Sweden 3

Posted bysteelgirl58 Leave a comment on Sweden 3
The poppies are following me!
The mall in Gothenburg has an ad campaign for their summer designer that included poppies in posters, hanging from the ceiling, and as footsteps on the floor.

I always like going to grocery stores when I travel, especially in countries where I don’t know the language well, or at all in this case. Seeing how foods are presented, what the predominant snacks or treats are, and trying to translate labels (before resorting to Google Translate) can keep me looking at the shelves for quite awhile- usually laughing my head off. This happened the day we went to Varberg, south of Gothenburg 45 minutes by train. The town of Varberg was bigger than we thought it would be, and had quite the big grocery store.

Mirrored wall at the produce section. Result: it all looks gorgeous!
It’s obvious herring is a staple in this country.
Broth
Baking aisle staples
ZYN- very popular oral pouches of nicotine powder with flavors like mint, coffee, citrus, etc. These are Philip Morris’ tobacco-less product that go between lip and gum, slowly releasing nicotine into the blood system, no spitting necessary. UGH

Will and I found some fruit and a couple snacks, and made our way out of the grocery store via self-checkout. It’s quite the challenge to do in Swedish. I love how you get a receipt for your purchases and then scan it to release the gate at the exit of the store.

Varberg Kallbadhuset

The sauna/bathhouse at Varberg is the reason we went to Varberg. The beaches are small and sandy with coarse sand near the bathhouse. It’s been rebuilt twice after major storms damaged it. Entrance is by a pier that brings you into a small cafe. At the desk, you pay for your sauna and can leave valuables in a box they store behind the desk. The saunas, sunbathing, and swimming in the sea are separate by sex, and in the nude. Will and I parted ways with plans to meet outside in an hour or so.

The changing/shower room was immaculate. I found my way to the women’s sauna wrapped in my towel and was immediately blown away by the view from the sauna.

It was very warm inside the sauna, especially when the sun came through these large windows.
Will managed to get this shot sort of over his shoulder in the men’s courtyourd

When I got too warm, I walked out into the courtyard, left my towel on a chair and went down the steps and ladder into the water. It was cool, but not too cold at all. I repeated the sauna/swim a couple of times, and then sat out in the breezy sun to dry off. It was quiet, with a couple of women sitting separately around the courtyard reading or sunning,; there was a young girl and her mother going in and out of the sauna and water as I did. Very relaxing in the old country style of public saunas for the very reasonable price of $10. I became a sauna lover that day.

Leave a comment