We have been in Goteborg (pronounced ‘Yoot-a-bory’) here on the west coast of Sweden for a month now. It is a beautiful city and a beautiful country. Many things stand out in my mind that I especially like.
Many people of all ages walk and ride bikes — not for exercise but to get from place to place. From the windows of the Center we can watch them go down the Vasagatan — the road in front of the center. In the middle of the road is a special lane for walkers and bike riders. It is wider than either of the other two lanes — which are shared by buses, trams and cars! — and is complete with lines and arrows for organized travel. We have seen little people who still have the training wheels on their bikes, college-age youth who zoom by on racing type bikes, workers who are wearing suits and ties, women in skirts (very short), and gray haired people slowly pedaling who knows where. Walkers include families, youth on their way to the park, lovers on their way to one of the many night clubs in the area, shoppers with several bags of goodies, and grandparents trying to keep up with their grandchildren. The walking and biking lanes are everywhere. There is even one that goes from out by our apartment into town. Many of the YSA ride in to the activities and to work.
Trams and buses go everywhere at all times and are usually filled to capacity, with many riders standing in the aisles. the YSA say that if you miss your tram another will be by in 10 minutes. It is very difficult to get a drivers license in Sweden and many of the youth do not have one. Licenses are expensive and you have to be at least 18 to get one. The trams wait for no one and the buses have special lanes on the larger roads. We have both a tram stop and a bus stop near our apartment and there are always people waiting at both. When you ask someone how to get someplace they answer “take sparvagn __ and get off at ______.” (pronounced ‘sporvahn’ and meaning tram)
The place is GREEN. Trees grow everywhere and the lawns are always green and every balcony on every apartments has flower pots full of blooming flowers (except ours!). Wild flowers grow beside the roads. The bushes grow like weeds. When they mow they go around any flower growing in the lawn (even dandelions). I have been told that it is against the law to water the lawn — and I’ve never seen a sprinkler. It’s OK to water the flowers but not the bushes.
This is the cleanest big city I’ve ever seen. Rarely have I seen a piece of litter. Yards are free of clutter and full of bushes and flowers. Garbage cans are inside little buildings or special rooms of big buildings. There are even several construction sites in our neighborhood that are totally picked up all the time. There are small litter bins on the roads that every one uses as they walk by.
Several things I’m not quite sure about:
Walkers and bikers are everywhere — in the road, beside the road. You never know when one will decide to leave the sidewalk and cross the street. Driving is a constant worry for bikers and walkers.
Grocery stores do not give you a bag to carry away your purchases. You either have to bring several from home or pay for what you need.
The place is GREEN. Because every other day it rains. Not a quick cloud up and dump then go away rain but a be cloudy all day and alternately drizzle, pour buckets, drizzle, pour buckets all day or all night. Then on the not rainy days it is hot with 98% humidity!
The round-abouts are huge and the cars whiz around them like race cars. If you aren’t in the correct lane you go around again until you can work your way into the correct lane. Dad and I sing “one more time around Picadilly circus” quite often!
I’m sure as we live here longer we will find other things we love about the place, and I hope some of the things I’m not sure about will become things I like.
Joan Keller
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So wonderful to know about your blog. It was very exciting and interesting to read. My next door neighbor has a son on a mission in Sweden. But I do not know the details of where yet as she is a new neighbor. I will continue to read this blog because it is fun to hear what you are doing! One question. They consider flowers and rocks more important than grass but is it soft grass or the crabby kind?
Robert
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Glad you like it. The grass is really soft and nice. It is a very green country with grass everywhere. Let me know your neighbor’s son’s name. He might be here!
Have a great day.