Göteborg, Västra Götaland

One of the Swedish Natives

Okay, this has got to stop!  All my friends (and family!) seem to be going to these fabulous and fun places instead of me.  I was particularly jealous of Mark's recent business trip to Göteborg, Sweden, as I am Scandinavian and that says "home" to me.  Göteborg is known in English as Gothenburg. How it becomes Gothenburg in English is beyond me, but that's what it is. It's in the middle of the west coast of Sweden.

It's been many years since I've been to Goteborg myself.  I'm surprised it hasn't changed much since then!

Mark claims they took a "short walk" from their hotel and passed three 7-Eleven marts, two McDonald's restaurants, and a Burger King.  Okay, that part has changed.  Maybe not exactly for the better, either.  But that's progress for you!

This is a photo of one of the more picturesque 7-Elevens.

This street scene looks remarkably like any Norwegian town to me.  It's also apparently a "walking street" with  no cars allowed.  Don't you love the cobbled streets?

This sign was on the door of the unisex bathroom at a Goteborg restaurant.

I hope the above sign doesn't offend you.  Similar signs are on many restrooms all over Scandinavia, including many home bathrooms.  Scandinavians tend to have a more relaxed view of the human body and its functions than most Americans do.  We probably have the Puritans to thank for that.  Not that it's a bad thing.

I know I'm partial, but I think food throughout Norway, Sweden and Denmark is some of the best in the world.  Even when they are preparing Western American classics such as steak and fries.

The Rib-Eye meal (see menu below)

Is that the calorie count next to the item on the menu?  Nope.  That's the cost.  'KR 370'.  And yes, 370 Swedish Krona is a lot of money for a meal.  That's about $53 U.S.

Looks yummy!

I think this is sausages, potatoes and mustard AKA polser med sennep

Fish and potatoes with mayonnaise and a "mini-Sebastian"
(Disney fans don't be hatin'.  I'm just repeating what the man said)

Prawns and potato square meal

According to Mark, the food was great.  It looks pretty great.


Hungry yet?

The boat tour runs into a low bridge

Tourists can do a tour of the city on board a tourist boat.  However, some of the bridges (see above) are so low, you have to duck or be decapitated.

Picturesque stone jetty with grafitti

What a beautiful Park area along the canal!

This bridge reminds me of Paris

The Goteborg fish market 

The fish market is jokingly referred to as the Fish Church, because of its architecture.  "In Cod We Trust", the tourist guide quipped.

Astrid and Lars waiting for the tourist boat to dock.
(Just kidding.)

The Opera House

Guess what?  They also have a Hard Rock cafe

I understand the lady at the Hard Rock asked my friend, a native Californian, whether he was happy that he could speak English without an accent.  I suppose the British would take issue with that, but I believe she was referring to the accent of Hollywood's American Movie type of English.


Or something.


These foreigners.  I'd be happy to speak Swedish without a Norwegian accent.  But that's another story entirely.

The clock tower in Scenic Downtown Goteborg

According to Mark, this must be where they manufacture all those gorgeous Swedes

I don't think all of those gorgeous Swedes are manufactured there, Mark... my beautiful sister-in-law was manufactured in Eskilstuna...

Goteri - Goodies

I should have reminded Mark to buy me some marzipan and lakris (licorice) while he was there!  Oh yum!  Maybe he picked up some "Skum Bananer" (chocolate covered marshmallow bananas), though.  What do you think?

Sunlight in the park

Bocce ball players on the strand

According to the tourist guide, this building (above) was intended to be circular, to keep away demons.  However, they ran out of money for the original plan and had to square it off to finish it.

Mark's comment was, "at least you'd know from what side the demons would attack from".

Good to know.

Goteborg Havn, or Harbor

This tall-masted ship hasn't been able to leave the harbor since a 1960s building program of low bridges trapped it right where it is.  It is now a popular restaurant.

The harbor and a statue to the man who stole fire from the gods

The Prometheus statue is one of the more modern art statues in Gothenburg.  The triangular stone hat represents his punishment from the gods for his audacity.  Okay, whatever, it's bizarre.

It's (as my friends say) an ART.

A closer view of the  Prometheus statue from the land side 

The view from the hotel

The above photo was taken from Mark's hotel room at 10:20 p.m.  It's hard to forget you are in the land of the midnight sun when you are there, even as far south as Goteborg is!

Another "Midnight Sun" photo (10:30 p.m.)

Well, that concludes our mini-vacation to Sweden's west coast.  Hope you enjoyed it.

I did.

Even if I'm pea green with envy yet again.  Sigh.

Thanks for sharing your photos, Mark!