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Tourist Attractions in Sweden

November 30th, 2010

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Sweden is one of Europe’s best kept secrets. The country has so much to offer. Besides, it’s very affordable nowadays and the climate is much better than most people think.

Just to give you an idea what to see I made a top-10 of tourist attractions in Sweden. Here they are – in no particular order.

Stockholm

Stockholm has it all: unique location, great architecture, historical sights, famous museums, huge parks, a vibrant nightlife, trendy shops – and an archipelago of 24,000 islands just around the corner. It’s a remarkably clean and safe city as well. If you haven’t seen Stockholm, you haven’t seen Sweden.

Gotland

Speaking of tourist attractions in Sweden, one wouldn’t expect to think of beaches. But there are beaches in Sweden. Some of the best are found on the Baltic island of Gotland, which is popular among Swedes and attracts thousands of visitors every summer. The walled medieval town of Visby is an attraction on its own.

Lake Siljan

Found in the heart of Dalarna, central Sweden, this lake is the center of folklore and tradition. Dalarna is a popular holiday destination in summer. Thousands of Swedes visit Leksand every year to see the midsummer pole set up. The nearby town of Rättvik is famous for its folk dancing. Also worth a visit is the bear park in Orsa.

Mines

Mining has always had a special attraction. Mines make some of the most exciting tourist attractions in Sweden. Three are worth a visit. The copper mine of Falun, Dalarna (now on the World Heritage List), and the iron-ore mines of Kiruna and Gällivare in Lapland. You can book a guided tour and go down yourself.

National Parks

Sweden has dozens of national parks and nature reserves. Even Stockholm has a national park within its city borders! The most impressive scenery – wild rivers, deep valleys, dark forests, high mountains – is found in Lapland in the North. Very popular is Abisko, a great spot with the famous Lapporten landmark. Also recommended is Padjelanta park.

Bohuslän

Bohuslän is the area at the west-coast of Sweden, roughly located between Gothenburg and the Norwegian border. It is characterized by rocky fragmented islands and small fishing communities. Awesome scenery, and one of the best tourist attractions in Sweden according to the Swedes.

Göta Canal

One of the most popular attractions in Sweden. Make a cruise from Gothenburg to Stockholm with an old ship, crossing one river, three canals, eight lakes, passing 66 locks and traveling on two seas. The Göta Canal is one of the most pleasant waterways in Sweden.

Inlandsbanan

Or the Inland Railway. Great trip for fans of train journeys, across the Arctic circle. Inlandsbanan runs from Kristinehamn at the side of lake Vänern to the wilderness near Gällivare, Lapland. Distance: around 1300 km. Stop wherever you want or spend the night and get back on the train – it’s all up to you.

Kungsleden

The most famous hiking trail of Sweden, 500 km long and leading from Abisko to Hemavan (south). Well-marked and popular, with cabins along the trail that can be busy in the holiday season. You’ll pass Kebnekaise, Sweden’s highest mountain (2,078 m) and see some of Europe’s wildest and most beautiful nature.

Storsjön

Storsjön (the Great Lake in Swedish) in the province of Jämtland is the Nordic Loch Ness. Locals believe there’s a monster in its dark water – and typically Swedish, the monster is even protected by law! The area around Storsjön has a lot more to offer, with highlands, trails and the likable Östersund as its biggest town.

Simply Sweden

November 30th, 2010

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Sweden is very much oriented towards overseas trade. It has an up to date freight forwarding and freight shipping infrastructure and excellent national and external communications. Particularly well endowed with natural resources, Sweden’s iron ore, timber and hydropower are mainstays of the Swedish economy, which is highly geared towards export. Sweden’s engineering sector alone accounts for 50% of all earnings and exports.

Telecommunications, the automotive industry and pharmaceuticals are also extremely important to the national economy and account for a significant amount of all goods being transported by freight companies out of Sweden. The largest companies in Sweden include Volvo, Ericsson, Vattenfall, Skanska, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget, Electrolux and Volvo Personvagnar. Many of these enterprises have brand names that are famous worldwide. Sweden’s industrial companies are mostly privately owned.

The private sector is strong and growing, supported by a highly educated and productive workforce. The private sector includes many freight shipping and freight companies which have thrived on the back of the successful and growing economy. The country saw real GDP growth over the last decade until 2009, when the unfavourable global economy helped force the country into recession. GDP per hour worked is the world’s 9th highest at 31 US dollars in 2006, compared to only 22 US dollars in Spain, for example. OECD say deregulation, globalization, and growth in the technology industry have been key drivers of productivity in Sweden. GDP per hour worked is growing by approximately 2½ per cent a year for the economy as a whole. This extremely positive situation has created the conditions on which the international freight industry has been confident to invest in the future.

The World Economic Forum 2009-2010 Competitiveness Index ranks Sweden the 4th most competitive economy in the world. Similarly, Sweden is ranked 9th in the IMD Competitiveness Yearbook 2008, scoring high in private sector efficiency. This culture of success has spawned innovation and development in freight shipping and freight services as well as other sectors. The Swedes have rejected the euro in a referendum so Sweden has kept its own currency, the Swedish krona (SEK). The Swedish Riksbank which was established in 1668 and is therefore the oldest central bank in the world, is currently focusing on price stability with its inflation target of 2%. According to the Economic Survey of Sweden 2007 by the OECD, the average inflation in Sweden has been one of the lowest among European countries since the mid-1990s. Most international trade takes place with Germany, the United States of America, Norway, the UK, Denmark, and Finland.

Freight transport links and the availability of freight services is particularly well developed and the markets are competitive for international freight between these countries, ensuring that customers are well catered for. Any shipping company or freight forwarder servicing these routes needs to ensure that their freight services are completely streamlined and competitive. As well as external communications and international freight transport routes, internal communications are also efficient.The impressive Oresund Bridge connects Malmoe in Sweden and Copenhagen in Denmark. Sweden has nearly 163,000 km of paved road and nearly 1500 km of expressways. There are extensive motorway arteries running throughout Sweden, Denmark and over the Oresund Bridge to Stockholm, Gothenburg, Uppsala and Uddevalla. The network of motorways is still being developed, with a new motorway from Uppsala to Gaevle having been finished in October 2007.

The rail transport market is privatized, but while there are many privately owned enterprises, many operators are still owned by state or municipalities. The most significant rail operators include SJ, Veolia Transport, Connex Group, Green Cargo, Taagkompaniet, Inlandsbanan, and a number of regional companies. Most of the railways are owned and operated by Banverket. Freight transport by rail works efficiently and is a competitive option that is recommended by many a freight company and shipping company. Communication links by air are also very good in Sweden, meaning that freight forwarding is simply never a problem. The largest airports include Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, which carried a staggering 18 million passengers in 2007, 40 km north of Stockholm, Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport and Stockholm-Skavsta Airport. Sweden is also home to the two largest port companies in Scandinavia, Port of Goeteborg AB (Gothenburg) and the transnational company Copenhagen Malmoe Port AB. In summary then, Sweden has a modern, competititive economy with high productivity and a great transport infrastructure, making the country an attractive market for potential importers.

Stockholm, Sweden

November 30th, 2010

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Stockholm is the central point of the railway system in Sweden. The city has an international airport, Arlanda, and two smaller airports: Bromma and Skavsta.

Stockholm is also an important port, with connections to cities including Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Turku and Tallinn. The main ferry companies are Viking Line, Silja Line and Tallink.

There is a variety of public transport. An underground tunnel system(Tunnelbana) serves the main sites of the city and consists of three lines, tram-trains (Pendeltåg, roslagsbana and saltsjöbana) can join the suburbs over long distances (a hundred kilometers from north to south). There are also trams (tvärbana, nockebybana, lidingöbana and djurgårdslinje), and an extensive bus network. The facilities are owned by the company Storstockholms Lokaltrafik and are operated and maintained by subcontractors such as Veolia Transport. Boat connections are also provided to the archipelago.

On August 1, 2007 Stockholm permanently established a system of congestion control measures similar to London. The definitive introduction of this system experienced from January to July 2006, was the subject of a consultative referendum of the people of Stockholm held on September 17, 2006. The main objectives are to reduce congestion and pollution generated by road traffic. The bus network has been strengthened because of this.

The headquarters of more than 40% of Swedish Enterprise is located in Stockholm, which is the financial and economic center of Sweden. Stockholm has some high-tech firms such as Ericsson, Electrolux and AstraZeneca. Kista district is one of Europe’s most dynamic information technology and communication.

Stockholms transportation system has helped the city grow and control congestion and pollution caused by transportation. The new measures implemented to control pollution and congestion have been a great success.

Best Cities In Sweden

November 29th, 2010

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Traveling to Sweden – The Best Cities

Sweden has three major cities – Stockholm, Malmo and Gothenburg. It also has many other cities across the country that can be divided into three regions – Central, Southern and Northern Sweden.

Sweden has a rich culture and history dating back many thousands of years to the time of the Vikings. It also has influences from medieval, Renaissance and early modern periods, as well as Russian, German, Norwegian and Danish influences. In modern times Sweden is among the most free and developed of Europe’s nations and is home to many millions of immigrants and refugees, who have all sought to make a new life in Sweden.

Stockholm

Stockholm is an international port city located in the fjords of Sweden. It has amazing shopping, fabulous food, world class hotels and a world famous club and music scene as well as a strong cultural life. Stockholm is about 700 years old and covers 14 islands on the Baltic Sea. You can see Stockholm by foot, bus, car, bike, train or boat.

Stockholm has many beautiful palaces and castles. The royal family live at the famous Drottingholm Castle. Just recently, Sweden’s much loved Crown Princess Victoria was finally married to Daniel Westling, a Prince from another part of Sweden.

Gothenburg

Gothenburg is Sweden’s second largest city. At one point it used to be an industrial seaport, but nowadays it is mainly a contemporary culture and international sports locale. An Opera House was built in 1994 and many of its museums were reimagined.

Gothenburg is also world famous for its creative use of shellfish and north Atlantic fish in its meals. There are many restaurants that serve only the best Swedish food throughout Gothenburg. You can travel around Gothenburg by boat, ferry, car, bike or on foot.

Malmo

Malmo is considered Sweden’s gateway to continental Europe. It is a southern port city and is directly connected by ferry and airlines to the rest of Europe, especially Denmark, northern Germany, Norway, Poland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Malmo is an interesting city because although it is considered a metropolis, it feels like its very small and cozy. Malmo is also the city in Sweden where all the immigration has seemed to have focused and for this reason it is the most multicultural of all Swedish cities, with over 164 nations and 100 languages spoken. This is showcased in the sheer variety of restaurants, cafes, bars and cultural events that the city holds every year.

The other regions

Northern Sweden is a rugged landscape of 4,000 m high towering peaks, pine forests, polar bears, reindeer, glaciers and pristine shimmering lakes. The people are mostly dotted along the coastline in settlements. Most of this land is a national park that has many touristic opportunities for those who will brave the cold.

Central sweden is the heartland of Sweden and is flourishing from the influence of Stockholm and the surrounding cities. This part of Sweden is famous for its copper mines, Dalecarlian horses and Carl Larsson, the famous painter.

Southern Sweden is where most of the population of Sweden lives and it is mostly farmland, forest and a great holiday place with temperate climes.

SWEDEN

November 29th, 2010

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Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden has land borders with Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, and water borders with Denmark, Germany, and Poland to the south, and Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia to the east. Sweden is also connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.

At 450,295 square kilometres (173,860 sq mi), Sweden is the third largest country in the European Union by area, with a total population of about 9.4 million. Sweden has a low population density of 21 inhabitants per square kilometre (54 /sq mi) but a considerably higher density in the southern half of the country. About 85% of the population live in urban areas, and it is expected that these numbers will gradually rise as a part of the ongoing urbanization. Sweden’s capital is Stockholm, which is also the largest city in the country (population of 1.3 million in the urban area and with 2 million in the metropolitan area).

Sweden emerged as an independent and unified country during the Middle Ages. In the 17th century, the country expanded its territories to form the Swedish Empire. The empire grew to be one of the great powers of Europe in the 17th and early 18th century. Most of the conquered territories outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were lost during the 18th and 19th centuries. The eastern half of Sweden, present-day Finland, was lost to Russia in 1809. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814, when Sweden by military means forced Norway into a personal union which lasted until 1905. Since then, Sweden has been at peace, adopting a non-aligned foreign policy in peacetime and neutrality in wartime.

Today, Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy of government and a highly developed economy. It ranks first in the world in The Economist’s Democracy Index and ninth in the United Nations’ Human Development Index. Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1 January 1995 and is a member of the OECD.

Real Estate

November 29th, 2010

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What is the fourth largest property market in Europe? Would it shock you to learn that it is also the home of Ikea, and Saab? Sweden, is the fourth largest land mass in Europe, and has a population of nine million. Britain, by comparison is home to about 59 million people who live in an area half the size of Sweden. Sweden is commonly perceived as being expensive and cold. It’s true the cost of living in Sweden is higher than Britain; but property prices are lower, and its actually hotter in the summer than the UK, and not nearly as wet in winter.

Sweden is a member of the EU, although like Britain it has not adopted the euro as its currency, Sweden’s GDP per capita is approximately 15% above the EU25 average, placing it well within the 10 wealthiest nations in Europe. The cost of living is high by UK standards, but property prices are surprisingly low with country cottages priced from EUR40,000 (£27,500) and villas from EUR100,000 (£69,000).

Gothenburg, on the west coast, is a major port and industrial centre. It’s also home to a world-class opera house, and has a lively down town area. Malmo, on the south coast, arguably has the greatest economic potential of all Sweden’s cities following the completion of a 16 kilometre-long bridge and tunnel linking it to Copenhagen, Denmark, where workers are choosing to work in in Copenhagen, and live in Malmo where house prices are cheaper. The disparity between house prices in Sweden and its neighboring countries is due to the Swedes – typically preferring to rent rather than buy property as supply and demand for tenanted occupation is one of the most favorable anywhere in the world. In Stockholm people often stay on housing lists for five years before finding something suitable. The downside is that the rental market is over-regulated, and rents have been kept artificially low. Vast numbers of properties are now being sold to the private sector therefore rents in the cities should rise fast. Depending on your finance arrangements, you may wish to hire an independent surveyor, which is common practice in Sweden. You are not obliged to have a solicitor but it is strongly recommended you do so when buying a property overseas. Once the transaction is completed, it is the buyer’s responsibility to apply for deeds of title within three months of the sale transfer and submit them for registration.

In practice, your solicitor will do this on your behalf. Expect to pay 1-4% in solicitor’s fees. Stamp duty is charged on registration of the title deeds at approximately 1% of the purchase price. Property tax is payable at an annual rate of around 1.5% of the property’s regularly assessed value at 75% and will be charged on tax registered foreign ownership. Newly built homes or renovated homes are exempt from property tax for the first five years with the next five years at a 50% reduction.

Another popular method of property ownership/investment within the Scandinavian region is syndicated property ownership. These are typically set up as limited companies registered with the equivalent of companies house in the appropriate country. The single purpose of the registered business is to purchase, manage tenants, collect rental income, and sell the property, at the end of the investment term – and make all the necessary returns to all the investors involved. Returns from rental income are typically paid back to investors during the investment term either; quarterly or annually, and any capital appreciation of the property is paid in a lump sum at the end of the investment period.

Attractions

November 29th, 2010

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Traveling is all about going to new places and experiencing new things. It is a chance to find out about other cultures: what type of food they eat, what they wear, what kind of things they like to do. It is also a chance to see some of the natural and man made attractions the place has to offer: seeing the cascading rice terraces in the Philippines, viewing the Pyramids and the Sphinx in Egypt, visiting Angel Falls in South America are just a small iota of what the world has to offer. Advances in transportation and communication technology have made it more affordable for people these days to travel. Airline rates offer great packages for people wanting to travel. One can now travel transatlantic at 20% of what the retail price of a ticket cost if one is resourceful. Comparing to prices in the 60′s and the 70′s, air travel is perhaps 40% less of what it cost then. The internet has also made it possible for information to be available at your fingertips and in the convenience of your computer. Sourcing out great deals can be done in your home and you can even pay for reservations and tickets online. More importantly, you can get first hand information from other travelers on the places you would like to visit through visiting internet blog sites which give you perhaps data about the places that interest you that cannot be found on most travel books. You may even get to email and correspond with such bloggers who may accommodate your inquiries.

Accommodation also becomes a priority when it comes to traveling. If you are on a budget, you can find great packages on youth hostels and inns all over the world. If you are a discerning customer, there are posh hotels that meet your standard and whims. If you are an adventurous, there are specialized places that do cater to your taste. One country that offers a variety of hotels and places that meet most consumers’ taste is found in Sweden. Hotels in Sweden are diverse and complete. First and foremost, the high standard of living in Sweden ensures that the type of hotels you are looking for meet if not go beyond your expectation. The Swedish Hotel and Restaurant Association or SHR are strict in assessing hotels based on a 130 criteria. And there are two types of categories set by the SHR: Hotel which refers to hotel establishments that have restaurant facilities serving more than just breakfast and Hotel Garni which refers to hotels serving only breakfasts. Hotels are rated from one to five stars and their classifications are done on a yearly basis. There are also other places where one can stay, one of the most interesting one for adventurous tourists is the ICE Hotel which is constructed during the winter months in Northern Sweden. This hotel in itself has become a popular tourist attraction in recent years.

Relaxation and Points of Interest

November 29th, 2010

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When I think about my vacation in Sweden, I cannot help but smile at the thought of the sights and sounds and all the wonderful things I got to experience in the land of the Vikings. My mind is like a movie screen playing a lot of these bittersweet memories. I began to think that the memories of such splendid Stockholm sights are better off shared besides being cherished.

I remember the long walks I had checking out Gamla Stan which is a historic area in Stockholm. Getting around is easy even if you are alone. Just get a walking tour, a Stockholm travel guide or map and embark on an interesting tour of one of the oldest regions of Stockholm.

This is where you would see the historic churches, the changing of the guards at the Royal Palace and the museums. I had a grand time walking down the narrow cobblestone streets and alleys that led me to these Stockholm sights and the many small restaurants and cafes where I had enjoyed sitting out to eat and just smile and watch people go by. This place is generally friendly.

Most of these restaurants have “dagens” which is what they call specially priced lunches. Who said you would always have to spend a fortune when you eat out in Sweden? The whole Gamla Stan experience is like taking a trip back in time. It was definitely well worth it!

Another of the most beautiful places I have visited was Drottningholm Palace and Court Theater. In my opinion, it is easily one the most beautiful tourist and attractions in Stockholm. The palace is incomparable and the theater is a rewarding encounter for tourists like me. It has a garden which adds color to this awesome travel. It is one of the sights everybody should visit.

You should check out the Livrustkammaren or Royal Armory too. The building which houses this notable arms museum is an architectural masterpiece in itself. Livrustkammaren showcases its huge collection of original artifacts from the Swedish royal history. You will see swords, armor, stuffed battle horses, pistols and even clothes involved in the assassinations of kings and even if you are not a history buff, I do think you would enjoy visiting this museum.

If you get tired of the view that the city of Stockholm has to offer, a travel guide to the Swedish countryside would be good for you. You would love the smell of fresh air while you are standing on an open field, the sight of traditional wooden cottages especially in the summer when the sun is shining gently and the butterflies and bees are at their busiest. This is the time when all the flowers are at their full splendor and the countryside is just bursting with color.

These are some of the simple but astonishingly beautiful sights that the outdoors has in store for you. My adventure in Sweden and seeing incredible sights n Stockholm is without a doubt a lasting one. One that will last in my heart and one that makes me want to come back for more so that I could find a lot more of these captivating places that I will remember forever.

Travel

November 29th, 2010

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I was looking forward to my first visit to Scandinavia in December 2004. I had always wanted to visit Sweden but had been put off by the impression that it is really expensive and the desire to have better weather than at home when taking a break. Ryan Air has started flying from Glasgow Prestwick to Oslo, Stockholm and Gothenburg, so I decided now was the time. I chose Gothenburg, as the airport Ryan Air use is nearer the city. I think that choosing a destination that is easily accessible from Scotland is a very important factor in planning a short break.

Gothenburg is located on the south western coast of Sweden, at the mouth of the Gota River. As the plane descended toward Gothenburg City airport I had my first glimpse of Sweden. There was no sign of snow, but plenty of conifers and great views over the coastline. As I didn’t feel like rushing off the plane, I underwent a rather rapid acclimatisation as the end of the queue for passport control stretched outside in the icy blast. I donned the polo neck, hat and gloves before venturing out to find the bus into the city, There were a few people hanging around but no sign of a bus. I asked a young Swedish couple and they told the bus would not be there for over an hour. They asked if wanted to share a taxi into the city with them. They were returning home from Carlisle, their place of study, for the holidays. Another young guy approached us, enquiring if he could share the taxi too, and he was a Swedish student from Edinburgh. The bus would have cost £4 but it was £6 for the shared taxi. I was glad to reach the city more quickly while it was still light.

I’d heard so much about Liseberg Park that I decided to visit on my first evening. Walking around the park made me feel more festive but in a typically understated Swedish way. It was really quite breath taking. All the 3 million promised fairy lights were white and most of them draped around every branch of the trees, which made them look surreal. It was tasteful commercialism. The park was full of families, the kids excitiedly queueing up for a ride in the reindeer drawn sleigh and toddlers practising their ski moves on the gentle nursery slope. There were braziers dotted around the park, in case you felt in need of quick heat or had some nuts to roast. The log cabin craft stalls sold all sorts of food, drink, gifts and homeware. It was very cold and windy, making me glad that I’d packed my thermal underwear.

I was keen to go down to the coast at Salthomen, a half hour tram ride from the city centre. I had a 48 hour Gothenburg Pass (costs around £24 for 48 hours) which covered all public transport, including ferries to the nearby islands and free entry to most museums and attractions. As Tuesday dawned (at around 9am) bright and sunny, I decided I should get going. Instead of being organised and first checking the times of the ferries to the nearby islands, I walked around and did some minor rock scrambling and took some photos. There were lots of boats tied up and wooden jetties to walk along. When I finally made it to the ferry terminal, I discovered that the ferry service had a 2 hour lunch break. There was a ferry just about to leave for the nearby island of Branno, but I either had to stay on the ferry and come straight back to Salthomen, or stay on the island for 2 hours and 20 minutes. I wasn’t willing to chance so long on the island as it was very cold, and I wasn’t sure what cafes or restaurants would have been open on a weeekday in low season. I was cursing myself, as at any other time of the day I could have spent an hour on the island.

On arrival back at the city centre I decided to try a Swedish buffet lunch at the Scandic Europa Hotel. It was a wonderful spread, soup, salads, cold meats, breads, three hot main courses and a choice of desserts, for 98 kroner (around £8). I have to say that I did not find Sweden to be any more expensive than the UK. I believe that alcohol is more expensive than in the UK, but as I never drink alcohol that didn’t affect me.

Then it was off the the quayside to see the new Opera House and the sunset from the top of the Goteborgsutkiken (nicknamed the Lipstick). However, the lipstick viewpoint/cafe is only open during the summer. Anyway, I was keen to visit the City Musuem, which closed at 5pm. The museum houses most of the wreck of a Viking longboat. There is a modern recreation of the boat hanging above, which gives you a more accurate idea of the dimensions. One of my favourite films as a child was a romantic adventure film about Vikings, starring Kirk Douglas. There were some Electrolux cylinder cleaners on display, and seeing things that you recall as household items as a child in a museum was rather disconcerting! There was a room featuring a Jubilee exhibition in Gothenburg during the Twenties. One of the reasons for the exhibition was to show Sweden’s industrial might. It also looked as though there was plenty of entertainment, and there was even a creche where you could leave the kids for the day.

The plan for that evening was to visit the Design Museum, as it was late closing there. It seemed to be sensible to do outdoor activities during daylight, and the museums in the evening. I returned to the hotel for a cup of tea (very thoughfully provided in flasks in the foyer for guests). I already had a cold when I left Scotland and after being out in the cold I could not face going out again. I lay down on the bed at 5.15pm and then next thing I knew it was 7.30. The Design Musuem was open until 9pm, but I had a bath, went back to bed and slept until 8am on Thursday morning. Although initially pretty annoyed with myself, I felt so much better the next morning, I consoled myself by rationalising that it was better to lose an evening than to chance feeling awful all the next day.

After breakfast I walked to the Fish Market. It’s called the “fish church”, as the building in which it’s housed resembles a church. It was much smaller than I anticipated. Then it was up to the Tradgardsforenignen park to visit the palm house and the butterfly house. I had visions sitting reading with these tropical butterflies fluttering by. It was not to be, as it was closed for renovation. I wasn’t sure which museum to visit that afternoon, but was recommended to go the the Universeum, the science discovery centre. it was very imaginatlively designed, with a recreated rainforest on several levels and a recreated Swedish landscape from mountain top to the seashore and below. There were also several floors of hands on activities. You could drive a Volvo lorry, design a model and get into nuclear physics (if so inclined). I couldn’t even manage to get 2 racing car models going with binary code! There are plenty of young enthusiastic multilingual guides at hand to explain things.

I did enjoy just walking around the city centre along the canal sides and through the narrow streets and the grand avenues. Gothenburg is a grand city in an architectural sense, very spacious. I’ve heard it called the Swedish Amsterdam. I think that this is a slight on Gothenburg, as in my opinion it is much more attractive and less commercialised than Amsterdam. As a lone female, I felt relatively safe walking around in the evening. There was very little litter around, no beggars or hustlers and a fairly obvious but discreet police presence. As soon as you approached a pedestrian crossing, the cars would stop. All the locals that I spoke to replied in good or excellent English and were very polite and helpful. I would call it an extremely civilised city, low key, sophisticated in an unpretenious manner, far from souless and regimented yet orderly and relaxing.

Gothenburg can offer someting for almost every taste and budget. Families are well catered for, most hotels have family rooms, there is the Liseberg amusement park and the Universeum (targetted at age 5 – 19). Kids under 17 can eat free at selected restaurants with the Gothenburg pass. The culture vultures have a plethora of musuems and galleries to visit. The foodies can enjoy several Michelin starred restaurants and great choice of seafood. Nature lovers have the botanical gardens and the nearby coast and islands. Shopaholics have the largest covered shopping mall in Scandinavia. One of my sons tells me that there is a cool club scene there.

Gothenburg really does have it all. With the accessibility afforded by Ryanair flights (under 2 hours from Glasgow Prestwick) it is a great short break destination that does not, contrary to popular belief, break the bank. Many locals said to me that I should visit in the summer as it is lovely then. I enjoyed being there in the winter. It was dead quiet in the museums and the evening floodlighting was beautiful. There’s lots to do inside so your visit is not particularly affected by the weather. I was fortunate in my visit that it was dry all 4 days, although only sunny for one. Although the public transport is excellent, I did mainly walk around my ports of call in the city centre. It was too cold to stand waiting for buses and trams and I felt one sees more when walking around. So overall a great short break destination.

NEWS

November 26th, 2010

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Many (most?) non-Scandinavians seem to assume that a supposedly egalitarian, democratic country like Sweden must be a republic, so I suppose the first point I should make is that Sweden does in fact have a royal family. The country has been a monarchy for over 1,000 years and its official name is Kungariket Sverige (or The Kingdom of Sweden in English). Like the UK, Sweden is a constitutional monarchy in which the King is Head of State with no powers and only ceremonial functions: power lies with the Head of Government, the Statsminister (Prime Minister).

I am always amused when I read or hear anti-monarchists or would-be republicans in the UK arguing that no modern, successful, democratic state can have an unelected head. My answer is, apart from the UK itself and fellow commonwealth countries Canada, Australia and New Zealand, what is non-democratic about Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland and Belgium? Not forgetting Spain: it is not so long since they re-introduced the monarchy as the best guarantee that the country would remain a democracy after many decades under fascist dictatorship. Some say that Greece and a number of Balkan countries might benefit by doing the same. And I am sure that Japan and Malaysia also consider themselves modern and successful. All these countries are monarchies!

The other argument these people use is cost. However, in the UK, official expenditure relating to the Queen’s duties as Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth is met from public funds in exchange for the surrender by the Queen to the Government of the revenue from the Crown Estate. In the financial year to 31 March 2005 the revenue surplus from the Crown Estate paid to the Treasury amounted to £184.8 million, while Head of State expenditure for 2005-06 was only £37.4 million. And a coronation every 50 years or so is much cheaper than elections every five years.

One problem with a becoming a republic (assuming you keep the present model of the Prime Minister as Head of Government and only a ceremonial role for the President) is, who do you want as your president? The highly divisive choice of a used-to-be politician (Maggie Thatcher or Tony Blair, anyone?). Or a ‘popular celebrity’? How about President Beckham? Otherwise you get an uncontroversial choice that nobody knows – at least outside their own country. No? OK then, name the President of Germany. (If you said Angela Merkel, you just proved my point).

OK, back to Sweden and its present royal family, the House of Bernadotte. What, I hear you say, are they really called Bernadotte and not Svensson? Yes, for historical reasons, they are. The present King of Sweden is Carl XVI Gustaf, who was born in 1946 and has ruled since 1973 and is the seventh king from the Bernadotte dynasty. In 1976 he married his queen, Sylvia, who is an exotic half German and half Brazilian and who he met while he was attending the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. He was the first reigning Swedish king to marry for more than 200 years, but it was important that he waited until after his coronation to marry because Sylvia was a commoner and, according to Swedish constitutional law at that time, he would have had to forfeit the throne. He succeeded his grandfather, King Gustaf VI Adolf, who was an anglophile with strong connections to the English court. He married not one, but two, English princesses. The first was Princess Margaret of Connaught, daughter of Prince Arthur, third son of Queen Victoria, who sadly died in her forties. The second was Lady Louise Mountbatten, formerly Princess Louise of Battenberg. She was the sister of Lord Louis Mountbatten and an aunt of the Duke of Edinburgh. Lady Louise later became Queen of Sweden.

I lived in Sweden during the 1970s and I remember that King Gustaf VI Adolf was a very popular and respected monarch, with a great knowledge of and recognised interest in archaeology and botany. His five children (all by Princess Margaret) managed to make the question of the succession very complicated. The oldest and heir to the throne, also called Gustaf Adolf, was killed in January 1947 when his DC-3, on a scheduled KLM flight from Holland, crashed on take-off at Copenhagen’s Kastrup Airport, killing everybody on board. He was the father of the present king, who was 1 year old at the time.

The second and fifth children, both sons, disqualified themselves by marrying commoners. The third child was a girl, Ingrid, who married the Crown Prince of Denmark and was the mother of the present Queen of Denmark, Margaretha II. Only the fourth child, Bertil, protected his interests by not marrying his sweetheart, a commoner from Swansea named Lilian Davies; they just quietly lived together. Had Gustaf VI Adolf died earlier, Bertil would have been regent for the infant king, or king himself if the child had died. However, when the present king came of age, Bertil and Lilian were married. Princess Lilian is still alive and is a member of the Swedish royal family.

In some circles in Sweden in the mid 1960s there was something of a republican movement, although there was no question of doing anything while the old king was still alive. However, I seem to remember there was an attempt to take advantage of the fact that his successor was still a teenager. The suggestion was that the minimum age to succeed to the throne should be raised from 21 to 25, in the expectation that the old king would die before his grandson attained 25. The old king solved this by living to the age of 91, when the new king was 27. Also, the young crown prince was not too popular, and was widely believed to be none too bright. He was known to have mis-spelt his own name and there were rumours of fudged school examination results to allow him to graduate. Only in the 1990s was it confirmed that he suffered from dyslexia.

His marriage to Queen Sylvia, who quickly learned Swedish and settled in the country, confirmed the position of the monarchy in the country, although a new constitution removed the last of the king’s powers. The royal couple have three children, and the law was changed in 1980 to allow the firstborn, regardless of sex, to succeed to the throne. The heir to the Swedish throne is now Crown Princess Victoria, who was born in 1977 and is named after her great-great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.

Ah yes, Bernadotte. Well, to cut a long story (fairly) short, in 1809 Sweden lost Finland, which had constituted the eastern half of the realm. The resentment towards King Gustav IV Adolf resulted in a coup d’état that replaced him by his uncle, the childless Karl XIII. At that time the Emperor Napoleon ruled over much of Continental Europe through a network of client kingdoms headed by his brothers. The Swedish parliament therefore decided to achieve a practical long-term solution by choosing a king who was acceptable to Napoleon. In 1810 they elected Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, one of Napoleon’s Marshals, as heir apparent. It probably helped that Bernadotte was married to Désirée Clary, and thus the brother-in-law of Joseph, Napoleon’s elder brother.

As Crown Prince of Sweden, Bernadotte assumed the name Carl Johan and acted officially as Regent for the remainder of Karl XIII’s reign. He also secured a forced union between Sweden and Norway in 1814. Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte reigned as King Carl XIV of Sweden and Carl III Johan of Norway from 1818 until his death in 1844. It should be noted that he took his new responsibilities as king seriously, favouring Swedish interests over those of his native France.

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