Hej y'all! It's Ystad!

Packed up the Skoda, drove to the airport. Took two planes and two trains and got to Ystad in the middle of the afternoon.

Ystad is on the southern coast of Sweden, on the Baltic Sea. The town dates back to the 1200’s, and has lots of restored buildings – and charm. Lots of charm. In our travels, Diana and I have a criteria by which we judge places we visit – would I spend thirty days here?. Ystad is a place I could spend thirty days.

Our hotel, The Sekelsgarden, is in a building that dates from the 1700’s, and whose rooms surround a courtyard. We’re here for two days, before the walk begins.

Other folks have recognized Ystad’s charm. Among those are Henning Mankell, a popular Swedish author. He’s written a series of novels set in Ystad, with Inspector Kurt Wallander as the main character. The novels have been turned into movies and TV series in Sweden and England. The “Wallander” series (and Ystad) can be seen on your local BBC cable.

Ystad has what has to be the best candy store in the world. You begin with a paper bag (or a large tub, if you dare), and you make your way past the bins, filling your container with everything from gummy frogs to Snickers. If you like, after the candy you can move on to popcorn and other great stuff. Finally, you get to the back of the store, and you understand. The back of the store is movie rentals. The place is a one stop shop for a perfect evening at home:  Gummy frogs, popcorn, and a Wallander movie. 

There’s been a change in the weather. In Osterlund and Vemdalen in central Sweden. We’re now in the south, with days that are sunny and highs in the low 70’s, and a forecast for that to continue for the next week. Pretty good news for our walk.

One of the first Swedish words you pick up on while here is “Hej”. It’s pronounced “hey” and it’s use will make any of you from the American South (i.e. Charlotte) feel right at home. It’s like  “Hi”, or as some of us prefer, “Hey”, it makes me feel right at home. BTW – the proper response is “Hej, Hej,” but I’m trying to get the folks here in southern Sweden to learn “Hej, yal!