Return to Uppsala

On Saturday, April 1, we got up at our usual time, ate breakfast, had a visit from Anna, ate lunch, and then left for Sweden. We had made reservations to ride a ShuttleExpress van to the airport and, as we waited for it, we noticed a black Cadillac with dark tinted windows roll by. I was suggesting that it looked like a mobster's car when it turned around and parked in front of our house! As it happens, one of ShuttleExpress's limousines was nearby and was assigned to be our ride. So we were conveyed to SeaTac in style with a very talkative driver who, although an interesting guy, repeatedly called us Mr. and Mrs. Jensen. This was a minor irritant and I decided correcting him was not worthwhile. Besides, technically he should have been calling us Mr. and Dr. Jensen.

We arrived at the airport without incident and ran into a couple of acquaintances, Melissa and Andrya, who teach at our daughters' former high school. They remember both of our girls and we reminisced for a while about how wonderful they were. And, may I say, they still are.

Our flight to Amsterdam was long and uneventful. We got a nice view of Mt. Rainier above the clouds as we made the big turn to the northeast toward Europe and later I watched the time-bending movie "Arrival".  I think I may have slept for an hour or so. Like I said, uneventful.

We landed in Amsterdam and managed to get through customs and find our connecting flight to Stockholm. We were feeling pretty stupid due to sleep deprivation by then, so this seemed like quite a triumph. A two hour flight brought us to Stockholm's Arlanda Airport and we took a taxi to Uppsala where we picked up our keys and, at length, arrived at our apartment at Uppsala University. If I am calculating correctly, the trip took 19 hours door to door.

We collapsed into bed around 9:30PM local time and spent the next day going to the grocery store and walking around town. In the evening, Ingrid came to visit and we snacked on her delicious homemade flatbread and drank wine.

Here are a few pictures from our first full day in Uppsala, Monday, April 3.

The Uppsala Cathedral from our study alcove window

Uppsala Cathedral from the Castle

Uppsala Castle

On Tuesday, I went out in the morning and walked to the English Bookshop in central Uppsala. I bought a couple of books and will be attending a discussion group later this month. Along the way, I took some pictures of the river.

Fyris River in central Uppsala

Fyris River

We went out in the afternoon for a walk in the Stadsträdgården, or City Park. Along the way, we encountered a multitude of Black Headed Gulls chasing each other  and making a racket at the Svandammen (Swan Pond).

Svandammen with gulls

A well named Black Headed Gull

Flustret, which seems to be a party venue, through the trees at the City Park

I can't stop taking pictures of the river! This one is from the city park.

 After our stroll through the park, we walked back to our apartment by way of the cathedral.

The backside of the Cathedral from a side street

 The weather here is similar to Seattle in February but, so far at least, with less rain. There are some signs of spring; a few trees are showing buds and we spotted our first daffodil getting ready to bloom.

Spring is coming! These crocuses are on the castle grounds

We spent the evening watching Rachel Maddow on Youtube and getting depressed.