Everyone’s comforting pat on my back assured me that in Sweden, English was a major second language. And that’s pretty much true. Ahhh… but to actually get around by car in Sweden you have to instinctively learn by experience as you spin through their world of roundabouts while reading road signs at the same time as you weave thru crisscrossing and merging traffic. Did I mention most of the signs regulating and informing drivers are in pictures?
(Of course, it has been observed [as in most countries] there is always the local isolated non-conformist who chooses his own mode of operatum…regardless of the current status quo…)
I had always heard you took your life in your hands driving in Sweden because everyone wanted to get where they were going before you did. That, actually, is not true. The reality is: there are speed limits…and traffic cameras to be sure whoever is at the wheel thinks carefully before pressing the pedal to the metal. And the fines for speeding are stiff!
In the past many roads inside the cities were constructed by cobble stoning over paths that have been in existence for hundreds of years. Even today this method is used whether for foot traffic or even roads for cars. These thoroughfares take you in and around locations to get you to where you want to be. You are more likely to see the name of the street you are looking for affixed on the corner of buildings. The charm of most cities as in Karlskrona is their architectural heirloom structures still in use and distinguished by their ‘style’ to reveal their age. It is like taking a walking history tour whichever direction you choose to go.
We really appreciate our GPS…there are so many places that are located on little islands that you unknowingly find yourself crossing over looking for an address. Lately many of the waterways have partially become iced over and instead of the ducks swimming happily in the chilly deep you see them congregating together in groups walking and hanging around on top of the ice with seemingly nothing on their agenda to do for the day. They don’t seem to mind the freezing cold at all – it’s just like another day as a bird to them.
One cold but sunny afternoon we were down at the watering hole with a bunch of the locals. Nice friendly group – invited us in for a swim…We passed on the offer.
Past and/or Present…the unlocked door of opportunity and discovery for both the past and present is a gift. What is it that leads us to explore or compels us to seek and learn about who we are? Good question. Maybe it’s not so much the searching but the joy of discovering how unique we are. And actually finding how much we all have in common.
As life has been handed down to each of us from generation to generation we have adapted to and more often adopted the attributes and results of the experiences of our ancestors. It’s pretty much a given that something about them influences your life today. Maybe it was a personal trait like curly hair or freckles…or maybe a character trait that for whatever reason you are proud to have inherited. There is a lot you can find out about yourself as you learn about your family members from the present or in the past. Make friends with them, learn about them, and discover yourself. What traits will you be passing on? Now that’s a great question.
