DAY 135 & 136 – Nobel's Blasting Bunkers & Lake Trekanten Swimming

Aug 1 & 2 - Yeah!  We found a host...

It was great finding another host in Stockholm for our lengthy stay in Sweden.  Linne was a 26 (?) year old (or thereabouts) young lady who was in between flat mates and just happened to invite us to stay with her.  She found us from the couch surfing open website.  As of July 31st, the day before, we still didn't know where we were going to be staying, so prayers were answered!

She was staying in a large complex with a beautiful view of the river and the city.

Our room for the next few days...not much furniture until her next flat mate moves in.

But oh - what a view! 

   

See the beautiful river in the background.

This was her cute little balcony/veranda.  She grew flowers & herbs and had a little table.

Everyone in Europe has a white kitchen, don't they?

Her entryway with cute Sweden rug and welcome doiley on the dresser top.

The immaculate bath area.

She made a salad with salmon and potatoes...the BEST dressing, too!

Linne lived on an island close to the city.

Gee - which one is the 20 + yr. old  and which one is the 60 + yr. old?

Isn't she cute with her fashionable bun in her hair?

We were going to play ping-pong, but the place was charging a lot of money to come in, so we opted to just go to a bar and talk and talk.

She has lots of friends - especially guy friends.  what's wrong with that?




 

The harbour is a beautiful sight with the setting sun as a backdrop.

Rich didn't want to go with us girls out for the evening, so he found time to walk around the area and enjoy a beautiful Swedish sunset.

 After seeing these spectacular pictures, I'm a bit envious of the scenery I missed out on as I went to the big city with the young folk.






 It's BEACH TIME in Sweden!  Linne loves to go down to the water - Lake Trekanten and take a dip most every afternoon after her work, so she invited us to join her.  As I am not so comfortable in deep water, especially when it's off the pier, I just sun-bathed on the rocks and watched. 

Ok Rich - last one in is a rotten egg.

Whoah - they are W-A-Y out there.

"Come on in Shari - I'm touching the bottom."  (He was kidding - it's DEEP)

This is fresh water, not even salty and it's not too chilly once you get in.  (At least the Swedes think so).

 Linne went on her way - she had a night class.  We continued to explore the island and found out that Nobel was famous around this area.  Alfred Nobel was on born October 21, 1833, in Stockholm, Sweden. As a young man, he worked at his father's arms factory. Intellectually curious, he went on to experiment with chemistry and explosives. In 1864, a deadly explosion killed his younger brother. Deeply affected, Nobel developed a safer explosive: dynamite. Nobel used his vast fortune to establish the Nobel Prizes.

 We explored several of the blasting bunkers that were in this area that Nobel used to test his dynamite.

  Alfred Nobel bought this whole area of Vinterviken in 1865. Due to safety issues he moved his research lab and his factory (Nitroglycerin Aktiebolaget) from a populated area in Stockholm to Vinterviken which was surrounded by cliffs and was therefore very suitable for the dangerous exploits of Nobel.

 Gradually, Alfred developed the area by constructing a local rail-road, a harbour, testing grounds/tunnels (Nobel's Spränggroparna) for exploring dynamite and also, housing for factory workers. Dynamite used to be manufactured in this area until 1921 but Nobel's factory remained working until the 1980s.

 Dynamite used to be manufactured in this area until 1921 but Nobel's factory remained working until the 1980s.

One of the Nobel factory buildings has become a pleasant banquet hall called"Winterviken".

  Since 1974 Stockholm city owns the Vinterviken region and by renovating this area has converted it from an industrial place to a public recreational area. A major reconstruction in the beginning of the 1990s provided the park with sculptures, walking paths, small gardens, restaurants and a cafe.  In the area are several places to swim among cliffs and pebbled shores. Vinterviken park, also offers boating and canoeing services.
 
We went on the most beautiful walk through some forested areas.  What a beautiful day it was to explore.

Looks like someone made something here.

Housing "Asbudden" - story of 'rags to riches'.

Oh - if these walls could talk of the "olden & poor" days and the changes now.

 Some of our FAVORITE TREATS so far.

I bought this so the grandkids could taste French Marzipan, but I had to try one - oops ALL gone.

Rich liked these inexpensive plain cookies  only about $.70 a package.

I prefer the hearty, nutty and fruity cooky with lots of oats and grains.

 What a great time we had with Linne these two days and such insight to life she has, too.  She was lots of fun and we didn't even feel the 40 years age gap between us.  Tomorrow we'll go with her to celebrate "Gay Pride Days" by going to the parade in downtown Stockholm.  It's very famous, so that should be interesting.