Bike rides and herring

September 20, 2015July 30, 2019 / mikeosbornphoto / 7 Comments

As the London autumn seeps in, this final set of photographs from Sweden becomes a memoir of the Scandinavian summer. We took two day trips outside Stockholm, to Gripsholm Castle and the island of Uto in Stockholm’s archipelago.

This is a snapshot of quiet little beaches and country lanes on the island, and a royal retreat surrounded by manicured grounds and lapping waters. And yes, this was Sweden – there were bicycles to ride and pickled herring to feast upon.

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Windows of Sweden

September 6, 2015July 30, 2019 / mikeosbornphoto / 11 Comments

My camera and I developed a fetish on a recent trip to Sweden. Windows. I wanted to photograph them here, there and everywhere. Why? They come in all shapes and designs in that country, framed in mustard yellow and burgundy on the outside, decorated with a luxurious drape or a simple net curtain on the inside. It was hard to resist their allure.

Favoured spots for window-spotting were at the City Hall in Stockholm, the fairytale royal castle of Gripsholm and the charming town of Mariefred nearby. Enjoy peering in and looking out…

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Summer house

August 23, 2015July 30, 2019 / mikeosbornphoto / 9 Comments

This is a very pleasant obsession of the Swedish nation. A great love is to have a second home in the countryside or by the coast – a rustic escape from the trials and tribulations of everyday life in the city. Many Swedes enjoy a long holiday during the summer months, and the sommurstuga is a base for walks in the woods to pick berries, taking bicycle rides and enjoying an evening barbecue. It’s called getting away from it all.

The summer house I visited is a solid, rugged wooden home with an orchard and meadow surrounded by tall handsome trees. A flagpole proudly flies the nation’s light blue and yellow flag. Redcurrants and wild strawberries grow in the garden, which is a peaceful idyll for enjoying the short Swedish summer.

Thank you to Bodil and Anja for their warm welcome and allowing me to prowl around with my camera.

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Hej Stockholm!

August 2, 2015January 18, 2020 / mikeosbornphoto / 27 Comments

There’s no need to apologise for being a tourist in the handsome city of Stockholm in Sweden. Well that’s what I did, along with my Swedish friend and city dweller. A British visitor gave her a rare excuse to stroll at snail’s pace through Gamla Stan – the old quarter of the Swedish capital – and look around the imposing City Hall and clamber its tower for those delectable views across the water.

Also, don’t be sorry for using your camera here. There is a lot to capture, especially if the Scandinavian summer skies are flecked with fast-moving fluffy white clouds. The City Hall crowds, the mustard palette of Stockholm’s old buildings, snippets of architecture – and an obligatory pilgrimage to the Abba Museum – are all there for the taking.

If being a tourist is good enough for a Swede in their own town, then it’s good enough for me. Here’s some of our best bits…