Stockholm

A nice breakfast on Ulla-Brit's and Janne's deck after returning the rental car. Ulla-Britt's five week vacation begins today, Janne's begins tomorrow, so he went to work early.
We had a light lunch at some friends' bakery/cafe nearby, before heading north of Stockholm to visit Ulla-Brit's mother and see her childhood home, designed by her architect father.
We sat in the beautiful garden for a fika with Helga's delicious currant and raspberry tart with whipped cream.
After a tour of the house, we walked to the community marina to see their sailboat. Ulla-Britt and her family sailed the archipelago each summer and her mother still sails with friends or U-B's brother, Gunnar.
Later, Janne and Erik arrived and we sat in the garden shade to visit. Helga made a wonderful salmon dinner, enjoyed outside on the patio.
Before U-B arrived to spend her year with us in the fall of 1982, we exchanged many letters with Hans and Helga. Hans visited us in 1984, but we only met Helga in person briefly when we were in Stockholm a couple of years ago. So this was an especially nice visit - we only wished Hans was with us.
Saturday morning after breakfast, we drove north to see Gripsholm Castle, begun in 1540 and home to various royalty, but now the Swedish National Portrait Gallery. Another great castle, added to and modified over the years, giving the visitor a chance to imagine what castle life was like.
After lunch, we drove to a big island on Lake Mälaren to Janne's parents' summer cottage. The Swedish military long ago posted soldiers all around the country in soldier's cottages. They were to help the landowner, but also positioned to deploy if needed. This was a soldier's cottage, built of logs, two rooms with a stove. Perfect for the Scandinavian tradition of summer cottages with only a place to sleep, read, hike, swim and enjoy the outdoors.