Tuesday, 24 May 2011

Go with me to Malmo, Sweden.

Malmo, Sweden's third city, is an old shipbuilding and industrial centre. It has undergone an evolution in recent years since being linked to the Danish capital of Copenhagen by the spectacular Oresund Bridge. Now the two cities are just 25 minutes apart, and the daily interaction between them is intense. Malmo has built a global reputation for being creative, progressive and environmentally aware, with international distinctions like Eco City and Fair Trade city. For more information on this great city visit http://www.visitsweden.com/ or http://www.malmotown.com/. Following are some breathtaking images Malmo. Enjoy!

Watch a typical experience in Malmo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtUopabsELM&feature=player_embedded#at=27

   
Malmö’s new museum of moderna art, Moderna Museum, has proved to be a real crowd puller.

Cozy Lila Torg in the city centre , with origins in the Middle Ages, is full of fresco eateries in summer.


This is the Turning Turso skyscraper in Vastra hammen. This is the tallest building in Sweden measuring 200 meters/656 feet. It is also Malmo Design centre which have on display Swedish furniture, textiles, glass, ceramics and decorative  arts.


 Sea of heads at one of the Malmo festivals in Summer.


 



This Castle is sorrounded by beautiful parks and gardens and it is a place to breathe in some fresh air by loitering about the lush green landscaped gardens sorrounding the museum building. It costs nothing to visit this this exciting arena too.

Please enjoy Malm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jAkPo5Y42k

Gota Canal Cruise



A 4 day Gota Canal cruise is surely a way of appreciating nature in its unadulterated state. This is in addition to its cost effectiveness, time and energy savings. The Gota canal cruise which takes you from Stockholm to Gothenburg and back features two seas, one river, three canals , eight lakes, and 66 locks. Check the following link to catch a glimpse  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar6ITQPL0RQ

The financial burden that usually accrues staying in Hotel accommodation is lessened as this is provided on board. You also have all your meals served plus other countless and exciting things to enjoy onboard.

There is really no better way to enjoy a vacation than this.

Follow me on this exciting experience!

As pointed out in my previous discussion, getting to Sweden from Canada can be via Air Canada which is the renowned national carrier of that country and the trip is usually overnight. In view of that, 1 night of hotel accommodation is already saved. The remaining part of the day of arrival in Sweden is best spent relaxing. It is also recommended that the second day of arrival is spent visiting some exciting attractions.

 Stockholm Royal Palace


Another place worth visiting  Museum of ethnography archiving a collection of about 220,000 items relating to the ethnography, or cultural anthropology, of peoples from around the world, including from China, Korea, South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific region, the Americas and Africa. Admission to this magnificent edifice is free of charge.

Please enjoy the following images of Stockholm.


The Riksdag building
The Riksdag building ("House of Parliament") is the seat of the Parliament of Sweden. The building was erected between 1897 and 1905. The building's neo-baroque style was criticized and considered old fashioned when it was opened in 1905.




National Museum
National museum ("National Museum") is the national gallery of Sweden. The museum is home to about half a million drawings from the middle Ages to 1900, a collection of porcelain items, paintings, sculptures, and modern art as well. The museum also has an art library, open to the public as well as academics.

From the foregoing, Sweden is doubt a place where you dont only get value for your money but a place that will leave your memory green for quite a long time.


Stockholm City Hall - Stadshus
Stockholm City Hall (Stockholms stadshus) is the building of the Municipal Council for the City of Stockholm. It houses offices and conference rooms as well as ceremonial halls, and the luxury restaurant Stadshuskällaren. It is the venue of the Nobel Prize banquet and one of Stockholm's major tourist attractions.


The Stockholm Palace (Swedish: Stockholms slott) is the official residence and major royal palace of the Swedish monarch. Stockholm Palace is located on Stadsholmen ("city island"), in Gamla Stan (the old town). The palace has 609 rooms and is one of the largest royal palaces in the world still in use for its original purpose.

Friday, 20 May 2011

Transportation within and without Sweden


Airlines                                   From the North America, Air Canada flies in to Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) via Frankfurt International in Germany. Other notable Airlines that fly from Europe and elsewhere to Sweden comprise of Alitalia, Air France, Austrian Airlines, Aeroflot, Ryanair, British Airways, Croatia Airlines, Finnair, KLM Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Czech Airlines, Air Malta, Aerosoit Airlines, Japan Airlines, Spanair, Tap Air Portugal, Swiss International Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Syrian Arab Airlines, Lithuanian Airlines, Estonian Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Luxair, TunisAir, Blue 1, Brussels Airlines 

Airports                                  Goteborg (GOT), Goteborg-Landvetta Airport and Stockholm Arlanda Airport are both International Airport accounting for the highest passes in Sweden. There are about other 56 airports serving both domestic and international airlines in Sweden.

Scandinavia Airline System generally known as SAS is Swedish National Carrier.

 

Local Transportation            
There are a huge number of ferry services to Sweden, meaning visitors do not need to fly in order to access the country.

From Ghent in Belgium, DFDS Torline offers services to Gothenburg, with only limited passenger capacity. Denmark has services from Grenaa to Varberg, operated by Stena Line, while Frederikshavn to Gothenburg is also offered by the same company. Scandlines and HH-ferries run ferries from Elsinore to Helsingborg.Sea Transport
                                               
                                               

Getting around Sweden by Train

Sweden has a highly efficient rail network spanning the entire country. Visitors travel smoothly and comfortably across the countryside on some of Europe’s most modern trains. First and second-class cars are available. On longer trips, couchettes and sleeping cars facilities are provided. Couchettes in second class are available on many routes, for instance Stockholm-Kiruna-Narvik (Norway). (http://www.sj.se/)

European Rail Passes

The Eurail Group is a cooperation of 30 European Railway companies and shipping lines, which offers a number of different rail passes to non-European residents. The Eurail Passes entitle you to hop on and off trains in Europe, just choose the number of countries and days you prefer. (http://www.eurail.com/)


                                                By Coach

Travel by bus or coach in Sweden is inexpensive and hassle-free. There is an excellent network of express services between the larger towns and cities in south and central Sweden, and between Stockholm and towns in the north.
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Car
If you are travelling from Denmark, Öresund Bridge/tunnel connects the two counties, with Malmö reachable from Copenhagen in under 30 minutes, from where you can connect to the E4 to Stockholm. Alternatively, there is a coastal route to the capital.

While the road routes connecting Sweden with its neighbours are excellent, it is also possible to cut the length of car journeys from some destinations substantially by using vehicle ferry services that operate on the Baltic Sea.



Car rental

All the major car-rental companies have offices at major airports and in cities throughout Sweden. Car rental can be booked with the car companies before your departure. Discounts are often available at holiday periods.

Sweden in View

 

Sweden is situated in the north of Europe. It is the largest of the Nordic countries with 9 million inhabitants and an area about the same as Spain. The national language is Swedish. The country is socially and culturally homogenous, but is gradually changing because of immigration, mostly in metropolitan areas. Sweden is characterised by its strong welfare system. Sweden made a strong recovery from the economic recession of the 1990s , which increased unemployment. But the global economic crisis of 2008 has created serious problems for some of the basic industries.
Typical for Swedish politics are strong political parties and other organisations, like trade unions. There is a clear left-right dimension in political preferences of the Swedish electorate, but government politics is generally middle of the road. The social democrats have been the leading party since the 1930s, but it has gradually lost its political dominance. After the 2006 election a non-socialist government was formed. Have a glimpse of Sweden in the following video. Happy viwing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgd9fAAkGI

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

It is commonly said that Man is a worker and if he is not he is nothing. If this assertion is true then after work man must rest. After six days of work creating this wonderful world, God, the Bible said rested on the 7th day. It goes to say therefore that we all would like to take time off after having laboured over a specific period of time. Resting is actually not the end in itself but the by-product realisable from it. For instance, we must be able to feel the joy of having let the steam off for that is the real essence. In the light of this foregoing, there is always the careful need to choose an ideal place to enjoy our break. Christmas they say comes but once in a year so also is usually our holiday period.

That Sweden ranked among the few best destinations that worth considering when planning out a vacation is never in doubt. When talking about those features that make a destination tick, Sweden cannot be wished away. Spectacular landscapes in the world such as Castles, Mountains, and National Parks are conspicuously visible in Sweden and provide green memory, indelible experience to visitors.

In addition to the foregoing, Sweden also owns some of the rare and unique wildlife on the continent. An example of such is the monstrous moose known as the king of the Swedish forest which roams the landscapes and even sometimes remarkably close to big cities. Other unique inhabitants include the wolverine, wolves, huge brown bears, and the prowling lynx. Each of these animals makes their home in Sweden, and with a visit you can see them all.

While exploring the Sweden’s landscape, one thing that will leave you gasping for breath is the Midnight Sun. Heading to Alrid during the months of May and June means getting to see the sun during the times when you would expect the moon and stars to be out.

Caves and mountains also provide tons of opportunity to become an explorer. A huge selection of cave networks allow you to explore into the heart of the Earth, and mountains such as Sylarna and Kebnekaise grant the opportunity to see the globe from an extreme birds-eye view. The National Parks of Sweden, such as Sarek and Abisko, allow visitors to see nature in its unadulterated form. Never-touched landscapes filled with glassy lakes and white-tipped, jagged mountains create the perfect setting for family walks, picnics, or just natural exploration.

Close to all the big cities of Sweden offer the opportunity to engage in a whole different sort of nightlife. The three most popular of these cities are of course, Stockholm, along with Gothenburg, and Malmö. Each city has its own very distinct atmosphere and features various attractions for visitors. Unique museums, shopping, and restaurants make these cities worth visiting.

Malmö is a huge multi-cultural hub, with over a hundred different languages spoken there. Gothenburg provides the quaint, seaside atmosphere even though it is a large city. This city also features the largest amusement park in Scandanavia.

Definitely take the time to learn about the Swedish culture and live like a native for a day. Every facet of Swedish art – music, literature, and art pieces – has influenced the global art community. Think ABBA. Visiting some of the huge Medieval castles in Sweden is another great way to learn a little of its history. All built between the 12th and 17th centuries, these castles stand as a testament to Sweden’s history. And not only are the castles worth seeing, the huge estates and fortresses are as well.

In a nutshell, a vacation to Sweden offers a lot more than thought at first. Just a week in Sweden can give you a whole new perspective on the global community, as Sweden is definitely one of the most unique places and ethnicities in the world. You can actually visit the Museum of ethnography situated in Stockholm, archiving a collection of about 220,000 items relating to the ethnography, or cultural anthropology, of peoples from around the world, including from China, Korea, South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific region, the Americas and Africa. Admission is free to most of these museums and with just a visit to our office Sweden is also yours to visit.