We had a great ten days in Sweden with our friends from Singapore - the Spandaus and the Randall-Whites. We spent a couple days in Stockholm and the rest in the Dalarna area, which is largely countryside, farmland and lakes. The weather was quite cold and we got some rain, but luckily we were still able to do all the things we wanted, and adults and kids both had a great time.
One day we went to a kids´ funpark where Santa has his holiday home. There was lots to do and a show to watch, plus a visit from Santa of course. The scenery here and all around Dalarna is beautiful.
The kids travelled by dad-powered wagons around the site
Bumper boats, bouncey-castle and more
Another day we took a person-powered, train-bike tour through the forest. It was a great experience, though it was very cold for the passengers and we were all glad to finally find a good spot for our picnic
The bigger boys enjoyed toasting some bread
´´Oi, you´re burning my toast!´´
´
Rupert and Bev with Blake
Dietrich and Charlotte
The boys were keen to go fishing and spent some hopeful time with sticks in the water. Unfortunately the local fish weren`t interested in their baitless fishing strategy
We stayed in a place with a main lodge and several small self-contained cabins of various sizes. Each family had their own cabin but they all looked out onto a common grassed area where the kids could play. You could choose to have meals in the lodge or cook your own. We did a mix of both.
In the evenings, the adults got together and played the card game Uno, and a game called `werewolf´- it was loads of fun and great to be able to have some kid-free time without having to sort out babysitters!
We visited an animal park where animals live in very large open spaces - as close as you can get to a good life in a zoo-type situation
It was a huge park where we saw bears, lions, leopards, wolves and polar bears, all in nature-like enclosures.
Then we had a very nice lunch in a nearby cafe
The kids enjoyed our outings but they were also happy just hanging out in the cabin park, playing in the gravel...
...following the dog
And being chased and tickled - there was lots of chasing going on over the week, with most of the adults chipping in for the chasing.
We checked out the closest town - Mora- where there is a lovely lake area and a few things to keep the kids interested
This is a Dalarna horse, a key symbol of Sweden. We took a trip to the factory where they are made and the big boys got to paint one of their own.
A barrow full of boisterous boys
A boat trip on the nearby lake
And then to Stockholm, a beautiful city. Especially the old part of town. We wished we´d had a little longer there.
The view from our hotel room
The view inside the hotel room
Some sights around town
´´Hey dad, what´s that?´´
OMG! Not sure which is more disturbing - the boat or the captain!
The old town
The boys go nuts in the piazza!
Aw, quick stop for a cuddle!
Then a delcious dinner
