After a long few weeks of intensive studying it was time for a break. Sometimes you just need to stop thinking about classes and assignments and get out of the city to clear your head.
The four of us and our rental!
And so we did. A few of my friends and myself decided to go on a road trip. After finding a cheap 24 hour rental it was decided, we were to hit the road!
Not much planning was needed. We decided to get in the car and drive, stopping wherever seemed interesting. Our destination: the coast.
And so we hit the road!
Trying on some Chinese outfits in the Dragon Gate.
The Dragon Gate
We were driving only about an hour when we came across the strangest, what looked like, Chinese fortress. Being the curious people we are we decided to stop in for a look. It turns out the building was a center for Swedish-Chinese business and culture. It is made up of a hotel, tea house, kung-fu school and restaurant. While billions of Euros have been put into the project, the current state was fairly run-down. However, the detail in the architecture and building materials shipped from China was amazing. Of course, the visit wasn’t complete without trying on some traditional Chinese dress and enjoying a cup of tea.
Älvkarleby
On the road again we decided to head for the center of Älvkarleby. The area is mostly known for it’s recreational fishing and huge hydro-electric dams. The views of the water were spectacular and the locals gave great tips for touring around, including a superb fresh pizza lunch.
A fika break by the coast in Utvalnäs.
Utvalnäs & Bönan
We had heard about a great fish smoke house in Utvalnäs so we were off to try some of the best. However, after arriving we found out that it hadn’t opened yet for the season. A little disappointed but being by the coast, we decided to pull out some fika we had brought and enjoy the sunshine. Some hot coffee and kanelbullar on the rocks by the sea, sitting in the sunshine made for the perfect afternoon stop.
The burial mounds of Gamla Uppsala.
Gävle
Continuing on we decided to check out Gävle. A quick trip around the old town and the castle was nice; but being outside in the cold wind for so long took a toll on all of us. So we decided to find refuge in a coffee shop to enjoy yet another fika (seriously, there can never be too many).
Gamla Uppsala
A nice spring sunset in the background was the perfect setting for the drive home. A quick stop in Gamla Uppsala to see the famous burial mounds was the perfect ending to a long day on the road.
Lots of fresh air, sunshine and beautiful views of the coast resulted in the perfect day and road trip.
A beautiful view of the coast!
