Living La Vida Lunda: A blog abroad

The Minnesota Noices

  • Everöd and Tomelilla

    While evaluating Swedish dictionaries at the library today, I came across a book that explains the name/ origin of every town in Sweden. My 3rd great grandmother came from Everöd. Her family is recorded in the parish as far back as 1725The village appears in records around 1228 the name comes from Old Danish meaning…

  • Roma

    Bryant and I coordinated on our posts about the latest family trip and found it challenging to summarize, but here’s what we’ve got so far! We wanted to go someplace warmer for winter break, and chose Rome. It was an easy 2+ hour flight from CPH, and we had never been there before. We thought…

  • Amalfi

    After 4 days, we had plenty of Rome, and wanted to see something a bit different. So we booked a hotel on the Amalfi coast in the town of Amalfi. The town was full of tunnels and hidden staircases and passageways carved out of or through the hillside. Hotel Luna was a 13th century convent founded…

  • Andra Julen i Sverige

    Our second Christmas in Sweden. How time flies! We had more concerts, parties and events this year before new Omicron restrictions kicked in. On Monday I went to a concert at Lunds Domkyrka with traditional music of the season, including Lucia songs, ambient Celtic style vocals performed in the dark, acapella, candle light processional with…

  • Julbord, Jul Dance Show

    Last week we enjoyed a hike around the castle grounds followed by a Julbord (christmas buffet) with friends from MN. Check out Melissa’s blog for more about this fun afternoon! After the Julbord, we drove in search of a Cut Your Own Tree Farm per request of the younger Noiceling. The older one was home…

  • Gamla Råby and Our Friend, Loki

    This sculpture behind the church in Old Råby (a village just East of Lund and near the new development, Stora Råby) is actually a perfect circle but is distorted by the pano photo. I’ve posted about the church, bakery, Chokladserenad candy shop and ceramics studio previously, but this time I walked out to Råby to…

  • Lucia Dag and a lake in Lund

    This year was our first (Dec 13) Lucia Day experience with some in-person activities, but most were cancelled again or moved online. Traditionally, at day break there are Lucia concerts, processions and lussekatter aka saffron buns for breakfast or fika. Many schools and offices have Lucia celebrations. IKEA does, and Bryant has stories to tell…

  • Jul Markets, Knitting, Open House

    Inspired by the many works of art on display at the Bosjökloster and Kulturen Jul Markets, I dug out supplies for making painted rocks, a tomte house and more knitting projects. Then realized that I don’t really have the time for much crafting right now. I’ve been making time for tea and pepparkakor, gifted to…

  • Nordic-light Duo/ Elsa Beskow concert

    This week marks the start of Jul market season, beginning with Bosjökloster (Cloister by the lake) in the town of Höör. Carole, Beata and I arrived in time for the musical prelude and were surprised to find ourselves enjoying much more than just a few holiday songs. The concert was based on original (some never…

  • Femtioett

    Since we recently returned from Athens where we maxed out our children’s travel energy and goodwill, I knew that my 51st birthday wishes should be modest when it came to their involvement. My own celebrations started early in the week with a trip to Malmo to see Melissa and try out the Chocolate “Tea” menu…