I'm in Härnösand with the fam, including Mom and Dad, Karl and Natalie, miniature niece, Mormor, Moster, and Captain Joe, the singing sailor. Lots of eating, sleeping and wine. Also chocolate. Today K & N and I took a walk up a hill to get a closer look at this huge windmill, but we failed. Reason: Sniper attack! Sweden is not at war. However, just in case, a zillion Swedish youth were hanging out up there, living in tents and wearing camouflage, hiding in the forest and firing little BB-type projectiles at each other. They had military vehicles and convincing rhetoric, but the guy we talked to said it was just "gaming." (Clearly I'll need to investigate this further.) Anyway, it was a little scary when one of their guards aimed his machine gun at our heads, but eventually his boss came over and yelled at him ("DO NOT AIM YOUR WEAPON AT CIVILIANS," in English), then raised a hunter-orange flag and led us through the war zone, past the camp, and on our way to safety in the village below. No casualties.
Karl took pix, so if he sends 'em I'll post them. (Hi, Karl!) (He's sitting ten feet away.)
Heading back to Stockholm tomorrow, then Portland on Sunday. So long, Norrland!
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I thought Sweden was technically neutral. Are these war games some Swedish hicks' idea of the "eternal vigilance" required to maintain their freedom and neutrality? And if so, where were these self-styled militiamen back when the Nazis were happily invited into the country and allowed to use Swedish ports, etc., for their war effort?
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