Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden. During this month-long trip I watched Stockholm go from frozen in ice to blooming with flowers.

The historic waterfront districts are interesting and entertaining places in any kind of weather.

Stockholm. It takes some serious cold to make sea-ice. They get it in February.

Gamla Stan, Stockholm. Just one of many-many scenic and historic churches in the old quarter. The open spire is a common sight here; I'm not sure if churches are built this way to deal with the fierce arctic winds, or if it's just another example of innovative Scandinavian Design?

Jamtland, Sweden. When Swedes aren't too busy building quality furniture at affordable prices, they love outdoor sports. Hiking etc in the summer, skiing in the winter. Which they pronounce "shee-ing", by the way. No skit!

Both photos are from the top of Are (pronounced Ore-aay) ski resort, near the Sweden / Norway border. This place seemed like the favorite ski resort for most Swedes.

Froson, Sweden. An appropriate name for this place. This is the beginning (or end, depending on your direction) of a 50-kilometer plowed ice trail across huge Lake Storsjon in central Sweden. Always let somebody heavier go first!

Bjornen, Sweden. The Are ski resort area has several cross-country ski centers; Bjornen is the largest and most popular. The groomed tracks run through miles of rolling forest, with a few reindeer and other hardy creatures hiding here and there.

Sky-girl. She was sitting in the mountaintop restaurant at the Are ski resort. The clouds reflected in the window made this the kind of artsy photo that I like.

Are, Sweden. Take the free funicular up from the ski village to the luxurious Hotel Fjallgarden for some fantastic views.

Stockholm, Sweden. I am not normally a museum kind of guy. But I am a nautical kind of guy so I ducked into the Vasa Museum along the Stockholm waterfront to check out the excavated and restored wreck of the Vasa, former flagship of the Swedish Navy. Sunk in 1628 mainly by poor planning, it sat on the harbor bottom less than a mile from here, for nearly 400 years. "Found" again in the 1960's, it was first explored by divers, found to be in incredibly good shape, then carefully salvaged and put on display. Mainly because of the cold water, it is one of the best-preserved large wooden ships in the world. In the foreground is a model of the ship, complete with paint and sails. Behind it is the real thing.

Salen, Sweden. A surreal 360-degree halo around the sun, seen from the top ski lift at Salen. It's either ice crystals in the upper atmosphere or possibly some kind of Nordic omen. Later that night I finally got to see the northern lights so I'll go with "omen".