The final leg of my family's Scandanavia tour was a four day trip to Copenhagen, Denmark and Skåne (skoa-neh), Sweden.  Copenhagen is influenced by Europe and Scandanavia.  Skåne, the southern province of Sweden, is now connected to Copenhagen via a bridge.  It was once a part of Denmark, so many people consider themselves "Swedish speaking Danes".  The countries are strongly linked; a Danish member of my lab was able to come in and speak Swedish right away. 

We spent enough time in Copenhagen to converse with Danes, watch political demonstrations, peruse through crystal and sweater shops, and absorb the gorgeous sights of the spires and canals.  Here is Nyhavn (new-hahbin), which means new harbor.  It is the main part of the original 12th century Haven Harbor.  Now, people flock here to recreate during the good weather. 

The rest of the time was (thankfully) spent in Skåne.  We were fortunate that family friends Leif, Birgitta and Annika showed us around!  They showed us the remote places so we could see what southern Sweden is really like.   This restaurant in Kivik (shivik) was once a home, and its hosts prepare pastries and coffee up from the basement. 

The Lund Domkyrka (cathedral) is the premier showcase of Nordic Romanesque architecture.  It was inaugerated in the 12th century and has been modified many times, so there are many interesting stories!  Legend has it, the townsfolk had until the completion of the cathedral to find out the name of the local giant, or he would tear the church down.  Just as he grabbed a pillar to do so, he froze.  The church was saved from the six foot giant!  This one of many giant and troll legends coming from the area. 

A burial ground?  A clock?  A place of worship?  Ales Stenar, on the southern coast, consists of 58 standing and one horizontal stone-- in the shape of a Viking ship.  Ales Stenar was built 1000-1500 years ago.  It's a windy place with a great ocean/land view and forms one of great archeological mysteries.

Annika and Birgitta enlightening us on one of the world's only blocks lined by traditional Scandavian homes. 

For some people Valborg, the Coming of Spring celebration, begins with pickled herrings and champaigne, continues with a picnic, and ends with bonfires such as this. 

The Glimmingehus fortress was built 500 years ago and amazingly still stands, thanks to its imposing canal, arrow and cannon holes, prisoner rooms and hill.

My home and work place... With my family in town I had the opportunity to show them where and how I live and work.  And they took pictures for me to show you! 

Many evenings we walked to Lake Malaren because it's just down the street-- or just up the street!  How's this?  Well, the lake is shaped somewhat like a hand.    The two best times for walks to the lake are sunset and when it's foggy. 

Here's where I go to work everyday.  The blue-lit staircase (maybe hard to see) is especially nice during those long winter nights. 

Welcome to my lab!  This is where I am setting up a research station and conducting research. 

The workings of the laminar flow culture hood... To be honest, it was fun showing off where I worked to my family because they asked great questions and now understand my project.  If you're curious about what I do, just ask them! 

Dinner with lab director Mats and his wife Violeta.  We all tried to stay behaved just like their daughter Sabrina! 

My family came up from Portland for a ten day visit!  We took a ferry trip to Helsinki, Finland and they have done some Stockholm sightseeing... These pictures are from the Finland trip, which was two days long with 7 hours in Finland.  It has been great to spend time with my family course and they have even given me many pointers on places to see and shop!   

This is view was like during the ferry trip to Helsinki...

Helsinki's Uppensky (Lutheran) Cathedral.  It is a central meeting place, and many finns are sunbathing and eating ice cream in full clothing out front!  Ironically, Sweden has the highest per-capita consumption of ice cream in the world and I'm sure Finland is not far behind. 

This is the Upsenski Cathedral, designed by a St Petersburg, Russia architect.  It is Russian Orthodox.

This is the Tempeliaukio church, the Church in the Rock-- by far our favorite church in Helsinki.  Difficult to find because it barely emerges from the ground.  External sounds are quiet.  Natural feel gives it spiritual feel.  We were fortunate enough to take part in a service.  The service constited predominantly of music and the acoustics were amazing!  Excavations for the building started in 1939, but construction didn't begin for another 28 years!  Then whne it did begin, the interior had to be reduced by 4000 square meters due to economic reasons.     

Goodbye Finland!

The Nordic Sun illuminates the water and melts the snow.     

It's inexpensive these days to fly within Europe and I took advantage this weekend.  I loved Paris!  The weather was beautiful and it was a fun city for both learning and doing nothing.  Learning because of the amazing buildings from many time periods, art galleries and being around locals and tourists.  Relaxing because of the beautiful views, crepes with nutella and open faced cheese sandwiches!  Here's some pictures...

Place des Vosgues, where the aristocrats used to live...

Musee de Orsay, once a train station, now an art museum...

The Seine River splits up in two sections, winding through town.  Go there in the morning and have it to yourself...

Paris, for its dazzling women...

And dazzling train stations... Awesome! 

Judgement day (back entrance to Palace of Notre Dame).  I especially liked the human-like devil people pulling people to the right...

Courtyard of the Louvre...

And of course, the Eiffel Tower.

Here's some random photos taken in Stockholm... It's a beautiful city, especially this weekend when the snow had melted off and you could sometimes see the reflection of the buildings on the water.  And the lifting of the snow revealed the rocks, benches, garbage, shrubs and grass on the ground that I never knew existed.  But then again, it snowed last night so there goes that 'It's springtime and Stockholm's beautiful' thought. 

Just south of downtown (if you call it that) there's a bunch of small islands surrounded by water everywhere.  Here's an example of one of these islands across the bridge and a building most likely from the 18th or 19th century.  The best Postcard of stockholm are about 12 inches long, 3 inches high and incorporate buildings+water like this.  You get the idea.

This is at the bus stop in Sankt Eriksplan, a seven minute walk from work...

I don't remember what this is

This is definitely downtown, as evidenced by the modern buildings and hoards of shoppers.  Usually you don't see this many people at one spot in Stockholm. 

Also downtown...

Downtown.  The 'T' sign near the lower left means Tunnelbana.  There's one near the lower right as well to the left of the Duka sign.  The Tunnelbana has a life of it's own.  Briefly: it's warm down there (very important!), it runs all over the city, it brings many people together--> people watching and seeing how people interact... (maybe I'll take a picture of people playing games on their Nokia and Ericsson phones)  It symbolizes many good things: the practical mindedness of the swedish people, effective use of taxes, and environmentally conscious thinking. Then the story behind it's erection is compelling: Alfred Nobel was awarded the Nobel Prize for inventing dynamite, dynamite led to the T.  And all this happened during Sweden's prosperous WWII and post WWII neutrality. 

Also, they say the T has the longest (I believe) collection of artwork in the world.  Anyway, it is neat so here's some pictures.  There's some better ones that were tough to take photos of because they're not as bright as these tiled pictures.