After Germany, we drove through Denmark on our way to Sweden. We saw beautiful bridges, seas, and fields full of rapeseed flowers along the drive. These agriculture fields produce rapeseed oil, turning the region into the Swedish flag every spring and early summer. The yellow fields usually bloom around May.
We used Gothenburg, Sweden, as our base and rented an AirBnB nearby. We explored Gothenburg and visited the gorgeous gardens of the local Horticultural Society. Created in 1842 by Charles XIV John, King of Sweden and Norway, the Garden Society of Gothenburg is the most preserved 19th-century garden in all of Europe. The park includes a Michelin star rose garden, a 19th-century palm house, and other exotic flower greenhouses. Along the way, we took a break at a lovely cafe and tried some delightful Swedish pastries! Several canals run through the city, providing some fantastic photo opportunities as we walked around. After our trek through the town, we discovered an excellent Swedish restaurant specializing in seafood by accident.
The next day, we took a trip to the southern islands of the Gothenburg archipelago, a grouping of a dozen car-free islands. Public passenger ferries join the islands together and provide regular service to the mainland. We decided to visit Vrångö, the southern-most island, on a sunny Sunday. After exploring the shoreline, we hiked to a nearby restaurant and ate some delicious local smoked mussels and fish.
We enjoyed exploring Gothenburg's city streets too. In terms of Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden), Gothenburg is the 5th largest city. Gothenburg was created as a dutch trading colony by the Swedish royal charter in 1621 and settled by Scotts and Germans. We appreciated learning some of the histories of the area. Over the last few centuries, this region has changed hands between Sweden and Norway. After talking to an older local, we discovered that the creek directly behind our apartment was once the border between Sweden and Norway! During the week, we also explored Norway, which we have detailed in a separate post so be sure to check it out!
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