Walking with Dinosaurs

Once again I was awoken by the loud voices of young children, but no worries, Advil fixed that headache right up.  I had a wonderful breakfast of Nutella on toast (nom) and then the whole group (myself included) headed on a walk down into town to get lunch and go to the beach.

I picked the flower for her.  How sweet of me :) 

On the way down (at a glacially slow pace I might add) we stopped to look at a lot of old buildings and houses.  One in particular was once a sort of vacation hotel spot for the rich elite in Stockholm during the summer (like a hundred years ago) and after that it was a school... But now it is just a building.  It doesn't really serve a purpose, but it is falling apart (much to the town's dismay, though no one really seems to be doing anything about it.  Oh well) which is really too bad! But it's still pretty cool!

It is a lot bigger than this picture shows, but I wanted to include the ocean.  Helena and Linus (8) are shown here. 

We also stopped by an old car show! Who knew it was such a big thing here?

This was just a few of them.  Some were even older than the ones shown here.

Made me think of my step dad :) I think he would really appreciate this car!

Anyway, after walking more (and slowly) we found the most adorable restaurant.  It was built in what was an old apartment building many, many years ago (like in the seventeen and eighteen hundreds).  Each of the rooms was just tiny and had its own heater because each room served as a separate apartment and sometimes for BIG families, though at this point the walls all had doorways put in them and seating arranged for customers.  But it was such a lovely day, we decided to eat outside.  

"outside" has a little bit of a different meaning in Sweden than it does in the US.  Here outside is gardens, and grass, and flowers.  

This is an old kitchen from one of the apartment rooms.  Apparently not all of them had a kitchen when they were still being used as apartments.  I guess the women had to share or something... The things that are hanging are pieces of traditional Swedish dry/cracker-y bread (The real name of which I have forgotten).  They did this so that they would have bread to eat all through the winter. 

Whilst eating lunch (a greek salad with olives (that were promptly picked off), despite a whole issue over the ability to make a salad without olives... and yes I know I did () inside ().)  I became increasingly fascinated with these BIG birds that are called what sounds like "Kaya".

Aren't they cool? Yes.

I also had some of what is called "bulle" which is kind of like a cinnamon roll, but with a weird sugar on it.  Also they are better than cinnamon rolls.

After eating we walked around some more and saw more of the town, then we headed down to the beach where the kids played in the freezing ass cold water while I laid on a blanket and enjoyed the sun.

This is the neighborhood where Helena, Johan, Oscar, and Linus live, though their house is a street or two over. 

The clock on this tower is from the 1800s and still works, and the building upon which it is built is like a hundred years older.  Also it was the first building in the town to have the wood covered with the orange-y stone that is visible. 

This is just an old part of town.  Thats all. I thought it was cool. 

We headed back to the house a little bit after 2pm (that is like 8am US time)... SLOWLY.  It is the slow and tedious pace (that I pointed out at regular, though not so regularly as to be rude... I hope, intervals) that made Helena say I was very brave to be hanging out with old dinosaurs for the weekend.  Johan added that I probably cry myself to sleep every night!

Perhaps that is a bit extreme... 

Anyway we came back and after a few hours to relax and read mingled with playing doctor with Tessa, we had another yummylicious dinner and Helena made a cake to represent all of the birthdays that have happened recently and will be happening recently! It was very sweet of her!

NOM NOM NOM

And now I am writing this post.  Everyone else is watching the final game of the European soccer (sorry futbol) tournament.  I have no interest in participating, seeing as the last game I watched was the World Cup a few years ago... 4 hours.  2 goals.  

Some pictures just because I took them, and what a waste not to post them: 

In a store.  I almost bought it, until I realized it wouldn't fit in my suitcase.  Oh well. 

All of the kids are wearing Swedish Three Crowns shirts that Johan and Helena got them.  Oscar and Linus are wearing the UGA hats I brought them :) It was very cute.  I gave Oscar black, because of his red hair, and Linus red.  They looked at each other and immediately traded. 

Made me think of my Papa (that would be American grandpa as opposed to Swedish dad) .  There were a lot like this, all different animals.  They were made completely with a chainsaw!

:) 

And I will end this post saying we will be headed back to Stockholm tomorrow.  

Also, a slightly less harsh rhyme (or at least a rhyme when said in Swedish) that some younger kids' teachers prefer, for example Oscar's teacher (though I like the previous version better):

Thanks for dinner, 

it was good.

in the middle of the table

there was a cow. 

... I don't know why either.