So this summer our adventure takes us to Gottenburg in Sweden! I must confess I'd been promising to go for ages and this year it all became possible thanks to our cousins that live there.
So here is all you need to know about our trip and adventure in Gottenburg ;)
Tickets:
There we'll fly with KLM from Lisbon to Amsterdam (Schipol) then onto (Landvetter) Gottenburg. We have to change planes and have 50 mins to do it! We managed just fine eventhough we landed at one end and had to catch the next flight at the other end 😼
On the way back we'll fly with SAS from (Landvetter) Gottenburg via Stocholm to Lisbon.
Bagage:
On KLM we're allowed:
- 1 item of hand baggage, max. 55 x 35 x 25 cm (21,5 x 13,5 x 10 inch)
- 1 accessory, e.g. a handbag, briefcase or laptop, max. 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 inch)
- Total weight max. 12 kg (26 lbs).
On SAS:
- Maximum weight of 8 kg per item.
- Maximum size of any piece of carry-on bag: 55 cm x 40 cm x 23 cm (length x width x depth).
- Maximum size of any hand bag or laptop: 40 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm (length x width x depth).
The 2 planes and seat arrangements on the way there... 1st Lisbon to Schipol
2nd Schipol to Gothenburg (Landvetter)
and the 2 with SAS on the way home...
1st one, Boeing 737-700 (Winglets) Gothenburg (Landvetter) to Stockholm (Arn)
2nd one Stockholm (Arn) to Lisbon - Airbus A320 (Sharklets)
So what can I say about Gothenburg other than it totally blew me off my feet! I was expecting a rather dark, rainy city but wow, what a vibrant and colourful city it is. I loved the colourful houses, all the greenery, the lakes and boy are there plenty of them! The people are not cold like I seemed to expect them to be, they all speak English and very good too. I so love their food culture, their fika and their happy-go-lucky way of life. Ok I'm sure in winter it's not so much fun, but I can imagine Christmas time there and all the lights! I was amazed at how it was total light at 5am and it was still light at 7pm (I wasn't expecting it to be like that). I loved it when I woke up early in the morning and would go sit in the lounge and see the squirrels jumping around in the trees also the walks Nadine and I took in the woods and how we saw a hare and the fact that he was as surprised to see us as we were to see him, I think I may have screamed a little to loud from the excitement aha. I can never thank my cousins enough for all they did, how they went out of their way to make us feel so welcome and even took off work to show us around. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Manny, Catharina and Oliver 💋😘
1st day
Woke up at 2am and left for the airport at 3am and after all the usual proceedings at the check-in we departed at 5am. We landed at Schipol airport but as we only had 55mins to catch our next flight we didn't really get time to do much shopping. At Landvetter Cath was already waiting for us so off we went. We walked around the neighbourhood and saw a cordless lawnmower doing it's work aha it even knows when it's running low on battery and will go into it's cage like space to fill up on energy!! ...oh and I saw white eggs for the very first time, yes the shells were totally white not the tan colour I'm used to!! After dinner we went to Gothenburg city centre and walked around the main avenue called Kungsportavenyen up to the statue of Poseidon and on the way back home we rode past the iconic building that looks like a lipstick and it's called Lappstiftet, this building is located on the river Gota and next to this you'll also find the hotel-vessel Viking and Gothenburg's Opera. We saw loads of shops and cafés then back home we even had time to watch a movie and at 11:30 we needed our beauty sleep after an exciting day.
View from our plane
Onboard KLM - hot croissant with yummy cheese and whatever one wanted to drink
Later on in the flight another snack
Schipol airport
On KLM flight out of Amsterdam to Gothenburg
Landvetter airport - Gothenburg
Our home for the next week
Some of the gorgeous houses in Gothenburg and here I'll warn you I took a lot of pics of the houses because I fell totally in love with them :)
Our first lunch a lovely omelette
Note that all the window sills have plants and a lantern which they all light at night
Taking a rest in the garden
2nd day
On this day we went to visit the Universeum, https://www.goteborg.com/en/universeum/ a real must see! In the evening we went out for dinner to an Indian Restaurant called Tre Indiar http://treindier.eu/ and then took another long walk along the gorgeous streets. Got home at 22:30 no movies this time as we were all tired but very happy 😻
Catharina's little veggie garden
What it should look like
What it looks like after humans have been there :(
View from the top and where the Dinosaurus are exposed
Tre Indier
3rd day
Today we had planned on spending the day at the amusement park Liseberg but it was closed so we went into Haga instead! Naturally we did some shopping here as the streets are lined with shops, it has traditional wood buildings and cobbled streets. I loved the candlelit cafés with their terraced courtyards. The area has lots of vegan bistros and bakeries known for their cinnamon buns and quaint little shops that sell books, crafts and knitwear. An absolute must!! We were also courageous to go to Skansen Kronan, and believe me all those millions of steps are worth it for the amazing view ;) https://skansenkronan.se/ Next we went home and then picked up pizza for our boat trip to one of the arquipelagos and had an absolutely amazing afternoon with Lars and Fatima Olssen. The little arquipelago is so cute and our picnic was out of this world. Thanks guys you rock! Check out the cute cottages!
We didn't count the steps but believe me there were lots!
These can be found everywhere and they look so gorgeous!
Getting ready to go
Lars our captain, looking after our grub at the same time he steers the boat in the right direction :)
Cute cottages and the inside is amazing and is missing nothing
Picnic time :)
...and cakes galore...
fresh mushrooms
This is what the table looked like every movie night aha this time the movie was Secret Obsession.
4th day
This morning we took a ride with my cousin Manny to the lake close to his house and then in the afternoon we all went to the amusement park Liseberg. https://www.liseberg.com/
Oh my I was amazed at the lovely display of flowers everywhere and the place is massive!! Catharina and Nadine got to ride on the rollercoaster and boy are the enormous!
Ghost car aha
Entrance to Liseberg
Flowers, flowers everywhere!
So glad Fatima was able to join us and just a side note on Fatima and Lars, we first met them in Portugal via my cousins and then again in Gothenburg, they have become a couple that we have taken dearly to, they're very special people to us now!
At these stalls it was possible to win enormous packets of chocolates ;)
After many tries and lots of SEK Manny pulled one in aha
Oh yes they have churros too ;)
Nadine made a new friend
5th day
This morning the weather started of a little overcast and we even had some drizzle so whilst Cath was at the Doc with Oliver Manny and us went to do some shopping. We got the rest of the gifts to take home and Cath came to meet us and naturally we had fika. In the evening Cath's family came over and for the first time Nadine and I tried Moose made by Krister and I can say it was very good. After this great meal we all took a walk around the neighbourhood to burn the calories consumed.
Drizzle today
Pancakes for breakfast
Time for Fika
Portuguese wine, note that alcohol cannot be sold in supermarkets or any shop they are only allowed to sell alcohol at chosen government shops.
Nadine's little friend called Enya
Moose made by Krister, Cath's brother
And yummy dessert made by Caths mom, thank you!
6th day and last full day in Gothenburg
In the morning we went into Gothenburg centre and really walked all over and did some great sight seeing and went to see their market. In the evening we went to see Manny and Stefan play at Café Kungsgatan. On the way there we went by boat and on the way back we came by road. Checkout the cafés toilet aha We had such a great evening, the food was great the music excellent and what an honour it was to see Manny play.
We had these for lunch, delicious!
Had to take a pic of one of the fitting rooms, elephants :)
My favourite flowers :)
Famous blue trams
A licorice shop OMW!!
Some demonstration going on
Paddan boat tours
Crossing over to Lysekil
Lars taking control of the situation ;)
Café Kungsgatan
The crazy, weird toilet :)
Last day and leaving Sweden but wanting to come back for sure!
Flying home to Lisbon with mixed feelings ;)
Goodbye Sweden hope to see you soon!
