands of pleasure boats and a small fishing fleet supplying fresh fish for auction everyday.

OK, now how to get there? Most will think of Copenhagen first and on your way to Skagen as mentioned above, a visit to Århus may be of interest where it is possible to view the 2000 year old Graubelle Man in the Museum Moesgard. Then there is Aalborg the lively city on the Lim Fjord and home of world famous Aalborg Akvavit. The Danish national archives are located here and visitors that may have Danish ancestry in their lineage will find a visit here rewarding.

Continuing by car, drive on to Skagen for a rewarding visit before boarding a ferry from either Hirtshals to Stavanger or Oslo in Norwary or from Fredrickshavn to Gothenburg in Sweden.

Important: don’t forget your bathing suit when packing for your extended stay in Denmark!

Sincerely,
John and Don

The Lake District of Finland

There are lakes of all sizes in every region of Finland but the eastern part of Finland is very well endowed with pristine lakes. The Saimaa lake system following along the eastern border of Russia is a vast interconnecting network of waterways. It is this region that has earned Finland its reputation as the land of a thousand lakes. For anyone that is longing for the peace of unspoiled countryside and a clean environment, a visit to this area will provide a rejuvenating experience.

Another area and equally beautiful are the lake systems extending on either side of Tampere and in the vicinity of Jyväskylä in central Finland. The Finnish Silverline offers programs that feature restaurant boats with dining cruises. Silverline has operated on lakes Pyhäjärvi and Vanajavesi for more than 60 years with scheduled service between Tampere and Hämeenlinna.

It’s easy to reach Helsinki with Scandinavian Airlines from any one of their gateway cities including Chicago, Newark and Washington, Dulles where non stop service is offered to Copenhagen and/or Stockholm with convenient connecting flights. A visit to Finland can easily be added to your Scandinavian adventure.

Sincerely,

John and Don