Ah, Linköping, 7C-44.6F. Positively balmy. I'm beginning to think the legendary Swedish winter is a story told to keep immigrants away. Our friends assure us otherwise.
Maggan met us at the train station, what a warm reception. We were treated like long lost children. The welcome from Magnus and Simon was no less enthusiastic.
We had fika (the traditional Swedish afternoon break, consisting of coffee and pastry), with espresso from Magnus' amazing machine.
Then took a nice walk through town. The cathedral spires were casting shadows on the clouds, which was really neat. Then we found that the city has a show of lights around the town to celebrate Christmas/winter.
Having elected to eat at home, we settled in to a lovely meal of salmon with saffron cream sauce, and risotto. The Janzon's have a tradition of being excellent cooks. Maggan's mother, Maggan and Linnea, as many of you have tasted!
But first, we started with Glögg, which is the traditional Christmastime drink. It is served warm, and tastes just like mulled wine. Sometimes you can put almonds and raisins in it. Saffron buns are the traditional accompaniment, but we like to drink it straight!
We finished out the evening with stories of what has been going on in each of our lives.
I got up early enough to see Magnus off to work. I woke Julie up a little later. After breakfast, we piloted their new BMW rocket ship into town, to buy the wrong cable for the camera, again. Damn and blast! At least the drive was fun, and we got to explore the Swedish alternative to Fry's, called El Giganten!
Just as we walked into the house, Maggan came home. Plans were quickly made to go to
Flygvapenmuseum (The Swedish Air Force Museum).
We had a nice lunch at the cafe there, before going through the museum.
Aside from the planes, they had a wonderfully insightful exhibit on the cold war, and what it meant for Sweden.
I had never realized what a razor's edge they were balancing on, trying to remain neutral. Not wanting to be swallowed up by the Soviet Union, and remaining on good terms with the USA, so they could have some help if it all went to hell in a hand-basket.
On our way out, the security guard told us to hurry, or we would miss it. Miss what? We went outside just in time to see Swedish Air Force jets flying in formation. Low and slow, they were in the shape of a Christmas tree, on their way back from flying over town!
Then it was time to go to dinner at Mormor och Morfar (Grandma and Grandpa) 's house. We walked over to their huge apartment, and the dinner event began. We started, of course, with Glögg and candies and nuts. Anne-Marie has a beautiful cabinet full of Christmas figures, that she opens when it's time to start the holidays.
Then we sat down to dinner. We had Black Chanterelle mushroom soup that they had foraged in their woods, then Roast Beef with all the fixings, followed by handpicked blueberry crisp...and then of course brandy.
Julie says that the sexiest photos are of men doing dishes, and Roger is no exception! Then we toddled home and went to bed...
