Leksand

The may-poles and red houses, so typical in sweden
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Leksand was all we had hoped for and much much more. After a 30 minute walk form the train station with our over-sized backpacks, we finally found someone to ask for directions and realised we were 500 feet from the Hostel. The hamlet where the hostel was is composed of small red houses built around a may-pole (the story behind these being that they are built wherever 3 roads intersect and a settlement developed). The town of Leksand showed signs of being a rather popular place during peak tourist season, but was pleasently calm during our stay.  We had the feeling of having stepped out of an international hub into what I would call "real" sweden. The "real" sweden had many more beautiful men than stockholm ever did, something which seemed impossible. The hostel was obviously set up to accomodate Swedish guests as was the village, which was quite easily accessible by bicycle (which you could rent at the hostel by the day).

the wonders of the swedish country-side
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For our first activity in the area we decided to take a "hike" which turnedout to be much more of a nature walk around a local lake known for it's bird-watching towers. The walk was easy and pleasant and took us through many different types of vegetation ranging from birch-forests to marshes and more conventionnal forests. Passing the golf course was the biggest downfall although finding golf-balls and placing them in conspicuous places did provide some entertainement. We returned to the Hostel satisfied and hungry, decided on fixing our own meal. The kitchen was impeccable and well equipped and the grocery stores well stoked with fresh vegetables and produce.

graduates '06 our celebrating in the streets
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The following day we decided to rent a small row-boat form some man one village down. This turne dout to be quite an adventure as the man had "everything" and I would believe it. He showed us the contents of two barns that were full of brik-a-brak and random things, and we rented a 30year old row boat for the afternoon. This took us on a pleasant trip upstream until my friend broke the oar-fork rnedering us quite lopsided. we decided that about then was the right time to drift downstream to where the boat had been moored, return to our hostel and call it a day. After returning the boat I bought a wonderful knife from the man with "everything" which was made in a factory in which he used to work, situated in a local town. We then went on a quest for the perfect rug and wooden horse. I forgot to mention that Dalarnas is the region of Sweden where the famous wooden horses (those pretty red ones with intricate paint designs) are originated from and made. We never did find reasonably priced rugs, but found wool which satisified my knitting friend just about as much.

leaving sweden
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Upon returning to our cabin we sat on the portch and I with my new knife whittled away at a piece of wood and she knitting found the situation rather humorous and decided that we were a married couple of 40 my name being Hans and hers Olga (why i was the man i dont know, maybe the carving gave it away).

On the day of our departure from Leksand, we were both sad and relieved, I do not think we would have enjoyed another day there yet the time we had spend there had been wonderful. Upon returning to stockholm we discovered that it was graduation day and all the seniors of '06 were in the streets celebrating! (we are also seniors of '06 but had not graduated yet) So our shopping day was slowed by mobs of swedes wearing white driving through the main traffic circle partying, what fun. As it was also our last night in Sweden we had been planning on going out and were even more interested upon seeing the crowds of graduates. We met with some family friends of my travelling companion and they tok us to a charming little bar in the rich part of town, before leaving us at the door of an exclusive club we had just gotten into. It was nice to have people to talk to and to share stories with and we were very glad for their tips. That night we managed to gain access to two of the most exclusive clubs of Stockholm, something quite amazing. When we finally left the loud music and dancing the sun had already risen and we mad eour way back to the hostel in the daylight. after sitting in a common room drinking (free!) coffee and tea until it was a reasonable hour, we collected our belonging and mad eour way to the airport, leaving behind us the wonderful experience of Sweden, and promising to return soon.