Life at 59 Degrees North

Didn't know that it would be such fun to be a volunteer!

This photo was taken on 13 Sept.

This is the view of Stockholm you get from the place where I work as a volunteer on Wednesdays - The House of Photography - here I am once again feeding my face but you can also get some idea of what Stockholm looks like. The weather is still great. More later.

Time to look forward to 21 December...

These experiences, from among others out in the Stockholm archipelago, Ålö (Eel Island) will make it possible to deal with darkness at 3:30 and daylight beginning a 9 AM - Now it's time to look forward to 21 December - winter solstice - the start of a new cycle of long days and short nights.

Life is cyclical at 59 Degrees north...you have to plan ahead...

With summer vacation over, it's time to start planning for the next holiday period - Christmas. After taking a boat, this is the place where, at noon, we'll be eating "Julbord" on 10 December - that's Swedish equivalent of Christmas dinner. This place is on Sandhamn. In Sweden you are constantly planning for the next major event so reserving a table so far in advance is not an unusual thing here.

On 10 December, it will be dark by 3:30 in the afternoon. All the food offered at this Christmas smorgasbord is centered on what you can get from a sweet little pig - the starters are what you can get from the sea - and the whole thing ends with rice pudding!

More Sandhamn...the last of summer at 59 Degrees north

Catching the last of the summer rays...

The world's (?) biggest sunflower!

Coming into Sandhamn harbor.

Heading for the "cozy" days when no one can see if you dusted...

We heading for the "cozy" days period - that is to say from now until April - short days and long nights but there was still time for Neil and me to make one more sojourn out to the archipelago. This time to Sandhamn (Sand harbor)

I was wrong - summer wasn't over yet...

18 August - sun shining in a clear blue sky - time for a trip to Ålö - Eel Island.

A dream place for us - smoked salmon, delicious potato salad and a nice cold glass of white wine.

"Here's to all my friends" says Neil

A view of the restuarant from the boat.

From Möja you can paddle all over the archipelago

School started today in Stockholm - 21 August. All public transport has gone over to their WINTER timetables! Ugggh....

Summer sights from Stockholm's archipelago....

None of these places is more than
about 2 hours away from the center of Stockholm...yes, it was a wonderful summer.

Möja, Nämdö, Finnhamn, Ornö, Öregrund, Värmdö...- the list is endless and all can be reached by regular service boats daily. No need to drive or own a boat yourself.