Kingdom of Crystal

Today we head on to the east coast of Sweden.  The countryside is still mostly forested with a few lakes. 

Sweden has an area called Glasriket (Kingdom of Crystal) where about twelve well known glass studios, e.g., Kosta, Boda, Orrefors, have factories and stores within a area of 20 to 30 kilometers.  Many of the factories are open for viewing and demonstrations. Our first stop is Kosta Boda (actually two separate factories, this is Kosta):


We just walk into the factory.  There are no guides, no safety glasses, no restraining rails.  OSHA would not like this.  Guys with molten glass balls on sticks walk around and past us as we stand in the way observing and taking pictures.  Today four guys are making crystal rabbits in assembly line fashion.  A finished example is on the table, foreground, below.  They go for $300 each in the gift shop.  Don't expect one in your Christmas stocking.
And, of course, in Sweden we make the obligatory stop in the kaffe shop (including apple pie).  Notice the decidedly Scandinavian decor.
Here are the crystal dog water dishes outside of the Orrefors factory shop.  BTW, we hear that Orrefors is closing (going out of business).  The dogs must not buy much.
We complete our cross country trip across Sweden in Kalmar, a college town on the Baltic where Beverly stands in the town central square.
While sitting in a coffee shop (again, it is a very Swedish thing to do), we listen to a group of college kids (some obviously Americans) have a discussion in English.  This picture is just to prove that I am actually along on this trip (college kids in the background).
Tomorrow we plan to go back to the Kingdom of Crystal and shop for real this time.  Then it is off for parts as yet not completely decided.  We have decided to deviate from our original plan in order to spend more time in the "crystal" area and to return to Goteborg on Tuesday night to get an early start on returning the car on Wednesday for shipment home.

As you can see, the weather remains spectacular. 

Sorry, no food pictures tonight.  Dinner at the hotel this evening was "light" (cold ham, cold potato salad, cold corn & pea salad, hard boiled eggs and bread).  Delicious.


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