When I think of cities, it’s mostly associated with noise, lots of people, and plenty of traffic. Often a bit chaotic, a bit too much, and somewhat challenging to navigate for extended periods. But here is the city that manages to evoke completely different images. Here is the city that makes me feel calm, light, airy, and cozy.
When I need to get away from home with my family, it’s usually because I’m curious and love experiencing new places around the world. But I don’t always have to travel around the globe to satisfy my curiosity.
Sometimes, some of the best experiences on the planet are right under your nose, in your backyard, or as here – in Gothenburg, just a boat trip from Frederikshavn across the Kattegat.
And what’s not to like when the two people I love most in the world are with me to go on adventures – in both familiar and unfamiliar parts of the world?
What is typical of Gothenburg?
One of the most interesting aspects of adventuring in the world is encountering the difference between what I know and what I am not yet familiar with.
Pippi houses: For example, the houses in Gothenburg are very “Swedish.” Many of them resemble the houses I saw as a child in Astrid Lindgren’s stories. Colored wooden houses with carvings and mullioned windows. But of course, a fine mix of new and old, as in most cities.
Equality
Something else both of us noticed was the many men walking around with baby strollers in the streets. Often accompanied by other fathers – and their children. We also see this in Denmark but somehow it was very noticeable in the street scene compared to what we normally see at home. Sweden has a strong gender equality debate, as we also have at home, but perhaps they are still further ahead than we are?
The sky
Then there’s the light. Gothenburg consists of many large wide streets and boulevards, which provide air and light to the city. Additionally, there are also the many parks and the harbor, which allow space to look up at the sky and for the sun to reach you as you walk around the city.
The flowers
When we were in Gothenburg (in early September), the city was filled with flowers – everywhere. In the parks, on the bridges, on the roads, in the flower boxes, in the windows, in front of the hotels. As if Paris had brought its flowers along and mixed them with the street scene of Gothenburg.
The silence
And then there’s the silence. Indeed, with its nearly 550,000 inhabitants, Gothenburg is a big city, and it can be heard, but it is the quietest big city we – Peter and I – have visited.
Large parts of the car traffic have been replaced by trams, which glide quietly and slowly through the city at a leisurely pace. Instead of revving car engines and honking horns, the trams whisper through the streets, leaving little more than a gentle breeze, abandoned tracks on the road – and the overhead wire mesh.
Haga
We were unaware of the neighborhood when we suddenly found ourselves in the midst of it – Haga. Not to be confused with the park “Haga” in Stockholm. No, the district of Haga is located in Gothenburg and is a must-visit next time you come to the city.
Why? Because Haga has something unique about it. Haga is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Gothenburg, and the pedestrian street is adorned with old, characteristic, and well-preserved wooden houses (what they call “Landshövdingehuse“).
It’s the neighborhood where you’ll find charming vintage shops, cafes, and delicatessens.
Sebastian immediately spotted a proper toy store. You know, the kind we had in the “old days”. A toy store where you could buy all sorts of fun odds and ends that don’t necessarily have a big “brand” behind them.
Here you can find Swedish Dala horses, fun figures from Astrid Lindgren’s characters, beautiful Swedish textiles (not exactly toys, but for sewing for children) with Swedish motifs. And of course, LEGO, which is Sebastian’s big hobby. And yes, they had sets (as always when we’re abroad) that we haven’t seen back home in Denmark yet.
He spent all his pocket money on a LEGO set that he was going to play with when we got back to the hotel.
In Haga, you’ll find several cafes. Here we found one where we could sit outside, in the sun, and enjoy a beer. The café exclusively served organic beer, which just made the whole experience even more enjoyable.
I know, we’re easy. Peter and I. A beer in the sun… our boy with us, each other, and already richer in new adventures.
But what more could one wish for?
