First - I have a neice!! Holland Elise Abernathy was born this afternoon...I hear she is perfect. :) Can't wait to see her on Saturday. Congrats to Betsey & Kirk.
Second - we just came in from our last night on vacation...had a great dinner at a Greek restaurant on the river. Ate a ton...decided we needed to walk about 25 miles before heading to bed. Walked through the rain until the sun started shining...then saw an unbelievable double rainbow over the cathedral. Was amazing - made even more so by the fact that it was 10pm... Of course, didn't have the camera with us to capture the sight!!! But, definitely lingered at the scene...
Up at 5am for the long travel home...look forward to seeing all. Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Last day!!!
So...the last day on vacation has been good. But, it's COLD and RAINY today!! Like a day in January in Atlanta...
We did get to Gamla Uppsala - the old town. Saw the Viking burial grounds - pretty cool and actually very large, an old church, some farming areas, and drank some Viking Mead from a horn...a very small amount of mead as it wasn't really very tasty. We guess that's why the Vikings are so tough...
After that, spent some time walking around the town in the drizzle. Found a little pub with a perfectly cranky bartender...went back to the Czech beer with a Krusovice. :)
The best part of today was talking to Betsey this morning as she's getting ready to have her baby!!!!! I'm counting the hours here... according to my clock, in 88 minutes I'll get a text message or phone call that all is well and will know if I have a niece or nephew. Can't wait!!!! Will go see the baby on Saturday...
Love to all. We fly home tmo - so no more blog updates! :)
We did get to Gamla Uppsala - the old town. Saw the Viking burial grounds - pretty cool and actually very large, an old church, some farming areas, and drank some Viking Mead from a horn...a very small amount of mead as it wasn't really very tasty. We guess that's why the Vikings are so tough...
After that, spent some time walking around the town in the drizzle. Found a little pub with a perfectly cranky bartender...went back to the Czech beer with a Krusovice. :)
The best part of today was talking to Betsey this morning as she's getting ready to have her baby!!!!! I'm counting the hours here... according to my clock, in 88 minutes I'll get a text message or phone call that all is well and will know if I have a niece or nephew. Can't wait!!!! Will go see the baby on Saturday...
Love to all. We fly home tmo - so no more blog updates! :)
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
It's Cold in Sweden!
Just got back after an evening in Uppsala...good fish dinner, beers and a beautiful evening in Central Sweden, except that we had to put the blankets around us as we sat outside! The good news is that all the restaurants have blankets readily available on the chairs outside...unlike some of those airlines we are used to.
It is still light outside - dusk basically. But, it is cold...tmo, we see the Viking ruins.
It is still light outside - dusk basically. But, it is cold...tmo, we see the Viking ruins.
Uppsala & Sweden Update!
Hej!
Mindy - the pics look great!! Very cool. Wish you guys were still here also - would be much fun.
Today Mark and I have toured Uppsala...it didn't take too long. :) We saw the Carl Linne botantical garden (Steve, you would have liked that!!), the Castle, and a museum that housed the Silver Bible written in the 6th century and taken as booty from the Czech's during the 30 yrs war. So our travel circle is complete! We also popped into a couple of churches/cathedrals. Very cool.
Our time in Torso was great. No swimming...was TOO cold! We probably could have gone on the day we left as it seemed warmer, but the water was about 55 degrees while we were there...and without a hot tub to jump into afterwards, it seemed a little foolish. :)
Unfortunately, we had rain on Midsommers day (Friday) - but we managed to enjoy the festivities anyway. I'll try to attach a picture of the Midsommers Pole (not the one we made!). The day was filled with strawberries, herring, new potatoes (unlike anything I've ever had in the US!), and schnaps of course. The Swedes are pretty amazing with their ability to toast with a shot of schnaps just about every bite of herring they take! (Mark and I did not even try to keep up with that...). There were ~30 people at our gathering - all family. Much singing and fun was had.
We spent Saturday and Sunday visiting cousins, aunts, and grandparents. It seemed that we ate cake and drank coffee at every turn. The daylight is certainly amazing...no real sunset to speak of! It's awfully nice now, but we can't imagine what the opposite must be like at Winter Solstice...
On Monday, Mark, Mary & I went to Stockholm and toured around Gamla Stan (old town). Many winding cobblestone streets, old buildings, etc. Of course, all the expected souvenir shops as well! We then had dinner at the Grand Hotel. It was great and everything we expected...until dessert. We shared a Swedish cheesecake - nothing like our NY version. It was WONDERFUL!
Tmo we're going to go to Gamla Uppsala - where the Viking ruins, etc. are. This afternoon...we're planning on shopping and perhaps finding an "ol". (I think that's Swedish for Pivo).
More later...
PS - we are looking forward to getting back to some of the comforts of home!
Mindy - the pics look great!! Very cool. Wish you guys were still here also - would be much fun.
Today Mark and I have toured Uppsala...it didn't take too long. :) We saw the Carl Linne botantical garden (Steve, you would have liked that!!), the Castle, and a museum that housed the Silver Bible written in the 6th century and taken as booty from the Czech's during the 30 yrs war. So our travel circle is complete! We also popped into a couple of churches/cathedrals. Very cool.
Our time in Torso was great. No swimming...was TOO cold! We probably could have gone on the day we left as it seemed warmer, but the water was about 55 degrees while we were there...and without a hot tub to jump into afterwards, it seemed a little foolish. :)
Unfortunately, we had rain on Midsommers day (Friday) - but we managed to enjoy the festivities anyway. I'll try to attach a picture of the Midsommers Pole (not the one we made!). The day was filled with strawberries, herring, new potatoes (unlike anything I've ever had in the US!), and schnaps of course. The Swedes are pretty amazing with their ability to toast with a shot of schnaps just about every bite of herring they take! (Mark and I did not even try to keep up with that...). There were ~30 people at our gathering - all family. Much singing and fun was had.
We spent Saturday and Sunday visiting cousins, aunts, and grandparents. It seemed that we ate cake and drank coffee at every turn. The daylight is certainly amazing...no real sunset to speak of! It's awfully nice now, but we can't imagine what the opposite must be like at Winter Solstice...
On Monday, Mark, Mary & I went to Stockholm and toured around Gamla Stan (old town). Many winding cobblestone streets, old buildings, etc. Of course, all the expected souvenir shops as well! We then had dinner at the Grand Hotel. It was great and everything we expected...until dessert. We shared a Swedish cheesecake - nothing like our NY version. It was WONDERFUL!
Tmo we're going to go to Gamla Uppsala - where the Viking ruins, etc. are. This afternoon...we're planning on shopping and perhaps finding an "ol". (I think that's Swedish for Pivo).
More later...
PS - we are looking forward to getting back to some of the comforts of home!
Mark & Amelia made it to Uppsala!
We're in Uppsala - a university town with deep Viking history a little north of Stockholm. We are heading out to explore...so will update more later.
But, quickly - our time at Torso was great! We spent the weekend with Mark's family in their summer cabin - and I mean cabin - and enjoyed the "Midsommers" festivities. Lots of herring, potatoes, and strawberries were eaten!
More later.
But, quickly - our time at Torso was great! We spent the weekend with Mark's family in their summer cabin - and I mean cabin - and enjoyed the "Midsommers" festivities. Lots of herring, potatoes, and strawberries were eaten!
More later.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
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