This weekend marked some of the most adventurous days of my life. Think cliffs, ropes, and a long way down to rocky shores.
Saturday morning, my dear friend Mary Catherine and I woke up bright and early, packed carrot cake muffins for our train breakfast, and were soon on the bus with our DIScovery tour group headed to Sweden for a weekend full of outdoor adventure!
The morning ferry ride across the sea was beautiful. When on a ship, the titanic pose is simply required. And the wind was in our favor…
Saturday morning, my dear friend Mary Catherine and I woke up bright and early, packed carrot cake muffins for our train breakfast, and were soon on the bus with our DIScovery tour group headed to Sweden for a weekend full of outdoor adventure!
The morning ferry ride across the sea was beautiful. When on a ship, the titanic pose is simply required. And the wind was in our favor…
We started our adventuring by climbing into canoes to paddle down the Rönne. Canoeing is one of my all time favorite activities, and I was so excited to experience nature and the peacefulness away from the city. The river was gorgeous. Wild flowers and lush green trees lined the water, and the morning air and sounds were the most relaxing start to the weekend.
Halfway though our paddling, the canoe rental business threw us boat shaped ice cream from a bridge! What’s better than the combination of a canoe AND ice cream?!
After canoeing we headed to our hostel…with should have been called, “The Cutest Place You Could Ever Relax In Sweden,” rather than a “hostel.” Our room was so cozy with the comfiest beds, and natural light from the countryside poured through our window. It was perfect. We were then served the most amazing lunch: vegetarian (so appreciated!) soup with warm bread and cheese. I could probably have that meal every day for the rest of my life.
Soon it was time to head for the forest and embark on our hike to Nimis, the famous driftwood sculptures. The steep and rocky hike was worth every step. Artist Lars Vilks has been hammering away at these driftwood sculptures for 27 years and counting with driftwood, nails and screws. The structures were absolutely breathtaking. It looked like a little tree-house city on the shore. And “city-like” is a quite fitting description of the structures, because it has transformed into a little city of its own. Vilks got in a debacle over whether or not the land he was building on was state-owned and if he had permission to create his art there, so the area was established as a micronation called Ladonia. You can even become a citizen, or pay little price to become nobility!
Though the driftwood looked at if it was simply piled and hammered, we all trusted its strength and climbed to the very tops of the fortresses. This is must-go stop if you ever find yourself in Sweden.
Though the driftwood looked at if it was simply piled and hammered, we all trusted its strength and climbed to the very tops of the fortresses. This is must-go stop if you ever find yourself in Sweden.
We headed back to our hostel and enjoyed the coziest dinner outside on the lawn. The Danish have a word called “hygge” that Americans do not have a direct translation for, but it means the spending time together in coziness and joy. This night was when it truly resonated with me what “hygge” meant and felt like. Mary Catherine, Sarah and I bundled up under a duvet and laughed and dined in the beautiful yard of the Swedish countryside. It was perfect. The night concluded with fireside laughter and stories with my all time favorite dessert- s’mores!
Saturday morning we headed for the cliffs to go repelling. The view was beyond breathtaking. There are no appropriate words or photos to describe it. Standing on top of those cliffs was one of the most beautiful moments I have ever experienced.
Soon it was my turn to lean backwards off of the cliff, step off, and let myself scale down to the rocks.
I. Was. Terrified. This was one of the most exhilarating and scary moments I have ever been through. My hands and ankles were shaking, but I knew that I had to conquer my fear and lean back over the water.
And that ‘s what I did. I DID IT! I slowly released the rope, little by little, and repelled down the beautiful cliff looking out at the sea.
Soon it was my turn to lean backwards off of the cliff, step off, and let myself scale down to the rocks.
I. Was. Terrified. This was one of the most exhilarating and scary moments I have ever been through. My hands and ankles were shaking, but I knew that I had to conquer my fear and lean back over the water.
And that ‘s what I did. I DID IT! I slowly released the rope, little by little, and repelled down the beautiful cliff looking out at the sea.
You could say I felt accomplished…
After repelling we did an orienteering activity around the park and then stopped by the most delicious cake and coffee house on the drive home- the perfect ending to an amazing weekend in Sweden.