5 APRIL 2007
Glad Påsk (Happy Easter!)
We hope you are all enjoying some sunshine wherever you are. We ended March on a high note with some unseasonably sunny weather here in Sweden. It was a great ending to a fun month of adventures in Ireland and here at home in Göteborg with Erica’s mom, Sue.
Ireland
We spent the St. Patrick’s Day weekend in the heart of it all – Dublin. It was great fun to be surrounded by genuine Irish accents as we spent time in the pubs sampling the local fare and brew. One of our favorite activities was an all-day guided tour. We started in Dublin, and then we went to a mansion outside of town. On the way home, we drove around the coast through some of the smaller towns. It was beautiful!
Another highlight was a trip to the City Hall Museum, which recounted the fascinating history of Ireland and the city of Dublin. We also had a terrific time at a hilarious concert we attended, which was part choral music and part “clowning around.” Literally! Four clowns interacted with a choir that was singing Irish music. One of our favorite pieces was a politically incorrect song called “Amos the Leper,” which was supposedly part of the Irish National School Curriculum until the 1980’s. We’ll be happy to sing you a rendition the next time we meet!
Sweden
Sue’s stay in Sweden was extended when she fell ill with a terrible sinus & ear infection on the way back from Ireland so she got to experience the Swedish medical system! Although the Swedish minor emergency center is not typically on the list of “must-dos,” she braved both it and the government-controlled pharmacy like a trooper. By the end of her stay, she was feeling much better so we were able to properly play tourist here in Gothenburg.
We went to see a modern dance performance at the lovely Gothenburg Opera House. It is located right on the harbor, and the building and interiors have naval influences beautifully integrated into the design. We thought the acoustics were pretty good, too! Mom and I also took a trip to the Gothenburg City Art Museum. It has a great collection of Nordic art. We were especially intrigued with the works by Swedish artists Carl Larsson and Ivar Arosenius. Check out some of Carl’s art at Wikipedia.
Other fun activities included shopping (of course), eating at yummy restaurants, going to the Easter markets, and visiting old churches. We also went to a ski/snowboarding jump competition at Steve’s school. They build a temporary structure every year outside the union and they ship in the snow from up north (since it is too warm to get it naturally around here). People come from all over to participate. Sue’s ready to be a pro-snowboarder!
We wish you a Glad Påsk wherever you may be – say goodbye to a long winter and enjoy the spring!
