Saturday was suppose to be our day in Sweden. However, it was raining, cold, raining, windy and cold. No one wanted to leave the apartment, and we really did not have the proper clothes to venture into the mist. So, we set Sunday to visit the most southern city in Sweden: Malmö. Malmö is the third largest city in the country (Stockholm and Göteborg are bigger).
We left Denmark in the morning and took a train over the Øresund Bridge across the Øresund Straight, the body of water that separates Denmark and Sweden. The bridge just opened 10 years ago. The only way to get between the two countries prior to the bridge being built was via a ferry. The bridge itself is a fantastic piece of architecture. It is about a 30 minute train ride across the straight- the cars/trains go underwater twice during the journey. They even had to build a man-made island in the middle of the straight to hold-up the very, very long bridge.
Sweden is a nice country with beautiful people (stereotypical blondes!). I told my family, if you see anyone ugly on the street- you know they are a tourist.
We had to stop and get our souvenirs- the “I’ve been to Sweden” stuff. At that point, Lisa and the girls were cold and wanted to go shopping. I on the other hand had castles and museums to see. We decided to split into groups- the only person who chose the history route with me was Ben. I am glad he did- but I am sure I was just the lessor of two evils.
What’s interesting- is that when you take train over the bridge, and not only entering a different country- but one with a different language and a different currency. So all my DKK (Danish Krones) I had were now useless. I had to get SEK (Swedish Krona) and look at signs in another language.
With the different currency comes a different exchange rate. In Denmark- you have to divide all prices by 6 to get them into US dollars. In Sweden, you divide by 7.7. What about the Euro you might ask? Denmark and Sweden (along with the UK) are the three “old EU countries” that have opted out of the Euro.
However, thanks to all the panic and crisis in Greece- everyone is afraid of all of Europe now. So dollar exchange rates are good everywhere. In fact, this is the cheapest I have seen Europe (any currency) in years and years. Thanks Greece!
When you walk into the Malmö City Center you see the hero of the area: King Charles X Gustav. He was the Swedish King that liberated that part of Sweden from the Danes. From the age of Vikings- the different countries of Scandinavia have fought and conquered each other. Interestingly, after Charles X got Sweden back for the Swedes- he then traveled across the Baltic and beat up on the Poles for about 10 years (but who hasn’t). He made it all the way down to Krakow. Sweden controlled the area we live in during that period.
Ben and I visited the Malmö Castle, originally built by the Danes (either a Frederick or a Christian). Then claimed by Charles X and his decedents. It was a nice place, albeit typical castle. Lot of stuff on the Vikings, the Danes and the Swedes. Malmö goes back to the Viking age.
They had an interesting and unexpected exhibit- on Nelson Mandela. An entire wing of the castle was a traveling exhibit from South Africa on Mandela and Apartheid. They had “whites-only” benches, and a replica of the cell that Mandela lived in for 27 years. So, Ben got a little added history in his outing. Also, as soon as I told him this is the country where the World Cup is being played- he quickly got interested.
After a rather short day, we found the rest of the family and headed back to Gdansk. It is a very short flight, directly across the Baltic Sea. 40 minutes, but 95% of it over water.
We landed about 7pm in yet another language and with another currency. Now my newly obtained SEKs were useless.
So we had breakfast in Denmark, lunch in Sweden and dinner in Poland!
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