Gothenburg, Sweden

Gothenburg is Sweden’s second biggest city on the Göta älv River and is the capital of the Västra Götaland county; it is in this county that we will be spending our time here in Sweden. It is the home to Volvo.

It’s a longish walk to our hotel from the station - we have travelled non-stop since leaving Albury on Sunday at 6:45 am and it is now 1:30 pm Monday here in Sweden (equivalent to 9:30 pm Australian time) so we have been travelling almost 39 hours - and there has been a lot of sitting!!

We can’t check-in as, although the room is ready, because we’d nominated a 3 pm check-in time on Booking.com and it is now (only!) 2 pm, we can only access the room if we pay 150 kroners extra … go figure. We don’t.

We put the luggage in storage and set off - we have just a few things on the 'list' and the hotel is conveniently located near the river so the walk alongside it is very pleasant. The sun comes out more vigorously and it is quite hot. I am experiencing my usual post-flight-brain-fatigue syndrome so end up spending the rest of the day dragging around my big puffer jacket and forget to take sunglasses and hat. By the time we have walked halfway through the river area, I am already regretting my choices but I’m not walking back to the hotel to undo my 'brain-snap'.

There are some lovely buildings. And the waterfront is quite picturesque with boats moored and people walking, cycling, scootering (that is so ‘de rigeur’ here).

We find Brogyllen Hamngatan located near one of the city's canals and enjoy a cinnamon bun each (a Swedish delight). Tick.

Next we walk to the Haga area through lovely parks, ducking the cyclists and scooterists flying through on the many bike paths. The Haga quarter (dating back to 1648) is characterised by its charming old wooden workers' houses and brick-patterned buildings, cobblestoned streets and cafes selling cakes, biscuits and … cinnamon buns (there are dinnerplate-sized ones along the well-trodden main Haga Nygata Street). Shops sell anything from antiques, handicrafts, jewellery and hats to ...clogs(?).

We find Lakritsroten and buy some licorice. Tick, tick. 'Lakrits' is the word for licorice in Sweden and fun fact: Nordic countries consume 80-90% of the world's production of licorice!

We wander some more, visiting churches, climbing up steep hills, admiring gorgeous floral displays.

And - finally (!) - we arrive at Manfred’s Brasserie for dinner. The food is wonderful, the veal just delicious; MF has the signature dish: the schnitzel. Tick, tick, tick.

It’s a long walk back to the hotel. The shadows are lengthening and the late afternoon sunshine becomes golden. The temperature is lovely and we enjoy the last warmth of the day, walking back along the waterfront (past the old customs house Stora Tullhuset dating 1867 - also on my ‘list’ for today …) - although our feet are very weary.

Early night. Room is lovely. Beautiful sunset and still very light after 10 pm. Walked 14.2 kms.