The first day of Summer

It's official. Summer has arrived in Stockholm. So I headed for the beach at Årsta Havsbad. It will be a very different Summer this time around.

Almost Summer

Three photos from the grassy beach at the Upper Lake at the Rudan nature reserve earlier in the week. After snapping these shots I headed over to a friend's place for coffee on his lawn. He lives just across the road from my favorite cafe. I haven't been back at the cafe for ages it feels like.

Meanwhile in Sweden

Poseidon's Square in Handen earlier this week.

Hesslingby

It is very green now everywhere which is nice. This is the old Hesslingby estate in Österhaninge.

Coffee in the garden

The cafe at Västerby in Nynäshamn used to be up in that red cottage. But today you can find it in the bygdegård building, second photo. This is always a popular stop for bikers and cyclists that are out riding along Sorundavägen.

Stora Lundby

Stora Lundby manor at Västerby in Nynäshamn. The estate dates back some 700 years. The current manor is a bit newer, from the 1940s. The Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt lives here with his wife Sanna Lundell. Snapped while out on a longish bike ride last week.

The Countryside

From a bike ride last week on what was a glorious day. This is Österby near Söderbykvarn in Nynäshamn. I counted six tractors on that field so this should count as a countryside photo.

ŠKODA Cycling Team

I spotted a few members of the 2020 ŠKODA Cycling Team along Sorundavägen a couple of days ago. They seemed quite happy.

Sköna Maj

The beauty of May. Home of a local artist at Lillgården in Tungelsta.

Eka

If you follow Viking Sote's Road all the way down to the Landfjärden bay, hoping to escape in the old rowboat or eka in Swedish, you will not get very far.

Around Häringe

There's a horse farm at Häringe Slott. The surroundings are part of the Hammersta-Häringe nature reserve, so it is always open for the public. There were a few people out and about during my visit. If you arrive via Viking Sote's road you can see Betsholmens Gård at the Landfjärden Bay, (third photo), and the cottage down by the water (fourth photo), which is part of the Häringe estate.

Häringe Castle

Some photos of Häringe Castle and a few of its pavilions. The current castle dates back to 1657. Owners over the centuries include King Gustavus Adolphus. The banker and industrialist Torsten Kreuger and Axel Wenner-Gren, at the time one of the wealthiest men in the world. The area has a very interesting history and it is said that the battle at Soteskär took place here back in 1007. At least if you want to believe Snorri Sturluson. These days it is a more quiet place. The castle is a popular hotel with rooms named after guests from the Wenner-Gren era, including Greta Garbo. Häringe is today part of the Häringe-Hammersta nature reserve so it is always open for visitors.

A bench for mere mortals

If you were to rest on this bench at Häringe castle you could sit there and look at the intimate moment between the Satyr and the Menad just in front of the little pond where the birds hang out.

The one handed rider

Nice day for it, although it was snowing just ten minutes before. I was shooting a big old oak out on a field at Häringe Castle when I heard the Harley coming so I only got this one shot. Snaps from the castle and it's surroundings to come.

Plåttak

Swedish word of the day. Plåttak. Metal roof.