Purple bears... sure baby sure

<---- Pooped on the plane!!

Though we have only been here for two days, it feels like a week has gone by. I cannot believe that this is only part of our 20 day trip through Europe! Right now, we are in Solvesborg, Sweden staying with family. It is so interesting to make the connections and family ties to what I know from home. These people are so wonderful. It has only been two days, and already it feels as if we have known them forever. Jan is my father’s uncle, and Monica is his wife. They are a pair. Jan is the quiet humming type. He is very much a grandfatherly figure. Monica is just beautiful. She is a gorgeous person. Her favorite American words are “Sure, baby, sure,” which sounds like “Shoower baeby shoower,” when she says it. So alive and vibrant… she makes me happy! My dad’s cousins are Chris and Pear. They are Jan and Monica’s sons. Chris has Sarah (18)… she’s a babe. J and Pear has Sophie (17) and Julia (15) who are both very fun. Jourdan and I are staying at Pear and Camilla’s house.

We cannot get away from the States! ----->

Yesterday was a beautiful day. We explored Solvesborg. Jan and Monica took us shopping in the town square and we ate princess cake and Korv med mos. Princess cake is FABULOUS. My dad, when he visited Sweden in his younger years, fell in love with princess torte and now I know why! Korv med mos is a sausage hot dog with mashed potatoes. It was excellent.




<----- Atop the ruins of an ancient castle



Also yesterday, our cousins took us for a walk through the woods near their house. The entire path was wonderful. We joked about purple bears that eat small children, and executions that happen “just around this bend!” I love listening to the girls speak English. I am finding that the more time I spend with them, the more my accent begins to sound Swedish! Even now, while typing, I am having slight difficulty forming my words!





A tulip´s beauty truly captures one´s attention

This morning was lovely. I went out early and took some pictures of nature. I fall more and more in love with close-up photography every time I try it!





<----- Little blue bells!

Aaah, writing these things down is really good for me to organize my thoughts. It is a processing tool for me! I miss everyone back home, but I feel like I could stay in this place forever. I have a feeling that I may not be in the Tri-Cities, or even the United States for much longer.








* Don´t you think daisies are the friendliest flower? *














Inviting benches make their home in every park! ----->


The architecture is stunning. My favorite building materials, stone and stucco, are a staple of Swedish architecture. I love it! They have my favorite terracotta roofs too! Everything is so clean and alive here. The atmosphere is lovely.





In my opinion, the most beautiful home in all that I´ve seen in Solvesborg... Wow, gorgeous. ----->

Today, the family adventured into the shopping markets of the larger city of Kristianstad. What a perfect place! Population-wise, Kristianstad is about the size of Kennewick. The shopping here is excellent. I fear I have been ruined by European clothing. It will be difficult to satisfy me in American Eagle anymore! J I found a lovely rust-colored linen dress, a pair of sunglasses, and a necklace. Again, it is hard to believe that this is only our first stop… and only the second day no less!

<-----Niklas and I with our beers... :) (They´re not really ours... but they could be!)

Peace from the Swedes ----->

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Well then, täk semikä for exploring with me... We will meet again.

- Yessica <><