FAMILY ADVENTURES IN SWEDEN--PART 9

Rättvik Church Boat and Rättviks Gammelgård--JUNE 27, 2010

Yes, one more Rättvik surprise awaited us this Sunday morning. Yesterday, when we happened to be in the tourist office, Judy overheard some advice being given to another couple regarding the possibility, if space was available, of joining costumed locals in a church boat on Sunday as it would make its way to the town's towering white church across the lake.

As it turned out, we got to the dock early enough Sunday for all, except Dug, to find space in the single church boat. Dug had to drive the van to the church, so we would be able to head out to our next destination. Even Tina, in all her years living in Sweden, had never been in a church boat. We were very fortunate.

The Rättvik church (kyrka) dates from the 13th century, but was rebuilt in the 18th century. Beside the church are some 90 "church houses", some of them dating from the 17th century, which provided a place for the horses, which brought families to church, to have shelter from the harsh Scandinavian winters.

It is said about Rättvik, "Its culture and landscape are regarded as being as genuinely Swedish as it gets." Another source calls Dalarna, ”the most Swedish” area in the whole country. We certainly were in the right place!

Our next adventure was a visit to Rättviks Gammelgård, an open-air museum with a display of old hand painted furniture, tools and implements, household goods and local costumes. Some of these items almost certainly predated the earliest history of the founding of America.

Swedish cinnamon buns and ice cream

are always a special treat!

           

Lilacs blooming at the end of June show how spring flowers in Dalarna come about two months later than those in Cincinnati.

Before leaving the area, we stopped at the BIG STRAWBERRY in the grocery store parking lot. Here's where we bought lots of fresh strawberries during our time here! While part of the family went shopping, Judy photographed Sage in the van mirror as she sat in the driver's seat!                                                       

Then we went back to our cottage beside Lake Siljan to pack up our van and head south. The last photos show the bunk bed shared by Maia and Dugan and more views of the outside with Maia and Tina.

As we headed south from Rättvik, we came upon the tiny town of Tina. Of course we couldn't pass up the chance to get a photo of our close friend by her namesake town sign.

Fortunately for us, Tina, her mother and Ulf, had another good reason for us to stop in Tällberg one more time before saying goodbye to Dalarna and the Lake Siljan region, our memorable home for the last six days. Tina's mother was having a birthday, and that served as a good excuse to have a party...topped off with a colorful strawberry birthday cake. What fun!

As we left Tällberg, our last destination for the day was a three hour drive back to where we stayed on our very first night, the famed historic city of Uppsala. As we mentioned back in Part 3, Uppsala University was founded in 1477, 15 years before Columbus landed in the Americas. All of Europe, and most of the world, can go back many centuries in exploring its rich history.

Tomorrow will bring an unexpected chance for the kids to try on chain mail and pretend to be knights preparing for battle, armed with shields, swords, and helmets.

Until then we have to split up our family to stay in three different places for the night, as we did last Sunday, and try to get a good night's sleep.