The Minnesota Noices

Category: Travel

  • Bonus Sommar

    We tried to squeeze in as much outdoor time as possible during this streak of amazing weather in Skåne. Here is our hike on a section of Skåneleden Trail near Barsebäck strand, site of a 6,000 year old settlement, now preserved as pastureland, restored with native plants. The 1712 Stenbock’s ramparts were maintained (but never…

  • Sommar Summary

    Trying to get back into the blog again after our trip to MN. Kids start school on Monday so I guess it’s time! Here are some pics of Twin Cities Theater Camp’s outdoor production of The Wizard of Oz. Lil played two roles this year, Nikko, sinister leader of the Flying Monkeys, and Munchkin #1.…

  • Island of Ven: Mors Dag 2

    We lucked out with one of Sweden’s Top 10 Weather Days of 2021, I’m sure. Sunny and warm with a very light breeze. Caught the 10 a.m. ferry from Landskrona to Ven where we had a little snack at the harbor, then rented 2 tandem bikes and headed out to tour the island. It was…

  • Flowering Raps Fields

    The countryside is gorgeous right now, with bright yellow rapeseed in bloom. I didn’t know until recently that raps oil, which is very popular in Sweden, is just canola oil! The best views seem to be in places that are difficult to access from the highways along the coast, but even around Lund there are…

  • On the mend

    Lily and I rode the train to Malmö for her Handkirurgi appointment. The hand specialist said the cast could come off- she can use a velcro wrap for a few weeks until it stops hurting and moves easily.Then we stopped in our old Hyllie neighborhood to have lunch at her favorite place from those weeks…

  • Arctic Spring – Night Snowmobiling

    There was an outing that was on the itinerary that escaped Jen’s attention to detail – a snowmobiling outing after dark with dinner (link). Snowmobiles? Driving them? Not for some of us. Lily and Bryant, however, thought the idea was pretty cool. So, Jen and Hil skipped it, while Bry and Lily revved it. We…

  • Kiruna, Background Info

    We decided to spend our Easter holiday doing something. In Sweden, Easter (or Påsk, pronounced “poask”) is a very secular holiday, and Holy Friday and Easter Monday are national holidays (so, no work!), and the schools are out for Easter week. So, we took a trip to Kiruna, Sweden. Kiruna is a city of 30k…

  • Arctic Spring

    We decided the risk of traveling within Sweden was minor and booked a trip to Kiruna, the northern most city in Swedish Lapland. It’s north of the Arctic Circle in Sàpmi (Sami cultural region) taiga forestland with long winters. Traditional Sami foods, cooked over the fire in a làvvu reindeer, moose, lingon and cloudberries prepared…

  • Bornholm

    A Danish island in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Sweden, Bornholm is still closed to tourism. It used to be a fishing community, but in recent times it is known for biking, hiking and culinary culture. My great-grandfather, Fred, was born there in 1880 Fred’s mother’s family lived there for generations. His father,…

  • Påskkäring, Easter Witch

    My friend, Brandie, suggested we get out of town for a bit since her husband and daughters are working from home this week due to Swedish guidelines regarding the new covid variant. We drove to the southern most point, Smyghuk but it was under construction so we went to Vellinge Blommar, a huge garden center…