June 5 - Gotland

Gotland receives more sun than any other part of Sweden and acts as a magnet for students and families as soon as the summer arrives in Scandinavia. Gotland was also where I was battered by torrential rain and wind that I hadn't experienced since crossing the Baltic sea in winter. So it had a bit of catching up to do, but it didn't take long.

So the 1 hour drive to the far south of the island, as well as the evening around the dinner table, was spent catching up on stories since the last time I had seen my favourite Swedes. Although a considerable chunk was spent on them convincing us that even though Gotland is 'unique' it's still actually part of mainland Sweden, turns out they get a bit of stick from their motherland. Just to give you an idea, while grad students in Stockholm go round in a bus, these guys go round celebrating on the back of a tractor. The next day was spent exploring the rocky coast of the southern tip of the island, checking out the family summer cottage in the woods behind the beach, and sampling some head-sized ice creams (turns out it pays to know people who work at little ice cream stands in the middle of nowhere, who knew..)

Windmill in the south

Then once the lamb was ready, which had been open roasted for the best part of five hours, the festivities began. Lonely planet will always tell you to head to festivals to get a good idea of the culture and on this humble island in the Baltic, it's no different. So as the locals and family gathered in around us we got a true glimpse of Sweden that to a non-Swede would always be hidden, and speaking with guests from the Swedish development agencies was a wicked way to encapsulate a semester spent studying exactly that. One thing unique to Gotland is a specially brewed drink which tasted like stale beer that's been soaked with smoked mutton. I honestly can't think of any other way of describing it without sounding offensive, but like anything unique, the capacity for appreciation is huge. There may well be a reason why nobody else anywhere on earth has taken it up but nonetheless the national brewing champs are aptly titled the world champs. And so I was stoked to get a photo together with the 2002 World Champions, a claim to fame I'll never forget and for more reasons than one hah.

In the presence of champions

The capital Visby is perched on the West side of the island, and is encased by a medieval city wall whose roll has evolved from keeping out invaders to keeping out time itself. Inside a sea of red tile roofed houses guard over a web of cobbled streets and alleys dropped over the hills. Admitabbly most most of the exploration undertaken was in fact just to find a place to eat but whatever the motive we got a wicked view of the city, culminating at the largest ice cream store in Sweden. Wth over 130 flavours it was a sweet spot to kill some time before getting on the ferry (conveniently parked just across the road), and I know you're excited now but wait till you hear the lineup.. With flavours like saffron, gingerbread, after eight, bubble gum, strawberry cheesecake, and harry potter its actually almost impossible to get a nice old vanilla or choc. Although no matter how many hundreds of flavours a single place can offer there's only one that I care about and that's goody goody gumdrops. And they didn't have it.

The streets of Visby looking up to the North gate

Big ups to Lotta, Casja, Staffan, Hannes, and mum and dad Berling. It was wicked to see you dudes and hang out in Gotland, and we'll see you all again soon (after some toehook training). People like you make me realise how lucky I am. And cheers Sarah for the sweet company..

Photos:

Pohangina, Stockholm, & Gotland