Europe

A 39-day adventure by Melissa Read more

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Trip start
December 17, 2017
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Day 2
Monday, December 18, 2017 at 9:42 AM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Australia Alexandra Canal -33.937077, 151.16862533°56’13” S 151°10’7” E
Sydney Airport!
December 18, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Catching up with Steve, Lisa, Ollie, Grant, Sal and Zac!
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Day 2
Monday, December 18, 2017 at 8:50 PM
🌙 4 °C
Altitude: 31 m
China Shanghai Pudong International Airport 31.146286, 121.79903131°8’47” N 121°47’57” E
Shanghai Airport
December 18, 2017 in China ⋅ 🌙 4 °C
Bumped into my ‘Aunty’ Na, Chris and Audrey on the plane and they’re also on the same plane to Paris with me!
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Day 3
Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 2:29 PM
🌫 3 °C
Altitude: 101 m
France Place du Tertre 48.886684, 2.34727348°53’12” N 2°20’50” E
Paris Layover: Ça caille (it's freezing)
December 19, 2017 in France ⋅ 🌫 3 °C
I got into Paris at 630am after only about 3 hours sleep. With 13 hours before my flight to Sweden I decided to hit up Paris and explore!
I managed to buy a ticket and find the RER train into the city. I grabbed a croissant and un café straight away and walked along on the cobblestones through the mist and 2 degree weather.
I met up with a pen pal Zaki who bought me some macaroons as a gift. We walked to Notre Dame, I tried a vin chaud (mulled wine), we went to the beautiful Sacrè Coer and walked the streets of Montmarte. We had crepes for lunch. Before heading back to the airport we went to look at the Moulin Rouge and shared some grillé marrons (roasted chestnuts).Read more
Rawson's travelsGreat, hope you have fun in Sweden
12/19/17Reply
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Day 3
Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 10:33 PM
☁️ 1 °C
Altitude: 155 m
Sweden Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport 57.667373, 12.29431357°40’3” N 12°17’40” E
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Touchdown in Göteborg!
December 19, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 1 °C
Traveler Enjoy 😊👌
12/19/17Reply
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Day 4
Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 5:14 PM
🌫 5 °C
Altitude: 18 m
Sweden Frölunda 57.645714, 11.90394957°38’45” N 11°54’14” E
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Day 1 Goteburg
December 20, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ 🌫 5 °C
Exploring Haga and Goteburg city!
TravelerWhat can you wear if it turns cold?
12/20/17Reply
Traveler So nice to see you two enjoying time together xxx
12/20/17Reply
Traveler Love that blue coat - hope it is warm enough.
12/23/17Reply
Traveler The flowers at the markets are amazing.
12/23/17Reply
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Day 5
Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 10:07 AM
☀️ 4 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Sweden Frölunda 57.651176, 11.91112157°39’4” N 11°54’40” E
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Tomte
December 21, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C
In Sweden Santa (Tomte) doesn’t come down the chimney, he knocks on the door and delivers the presents on Christmas Eve. This is what he looks like!
Traveler I've seen one of these - at Geoff's place. Rebuen called it Gandorff
12/23/17Reply
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Day 5
Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 9:54 PM
🌙 4 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Sweden Frölunda 57.64558, 11.90387457°38’44” N 11°54’14” E
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Exploring Göteborg
December 21, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ 🌙 4 °C
Today Britt and Fredrik were at work so I explored the city by myself. Beautiful sunny day! (Until sunset at 3pm).
Traveler It looks a bit like Holland.
12/23/17Reply
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Day 5
Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 9:58 PM
🌙 4 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Sweden Frölunda 57.645672, 11.90396257°38’44” N 11°54’14” E
Liseberg Christmas Markets
December 21, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ 🌙 4 °C
Glögg, candied almonds, fireworks, hot dogs and a ride on the ‘Balder’ rollercoaster.
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Day 6
Friday, December 22, 2017 at 10:39 PM
⛅ 3 °C
Altitude: 25 m
Sweden Myrholmen 56.204117, 15.61789456°12’15” N 15°37’4” E
Karlskrona Day 1
December 22, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C
Drove 4 hours today to get to Karlskrona where we are having Christmas with Fredriks family.
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Day 7
Saturday, December 23, 2017 at 8:18 PM
⛅ 9 °C
Altitude: 25 m
Sweden Myrholmen 56.204216, 15.61789156°12’15” N 15°37’4” E
Karlskrona Day 2
December 23, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
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Day 8
Sunday, December 24, 2017 at 7:52 PM
🌧 7 °C
Altitude: 25 m
Sweden Myrholmen 56.204239, 15.61790856°12’15” N 15°37’4” E
God Jul! December 24th
December 24, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ 🌧 7 °C
In Sweden Christmas Eve is the day you open presents and have your big feast.

I was surprised this morning with a package from Sydney with my stocking presents inside (Christmas socks, Santa hat, snow globe, stickers etc). Was lovey to have something from home.

We actually went to the gym at 10am as Fredrik’s Mum is a gym instructor!

Christmas dinner started at about 2pm with glögg followed by cold meats and cheese.

Then at 3pm we watched ‘Kalle Anka,’ a Disney Christmas special which is an annual tradition in Sweden.

After this the meal continued with hot food... meatballs, potato and anchovy bake, sausages etc.

We then moved to opening presents! I was surprised with a gift from Tomte, two beautiful candle holders made in Karlskrona.
My gift from Britt and Fredrik was a surprise 3 day trip to Copenhagen!!!!! So excited!

We then moved to sweets and coffee with a massive selection of baked goods.Read more
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Day 9
Monday, December 25, 2017 at 7:02 PM
⛅ 7 °C
Altitude: 21 m
Sweden Myrholmen 56.204212, 15.61797956°12’15” N 15°37’5” E
Christmas Day
December 25, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
Today we chilled at home and ate more food!

Julgodis (Christmas sweets) consists of about 15 varieties of biscuits, slices and other sweet treats.
Rawson's travelsThe food looks nice
12/25/17Reply
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Day 10
Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at 12:30 PM
☁️ 5 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Sweden Fredrikskyrkan 56.160816, 15.58671456°9’39” N 15°35’12” E
Exploring Karlskrona
December 26, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C
Loved exploring Karlskrona town centre this morning.
TravelerThey don’t mow much grass there
12/27/17Reply
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Day 10
Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at 10:44 PM
⛅ 4 °C
Altitude: 11 m
Denmark Sankt Jørgens Sø 55.676266, 12.55992455°40’35” N 12°33’36” E
Copenhagen!
December 26, 2017 in Denmark ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C
We arrived at our accomodation and spent the night at the amazing Tivoli Gardens Christmas Markets!
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Day 11
Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at 9:21 PM
🌧 4 °C
Altitude: 11 m
Denmark Sankt Jørgens Sø 55.676311, 12.55988955°40’35” N 12°33’36” E
Copenhagan
December 27, 2017 in Denmark ⋅ 🌧 4 °C
The Little Mermaid, Rosenborg Castle, Torvehallerne Food Market, Nyhavn, Lagkagehuset bakery for danishes and shopping. We walked 30,000 steps and 21.5kms! Such a fun day!
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Day 12
Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 8:20 PM
☁️ 3 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Sweden Frölunda 57.645592, 11.90387157°38’44” N 11°54’14” E
Copenhagen to Gothenburg
December 28, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C
Today we caught the bus back to Gothenburg which took most of the day!
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Day 13
Friday, December 29, 2017 at 6:18 PM
⛅ 3 °C
Altitude: 18 m
Sweden Frölunda 57.645702, 11.90397357°38’45” N 11°54’14” E
Tim Tams and Lösgodis
December 29, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C
Today we packed up the apartment ready to move tomorrow and Britt had her first Tim Tam in over a year.
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Day 14
Saturday, December 30, 2017 at 9:17 PM
❄️ 2 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Sweden Glöstorp 57.759956, 11.9502657°45’36” N 11°57’1” E
Snow!
December 30, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ❄️ 2 °C
Britt & Fredrik moved apartments today and all went well until Britt and Petter (Fredriks brother in law) got stuck in the lift! They had to wait about 45 minutes until the man came to get them out.
It also snowed today which was super beautiful.Read more
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Day 15
Sunday, December 31, 2017
☁️ 2 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Sweden Glöstorp 57.759968, 11.95034757°45’36” N 11°57’1” E
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Gott Nytt År! Happy New Year!
December 31, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C
Today we did lots of shopping for the new apartment. Then we got ready for our New Year’s Eve celebrations.
We went to a friends place (Henry and Jane) and Carin and Petter came as well. It was snowing as we walked to the bus and everything looked beautiful covered in white.
Henry and Jane cooked the entrée, Fredrik and Britt the main and Carin and Petter the desert. The food was amazing.
Then we walked to the top of Skansen Kronan which is a fortification from the 1600s and looks over the whole city. As fireworks are legal here it was mayhem with them going off every direction you looked. Such a fun way to end 2017!Read more
Traveler What great photos - you all look wonderful
1/1/18Reply
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Day 16
Monday, January 1, 2018 at 10:18 PM
⛅ 4 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Sweden Glöstorp 57.759945, 11.95035157°45’36” N 11°57’1” E
New Years Day
January 1, 2018 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C
Today we slept in, went for a walk, tested out the new kitchen making sweet potato soup and watched ‘A Man Called Ove’
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Day 17
Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 9:27 PM
⛅ 3 °C
Altitude: 25 m
Sweden Oscarsteatern 59.333454, 18.05545259°20’0” N 18°3’20” E
Stockholm!
January 2, 2018 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C
Took the train to Stockholm today which took 4 hours. I explored, went shopping, visited the Dance Museum and ate good food.
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Day 18
Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at 10:06 PM
⛅ 3 °C
Altitude: 33 m
Sweden Norra Bantorget 59.333157, 18.05434859°19’59” N 18°3’16” E
Stockholm Adventures
January 3, 2018 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C
Today I explored the old city Gamla Stan, visited the Royal Palace and saw the changing of the guard, went on a walking tour of Gamla Stan, went to the Nordic museum and went to the Vasa museum.

“The Vasa ship capsized and sank in Stockholm 1628. After 333 years on the sea bed the mighty warship was salvaged. Today Vasa is the world's only preserved 17th century ship and the most visited museum in Scandinavia.”Read more
TravelerThat was worth seeing
1/4/18Reply
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Day 19
Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 2:11 PM
🌧 2 °C
Altitude: 33 m
Sweden Norra Bantorget 59.333057, 18.05457559°19’59” N 18°3’16” E
Last day in Stockholm
January 4, 2018 in Sweden ⋅ 🌧 2 °C
Today I had kanelbullar (cinnamon buns but with cardamom) in Södermalm, visited Drottningholm Palace which is the official residence of the royal family and had meatballs in Östermalm Saluhall (food hall).
After taking the train back to Göteborg I was treated to homemade Semla courtesy of Britt and Fredrik.

“Semla consists of a cardamom-spiced wheat bun which has its top cut off, and is then filled with a mix of milk and almond paste, topped with whipped cream. The cut-off top serves as a lid and is dusted with powdered sugar.”
“Semlor are available in shops and bakeries every day from shortly after Christmas until Easter.”
“King Adolf Frederick of Sweden died of digestion problems on February 12, 1771 after consuming a meal consisting of lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, smoked herring and champagne, which was topped off by fourteen helpings of hetvägg (semla), the king's favorite dessert.”Read more
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Day 20
Friday, January 5, 2018 at 11:19 PM
☁️ 0 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Sweden Glöstorp 57.759954, 11.95037857°45’36” N 11°57’1” E
Last Full Day in Göteborg :(
January 5, 2018 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C
The statue of Poseidon, Fredrik’s Church, a giant cinnamon bun in Haga, the Gothenburg museum and drinks at Gothia Towers (the only skyscraper in the city!)
We also had amazing homemade beef bourguignon for dinner. Such a lovely last day. I don’t want to leave tomorrow!Read more
TravelerIt’s been wonderful seeing you two enjoying time together ❤️
1/5/18Reply
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Day 21
Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 11:14 PM
🌙 3 °C
Altitude: 39 m
England University of London 51.523132, -0.1273251°31’23” N 0°7’38” W
Goodbye Göteborg
January 6, 2018 in England ⋅ 🌙 3 °C
Today I had to say goodbye to Britt and Fredrik and fly to Heathrow. Contiki starts at 615 tomorrow morning!
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