Swedish Adventure 2016 - Part 4

25 April
Today is full of sunshine!  If it lasts the whole day what a treat that will be. (It did).  Ulla, our host, who arrived last night with another cat in tow, feeds us well for breakfast, and tells us about a nice drive to a lake - and so we go exploring.  The lake is called Siljan, up north-west of Borlange and, after consulting the map, it looks as though we have plenty of time to drive round the whole lake, which we do, taking our time, enjoying the drive and views.

I love maps.   Sat-nav is a great tool but a map will tell you lots more.  We get to the head of the lake and then start on our homeward journey, where we are going to a place where there is a great view.  But look!  What is that on the map?  An island on the lake with, guess what? a bridge to get there!  Mr Mac loves driving bridges - long bridges.  The sign for the island comes up and here we go, over the bridge to Solleron Island. It's obviously a holiday place, a huge camp site hidden in the trees is the first thing we see.  Driving on round we pass tiny houses, with gardens bursting with flower and growth at this time of the year.  I am so enchanted, I forget that I have my camera in my bag....... Duh. We spend about 30 minutes driving around this lovely island, and then we are off across the bridge and on to our next stop.

Siljanas is the place that Ulla told us not to miss, and once off the island we head for that.  We know we have to climb upwards on a twisty road,  and when we get to the top, we have a view of the church and lake.  In the viewing area, there is a sign that says "No camping, no picnicing", so I guess this is a very popular spot in the summer but today - it's just us! 

Just outside a holiday camp down the road we spot three little boys, smiling and waving at us.  We do the same.  They are not Swedes;  their middle-eastern looks make us think they are probably Syrians, as we have heard that holiday camps in Sweden are being used as temporary homes for refugees.  As we drive down through the village, we spot a woman, again of middle-eastern appearance, who smiles as we smile, walking up the hill back to her temporary home.  How extraordinary to see them, so far from home, in such a strange (for them) environment.  How cold and different it's going to be in winter.  This is what war does to the world and it's always been that way, but at least for these refugees they have a roof over their heads and a place away from the noise, terror and death that has overtaken their country.