If you missed the near real time trip updates webpage, go to Trip Highlights . Editor
June 10, 2014, Tuesday
This is my fourth trip to Sweden, while it is my sister’s
first trip. During the initial stages of
trip planning I let our hosts, Inger Mattsson and Jonne Lindroth know some of
the places and things I thought were important for Debbie to experience. They came thru amazingly on planning, and
keeping secret, an itinerary. The
weather would determine our ultimate itinerary they reasoned. As it turned out the weather was fantabulous,
with highs in the mid-70s and as high as 80F.
The sun shone.
Since Debbie is a nurse, and one of Inger’s daughter is a
Doctor, one of the activities they proposed was visiting the medical clinic at
Långshyttan. They reasoned Debbie would
be interested in seeing how an efficiently run medical clinic in Sweden is
run. Unfortunately not all appear to be
as efficient. Debbie was excited about
visiting the clinic when she found out about one of the surprises we had
planned.
After the clinic we have to go to a nearby moose farm and
see Elvis the moose up close and in person.
They have amazingly oily skin, and are really really tall animals, but
that have evolved to easily maneuver in wet forest environments. Elvis is generally a mild mannered guy,
except in the fall during rutting season.
Elvis the moose loves tender Birch leaves.
Långshyttan is on Husbyringen
, which is Sweden’s first Eco-museum. It
is a 60 kilometer long trail that showcases several historic spots connected
with two of Sweden’s more famous inventors: Christoffe Polhem and Gustav de
Laval. Among other things Polhem
produced a well-run wind up clock, while de Laval is known for a milk
separator. Stjärnsund is currently an
artsy-new agey place that really is worth visiting. It is an interesting place. The old mill is now used as a concert
venue. Here worker’s housing was
reasonable sized and was progressive for the time. There is always time for fika, and enjoying
it on the porch of the manor house was great.
Stjärnsund
Our grandfather was born in Hedemora parish so a trip to
Hedemora town was in order. After lunch
and a trip to the book shop we walked around the old section of town. I have to visit the local book shop to see
what books on local history are available.
Unfortunately there weren’t very any of interest – unlike last time when
I found several that now reside in my personal library.
Hedemora
There are several epitafiums in the church which date back
to the 17th century. They are fascinating
to look at, as is a wood door that was used in the church before it became a
stone church, many years ago.
Detail
of an epitafium, dating to late 17th Century, Hedemora Church.
I have a collection of old postcards from the various
parishes my ancestors came from. One of
them is of Höka Torget from before 1907 on a busy market day. It has changed significantly.
Believe
it or not the two photos are of the same area, looking in the same general direction.
Unfortunately I am closer to the chains than the original photo. This is the best scan I have on my
laptop... original card is in Portland.
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