Autumn in Uppsala

Höst = Autumn

Despite the fact that we're writing this blog entry in winter, the bulk of our stay in Uppsala has been in Autumn and so I (Nat) will do the narrative in the present tense.

Autumn shots

Uppsala is beautiful in Autumn and we're glad we're here to experience it.

As I (Nat) cycle into town

The river Fyris

The Botanical Gardens, started by legendary biologist Carl Linnaeus.

More shots of the Fyris from town


Domkyrkan amongst the golden leaves of Autumn


Uppsala Castle

Lake Mälaren is only a 10 minute bike ride from our place so one day we decided to check it out. In summer, it would have been a great place to take a dip. I was tempted but chickened out.


Thomas and I on our bikes


Is it safe to eat?


Official lake exporation crew


The beachy part of the lakeside


Our mode of transport


The boats at Skarholmen


One of the many beautiful houses by the lake


The trees are green and gold


View of Uppsala from the castle


We cycle past this everyday. The shiny thing in the second photo is a train in the distance, reflecting the sunlight



Lilla Sunnersta in Autumn


Autumn life in Uppsala

Judging from this blog (and our Facebook profiles), it would seem like we spend most of our time travelling around other countries. Truth be told, we do have normal mundane everyday lives in our temporary home, Sweden. It's just that, you see, it's not often that we take photos of mundane everyday things.

Our lives are simple, and we're amazingly happy. We don't have a car here - so we get everywhere on our bikes. Since we live about 6 kilometres out of town, we get a lot of exercise cycling in and out everyday.


On the road to the shopping centre at Gotsunda

Candice has uni around 3 days a week and I (Nat) am studying Swedish full-time at Vuxenutbildningen Cederblad (Adult Education Centre) which I can do for free because somehow I qualify for free government-sponsored Swedish lessons for immigrants. It's a bit like school - I start at 8.30am, have recess at 10am and finish at 12.00pm. I've also just started a job at a pizzeria - but I'll talk more about this in our Winter blog post.

Initially we had a lot of time on our hands and not so many friends. These days, we're always filling our free time with travel and hanging out - we actually find ourselves quite tired!


Candice cooking köttbuller (Swedish meatballs) at home


We do miss Australia now and then but Uppsala is beginning to feel a lot like home. Our favourite show on TV is Australian Border Security, which for some reason airs for about 1 and a half hours every day here! I never even used to watch it back home.


I'm teaching Candice to play the guitar and she's really good!


We take turns swapping between the bed and the floor


At Henning's birthday party


Candice's birthday fika

We've also met a whole bunch of people from around the world through our international bible study group (which is in English).


Singing songs and doing the actions to "Father Abraham" at the International Bible Study Group


At Sweden's very own fast-food chain, Max. The Crunchy Nacho Burger takes the cake.


At Flogsta with the crew - it was sort of a dinner party


Thomas and Alex's lovely chokladkaka


Every Thursday, it is a Swedish tradition to eat pea-soup. This is what it looks like.


At Vera's birthday dinner


Visitors to Uppsala

Despite the small quarters of our studio apartment, we've actually been able to play host a couple of times to visiting friends of ours to Uppsala. Seeing as most weekends this Autumn we have spent travelling Europe, it was a small wonder that we managed to fit it in!

In September, straight after our Berlin and Amsterdam trips, Pascal (who's just moved to Germany) visited us from Sabah. We went to school together back in Kota Kinabalu.


Pascal and I in Stockholm during his visit


Pascal even joined us for Henning's birthday party

A little later in Autumn, Emily visited us from Melbourne. She was on a little world trip of her own.


Emily and Candice cycling to the city from Sunnersta


At the castle


Candice and Emily marvel at the beauty of Autumn


Cycling down by the river


Tuning the brand new organ at Dom Kyrkan - it takes about one month to tune!

Lake Mälaren is a great place to hang out and have a bonfire. A whole bunch of us (including Emily) made it down one chilly Autumn day and roasted marshmallows, sausages, played games and generally had a good time. We had to cycle home by about 4pm as it was cold and getting dark.


Ginger, Hannah, Candice and Jenny

Roasting sausages and marshmellows

All in all, it's been a great Autumn. Uppsala looks beautiful and though it is a bit cold, we're still able to cycle around everywhere. It feels great to be alive!

Us on a rock in the forest near our house

Fore more pictures of Autumn in Uppsala, visit http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=62305&l=d63c6&id=681501850