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The
Crystal Kingdom of Southern Sweden
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Southern
Sweden contains almost all kinds of landscape - from Kullen’s craggy and
precipitous cliffs, through dense forests and shimmering lakes, to gentle hills
in south-east Österlen. It is also the domain of the “Glasriket” or
kingdom of crystal with its many glass factories.
We crossed the Øresund between Denmark and Sweden by vehicle ferry at Helsingør / Helsingborg. These huge ferries cater for about 30
pantechnicon lorries and almost 50 cars at a time. The trip lasts 20
minutes and duty free liquor can be bought while in Danish waters;
cigarette counters open when the border to Sweden is crossed and no more
liquor is sold. |
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Our
route took us through the southern region of Skåne northwards along the
“Swedish Riveira” coastline to Göteborg, second largest city in
Sweden, on the Dana Fjord. Göteborg is a pleasantly relaxed city, especially
the Haga (old town) around the Rosenlunds Kanalen (military moat). Many
interesting boutique and craft shops are found here. Both the Scandinavian
indoor arena (Europe’s largest) and Ullevi Stadium, staged some of the Nordic
areas most important concerts and sporting events.
The
coastal region north of Göteborg, called the Bohuslän, provided a
foretaste of Norway’s Fjords and rugged shores. Many picturesque small
towns and colourful fishing villages nestle along this coastline. |
Lysekil,
one of Sweden’s most popular summer resorts, specializes in boat excursions
and deep-sea fishing trips. Smögen, an attractive off-shore little island, is
reached by road bridge and is renowned for seafood (shrimps, lobsters, and
oysters).
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The Göta Canal is actually 620 kilometres of interconnected canals,
rivers, lakes and even a stretch of sea. It links Göteborg with
Stockholm. It was completed after 22 years of building in the 19th
century and required 90 kilometers of man-made cuts through soil and rock,
58 locks, 47 bridges and 3 dry docks. Today it is as a popular tourist
route as the well-known waterways link St Petersburg and Moscow in Russia.
Inland
lies Karlstad, nestled on the shores of Lake Vänern, but world
renowned as a university city. This province, close to the Norwegian border, is
rich in folklore. It was also the home of Alfred Nobel and former prime
minister, Tage Erlander. Vărmland’s
forested, lake dotted landscape, embodies Sweden as a whole.
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Around Växjö,
scattered among the rocky woodland’s of Småland, are isolated villages whose
names are synonomous with quality in crystal glassware: Kosta Bada, Orrefors
and Målerås
Malmö
is Sweden’s third-largest city. Around the Stortorget (cobbled market square),
one finds a treasure of small boutique shops and restaurants. The beautifully
restored Hotel Kramer and other historic buildings are facing the Lilla Torg and
Stortorget pedestrian squares.
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The
so called Øresund fixed link (tunnel and bridge) bridging the sea
strait between København and Malmö, was officially opened during July
2000. Some 10 000 vehicles cross this bridge daily.
The
Øresund Link gives the region an entirely new infrastructure, and Swedish and
international companies are showing increased interest in establishing a
presence in Skåne. With the Øresund link, Skåne is again joined closely to
Continental Europe.
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Johann
& Monique Beukes
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