Two Days in Sweden

Approaching the coast of Sweden (from train)

Pretty downtown Malmø, Sweden

Oldest Bakery/Coffee Shop in Malmø

Don't these lemon tarts look delicious?

Thanks for buying them for us Kim!

Kim at Anatomical Clock in Lund Cathedral

A mere 30 minute train ride from Copenhagen across the Øresund Strait (separates Denmark from Sweden) brought us to Malmø, Sweden. Kim had done her research well and booked us into the Mayfair Hotel which has history dating back 700 years. We had breakfast this morning in what used to be the cellars, and they were built in 1307! In the entry foyer they have a large mat that tells you the day of the week - yes, we checked, it said Monday the day we arrived, and Tuesday the day we left!

After we dropped off our bags, we wandered up the quaint streets (gatans) and called in at numerous shops. We were eventually lured into the oldest coffee shop & bakery where I had seen an amazing lemon tart in the window- it looked so beautifully decorated that I just had to have it. I am guessing they were fresh cranberries on the top? They were not tart, but just perfect & popped in my mouth. Down the road from our hotel live Kim's French friends Hélène & Nico and their two young daughters. They live in a swank apartment they bought and it was very modern and so close to the train station and the main shopping area. Nico works at the University with Kim in Copenhagen, and commutes each day. It is much cheaper to live in Sweden. Hélène teaches French. They cooked us a typical French meal (3 courses) and it was delicious. Their 3 year old daughter Elisa speaks French at home and Swedish at day care - she switches between the two as though it is normal. When Kim visits she also gets a bit of English thrown in! What a fabulous insight into other cultures. As we walked to the train station this morning, we could see the Turning Torso building. It is built on a twist, so to speak.

The next train stop is Lund, Sweden, which was founded at the end of the 10th Century by a Danish King. It is one of the oldest cities in Sweden, although for the first 600 years it belonged to Denmark. We made a visit to the Lund Cathedral which is one of the most popular attractions in Sweden. King Canute commenced the building in 1080 and finally consecrated it in 1145. It remains the foremost example of Romanesque architecture in Scandinavia. One of the most popular sights within the building is the famous astronomical clock with a calendar dating back to the 15th century. At midday (1pm on weekends) and 3pm as the clock strikes the hour, three wise men appear through an open door (like in a cuckoo clock) and bring gifts to Mary & baby Jesus. Press the 'play' arrow on the video below.

You rarely see cars on the roads over here - mainly buses and of course, lots of bikes. The sky remained grey for our two days in Sweden, and in chatting with a shop keeper, he said the last 2 winters have been the coldest for 150 years. So I am experiencing a rare event.