Gothenburg Sweden

 

We were on our own today in Sweden. Gothenburg is a bigger town than expected but still pretty easy to get around in. The ship provided a free shuttle to the city center so we headed out early to squeeze in as much as we could.

Our first stop was the public garden. I wish flowers grew as well in Texas. The flower beds were full of various flowers and all beautiful. In the center there was a rose garden with rows and rows of roses. The garden had a green house with tropical plants. It was hot and sticky so we didn’t make it long inside. The building itself was the better site. The gardens did provide free bathrooms so we were lucky to stumble on it when we did.

Our plan was to head to the old part of town and wander to narrow cobble stoned lanes. Supposedly (based on the pink highlight which is a little sexist) the area was full of streets with good shopping. On our way there we found a fortress tower looming on a hill and decided to climb up for the views. Margaret jinxed us when she said it will probably start raining as soon as we start our way up the hill and of course it did. It was still worth it the views of the city were spectacular. The red tile roofs with the church spires poking up between made for some great photos.

On the way up we used the slope side but coming down we had stairs. Of course it was just two really long staircases so I am glad we missed them on the way up.

We were in Gothenburg on Sunday so not too much was open in the old part of town -the Haga district. The map needed to have an asterisk-only shopping on weekdays. We did find a pastry shop that had the cinnamon rolls that were as big as a dinner plate. It was a little more bready than what we are used to but still delicious. We counted it as lunch and continued on our shopping quest.

By early afternoon the retail shops were opening but everything was very similar to what we have at home. We went in a few to get out of the rain but didn’t really shop. The artisan craft area was closed and we didn’t come across any other tourist type shops. I couldn’t even find a post card. There were a few at the tobacco-newspaper shop but nothing better than my photos. So out all day and bought nothing.

The rain never let up today. Most days a rain shower would come up and blow over relatively quickly. Not today however the rain just never stopped.

Tired of traipsing through the rain and hunting a bathroom we headed into the mall. It was very similar to our malls but without the big anchor stores. This one also had a grocery store but otherwise just small specialty or brand clothing shops. There was a small kiosk area where some people had homemade items but they were probably the people who didn’t make the cut on the artisan market. I didn’t find anything worth buying. The bathrooms in the mall charged an entrance fee which margaret learned after getting in the women’s line before waiting in the line to pay.

The mall was right by the shuttle bus pick up so we headed back to the ship earlier than expected. The ship was staying docked until 9:30 but we were back in time for happy hour.

I think if it had not been raining and not Sunday Gothenburg would have been a better stop. It didn’t have the quaint village charm that Lubeck did but it was still nice.