Don’t know if this is an art installation or if someone just felt that life is upside down, locked the bike and walked away. A mystery worthy of inspector Clouseau.
Da, tada, tadatada, you know the tune, ha de Gött!
The Rheinturm, Rhine Tower, Düsseldorf. Düsseldorf is the capital of Nordrhein-Westfalen one of the federal states of Germany. The city is situated where the river Düssel connects to the mighty Rhine river. The city is known for its industry that cover a wide range from chemistry to machinery. It is also an important city of culture and art with, for example, the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf and Robert Schumann Musikhochschule. The old town, Altenstadt, is known for its many beer shacks and is often refered to as the worlds longest bar.
Prost, ha de Gött!
In mid 1800 Carlsten was considered the strongest fortress in Europe. Placed on the island Marstrand rock 39 meters over sea level and, with its tower reaching 98 meters it’s an impressive building. Construction began in 1658 after the peace treaty between Sweden and Denmark-Norway where Denmark-Norway had to surrender Bohuslän to Sweden. Marstrand was strategically important harbor with its strong currents keeping it ice free during the winter.
Like many fortresses in Sweden it has also served as a prison. In fact the entire fortress is built by the prisoners. The granite used for construction was landed by boats at the harbor in the village below and dragged up the hill by the prisoners. A sentence to hard labor at Carlsten was the same as a death sentence. Only way to leave was in a coffin. For my Swedish readers I strongly recommend the show and album by Stefan Andersson, No 90 Kleist, where he tells the history from the prisoners and soldiers perspective.
Not everything was war and punishment. It has also served as a lighthouse between 1780 until 1868 when the lighthouse Pater Noster replaced it. Carlsten lighthouse was equipped with the first rotating mirror invented by Jonas Norberg.
Let the old fortresses be a reminder that war is never the answer, ha de Gött!
The lighthouse Pater Noster outside Marstrand island in south Bohuslän. It was built in 1868 and served until 1977 when it was replaced by a modern lighthouse at Hätteberget. In July 2002 the 33 meter high tower was lifted from its foundation and moved to Götaverken in Göteborg for an extensive renovation. In 2007 it was moved back to its original position and in september the same year lights was once again lit.
Pater Noster stand on the island Hamneskär that is, with a line to Skagen in Denmark the border between the two oceans Skagerack and Kattegatt. Today you can have your conference and stay over in the hotel. For those of you that know latin, yes the name refers to one of the most central prayers in Christianity.
Leave the light one for your loved ones, ha de Gött!
Golden field of barley outside Tvååker in Halland region, Sweden.
Reap what you sow, ha de Gött!
Sun sets and evening calmness spreads over boats sheltered in the natural harbor. Under watch from the grumpy old mountain troll.
Tomorrow is another day, ha de Gött!
The new Svinesund bridge over Idefjorden that marks the border between Sweden and Norway. Since Norway is not part of the European Union it is also an outer border for the EU. The bridge was built between January 2003 and was finished in May 2005. It’s a arc bridge with a length of 704 meters. The arc is 247 meters and has a sail free height of 55 meters.
Turning 180 degrees from my standpoint at the old ferry harbor we find the old Svinesund bridge. Building of the bridge was started in 1939, but the Nazi invasion of Norway in April 1940 put a stop to the construction work. Instead both sides armed the almost finished bridge with mines and in 1942 a massive explosion on the Swedish side almost destroyed the bridge. Inauguration was finally in June 1946. With a length of 420 meters and a sail free height of 65 it’s an impressive beauty.
Build bridges and keep the borders open, ha de Gött!
Lighthouse Bissen at Bisse Rännan a calm summer evening. This is the south entrance to Sweden’s first marine nature preserve, Kosterhavets Nationalpark. The preserve meets up with Ytre Hvaler on the Norwegian side at the north end. The 250 meter deep fjord is the home of one of only two coral reefs in Sweden. The low salt content in the water from the Baltic meets the high salt content water from the Atlantic, powered by the Golf Stream, creating rich living conditions under the water.
To navigate is necessary, ha de Gött!
If there is one single thing that special Swedish it’s probably the Midsummer celebration. It’s always the first Friday after summer solstice.
For us Swedes midsummer’s eve is the true National Day where we celebrate the Swedish summer and the light. For most, the reasons for celebration are not very clear, but the tradition is very strong. Many activities for the whole family and especially the children, allowing grownups to behave like children for a while. There’s dancing around a pole, draped in birch leaves and the Swedish colors, singing silly songs while doing silly dances in a big ring. We use the same songs during Christmas, six months later but then around a fir-tree, still with the Swedish colors.
We eat the same thing for dinner, pickled herring, eggs, salmon in several varieties. Unique to the midsummer table is the fresh potatoes with a special kind of pickled herring, Matjessill. For dessert strawberries with whipped cream and to this, many drink snaps. To drink the snaps, we need to sing more silly songs in loud voices while standing up with raised glasses. As the evening goes and more songs have been sung the standing part gets more and more difficult.
The Swedish midsummer dinner must take place outside even with cold north winds and horizontal rain pouring down. More exercise after the dancing, running with the whole dinner table in and out between the rain showers. But what we always remember is the midsummer when the sun was shining, weather was warm all the way into the night. This year it actually was.
Traditions bring family and friends together and allow people to let go from life musts. Even the strictest civil servant can fool around for a while in what you can call dance, singing silly songs about how funny the little frogs are. I think the little frogs are laughing their legs off when looking at the civil servant!
Summertime and the living is easy, ha de Gött!
The Swedish Sea Rescue Society, Sjöräddningssällskapet is made up of volunteers with normal daytime jobs. With no government funding they depend on public contributions and membership fee’s. Goes without saying, I’m a proud member together with most recreational boat owner around the 11 600 kilometer coastline of Sweden.
2400 volunteer heroes make sure there is a 24 hour availability from 74 stations also covering the major lakes. With a response time of 15 minutes and with 260 modern rescue vessels they are involved in 90 percent of all sea rescues in Sweden.
The society was founded over 100 years ago by Albert Isaksson. The government showed weak interest in doing something about the poor condition of the Swedish sea rescue ability. In fact it was used as an bad example in the internationally. Albert turned to the public and 1 June 1907 the, for Sweden unique, Society was established. Find out more here.
Hat off to the heroes, ha de Gött!
UlleHaddock 