Nydala Lake

Hello again!

We are pretty lucky here in Umeå...not only are we very close to the Baltic sea, we have our very own lake too! Actually one of the main reasons I chose to live in Mariehem is that I was hoping I would have a view of the lake from my apartment...and I do! Most of the occasions I saw the northern lights, I was standing on my balcony or at the kitchen window.

I’m not sure why but the northern lights usually appear over the lake. The first time I saw them me and my friend were watching t.v and suddenly out of the corner of his eye he spotted something green out of the kitchen window. We jumped up instantly, banged on all of our friend’s doors like a pair of lunatics and we all ran down to the lake together. I’ll never forget that night. It was the middle of November and we stood in the middle of the frozen lake for the very first time silent and awestruck just staring at the sky for an hour. Shooting stars were ten a minute and we couldn’t believe our eyes. It wasn’t until my hand started to fall off that I decided I better head home!

What you should know is that the shows only last for maybe half an hour/ 1 hour max. If you notice in the late afternoon/early evening that the sky is exceptionally clear and you can see the stars really well, it is a good chance northern lights are on the cards. You can check the forecast at: http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/2011/04/14/3 . You will be in for a treat. I have heard from those who went on the trips to Lapland (organized by Scanbalt: http://www.scanbaltexperience.com/index.asp?action=dest&destid=51&intOpenID=19&catid=51&intOpenID2=51)  that the northern lights were particularly bright when they went. Of course luck does play a part, and seeing them is always not a guarantee.

During the winter the lake is an excellent place to spend a day having good old fashioned winter fun! Think ice fishing, cross country skiing, igloo building, snowball fighting etc.  It is always extra cold there however so do wrap up and bring some food and a thermos of something hot and delicious if you want to enjoy the day!

During the warmer months most people flock to the lake for barbeques. So many barbeques take place here it’s wonderful. In typical Swedish fashion there are public barbeque spots dotted around the lake perimeter. There you can find benches laid out along with a fireplace and to top it all off a shed stocked with firewood just begging to be used.  We usually grab a few beers/a box of wine, some meat and maybe some marshmallows and make an evening of it. 

Feeding (not scaring) the ducks is a must do. They are so friendly and curious..make friends with them! If like me...you really like feeding ducks there is a little pond just behind the helicopter pad at the hospital where they all flock to when it gets cold. You can feed a couple of hundred ducks at once..it’s simply fantastic!

There is also a place we call ‘the beach’. For those of you who hail from countries with real beaches you will laugh scornfully when you see it. It’s a tiny beach but we love it. It also has a playground which never fails to amuse us.

For keen joggers out there, the lake is a popular spot to run around as the views are often breathtaking. The sun sets on the lake every day and it’s as beautiful as they come.

Thats all from me today...hope you have a lovely Wednesday,

Louise J :) 

The Swedish Fika

Hello again!

So you might be wondering to yourself... ‘What do people do in this weird little place called Umeå’? Well i’l tell you. We study, we ski, we occasionally have a beer or two, but most of all we fika. My friends and I fika so much it should be illegal. In fact, many people have commented we live the life of a retired community in Florida.

I should probably tell you what it is and why we do it:A fika is essentially gathering up all your friends or perhaps just one special friend and finding a great cafe, a sunny bench, or a kitchen table and drinking coffee/tea and eating the most exquisite of cakes while chatting about everything and everyone and anything.  This custom will not only make you slightly chubby and an experienced chef when it comes to Swedish baking...it will also keep you really happy during the winter months.  

The winter is long and cold and dark (and wonderful in case nobody mentioned that part). Don’t worry about the lack of daylight. Regular fikas with everyone you know is a great way to maintain social contact and energy levels during the winter chill. Don’t neglect fika time!

Since I was a kid, frequent visits to Sweden have taught me that there are certain Swedish cakes you just can’t replicate anywhere else in the world. Take advantage of them and treat yourself to:

1.   

    Lussebulle:  These yellow wonders only surface around Christmas time and they are truly delicious. Eat them with some ‘Julmust’ or some ‘Glögg’ and you will be more festive than santa himself.  

2.    Kanelbulle:  These cinnamon swirls of heaven are a Swedish classic. Best enjoyed with a cup of coffee on a Friday morning to kick off the weekend.

 Princesstårta: This cake has the power to render you speechless. Only to be had when you have something to celebrate..and only to be bought from a bakery.

4.   Kladdkaka: In other words, sweet, gooey chocolatey heaven. See post on transport for a recipe (courtesy of my cake addict friend Karin)

In Umeå there are many places you can fika and i’m sure over time you will find your own favourite places. Until then, here are mine:

1.    Nya Konditoriet: This cafe can be found on the main street down town Umeå. (Kungsgatan 57 ) It has a bakery downstairs and a cafe upstairs that is super cosy

2.    Lindelhallen : This is an on campus cafe that is situated above the library. It is often used as a meeting point for many students and it always has a lovely atmosphere. Steer clear of the lasagne however!

3.   Wayne’s Coffee: This is a cafe on Storgatan 50 down town. Try the Chai Latte it tastes like Christmas in your mouth.

4.   Kafe Station: This is a cafe just next to the cinema on Östra Rådhusgatan 2.  It’s a great place to spend a couple of hours chatting and they do an excellent Lemon cheesecake!

5.    Bibliotekscaféet: This is a great place to while away several hours lost in a good conversation. It’s on Rådhusesplanaden 6 down town.

Happy Fika-ing!

That’s all from me today...hope you have a lovely Wednesday!

Louise J

Transport Related Musings

Hello again! 

So you might be wondering about the best way to get around Umeå once you arrive. Look no further!

Cycling:  One of the best things about Umeå is that cycle paths weave in and out of the city in such a well designed way that it is really easy to cycle anywhere (without having the worry of being run over by a bus.) Also an added bonus is that you can listen to music on your mp3 without major risk. A great way to start your day is listening to Daft Punk cycling down an icy hill watching the sun come up. (Okay I am never up that early but if I was that is exactly what I would be doing)

Most students invest in a bike even if they are only here for one semester.
There are several ways to go about doing this:

At the beginning of the semester there is a bike sale at the University where second hand shops set up stalls and you test them out and decide which bike suits you the best.  Although I have a sneaky suspicion that they know clueless students (like myself last year) will pay anything and so I paid 1200 for my bike which isn’t amazing and likes to habitually break itself.  If you get there early and you know what you are looking for ( thick tyres with grips, no cracks, mudguards, a comfortable saddle, gears, front and back lights, working breaks, and preferably without an annoying squeaking sound) you can get a good deal. Before you buy, I would recommend asking around to see if friends of friends etc. are selling a bike as it generally works out cheaper.

Additionally try looking on the internet - I have friends who paid 400 sek for much better bikes than mine on www.blocket.se  - a Swedish website that advertises buyers and sellers of almost anything.

 

If you are only here for only one semester or perhaps you don’t want the burden of trying to sell your bike before you leave Umeå – there is the additional option of renting a bike from ‘Campus Bikes’.  This costs approx 700 sek per semester and you receive a brand new bike with gears, front and back lights, a basket etc.  See http://www.campusbikes.se/index.html for more details

Walking:  People walk.I walk sometimes.. although the thought of the long walk to your destination makes it less appealing to go outside in the winter and you will inevitably stay inside and bake a cake instead.  ( In fact..bake this cake: It's a Swedish Kladdkaka and you will need 100g butter, 3dl sugar, 2.5 dl flour, 2 eggs, 1.5 tablespoon vanilla sugar, 4 tablespoons cocoa, a pinch of salt,  mix well, grease a cake tin..dust with breadcrumbs or flour and bake in the oven at 200 degrees for 20 mins.  It’s quick and delicious and everyone will love you if you give them a piece.)

Busses:  Taking the bus is for lazy people and also those who find themselves absolutely freezing. There has been the odd day where the bus has saved me from frostbite and inevitable death. It’s a little different here in that they don’t accept cash on the buses – only card. (If you have a Visa electron that is an online card and will not work.) You can buy a bus card at the bus station downtown and load it with as many journeys as you like. This actually works out as much cheaper than paying as you go. You can also pay for a bus ticket by SMS. There is a sign at every bus stop that will tell you how to do this. Umeå actually has a very special bus driver called the ‘Reggae-Bus-Chaufferen’ . He’s an enigmatic man who plays loud reggae music for his passengers. If you are lucky enough to end up on his bus you won’t be able to stop smiling like my friend Aoife here..  

Trains: If you want to head away from Umeå for awhile..you can take a train from Umeå Östra, Umeå’s train station. You can take the night train to Stockholm or Göteborg(or anywhere inbetween) it leaves every night at around 8:30pm and arrives in at Stockholm around 6:30am and Göteborg at around 10.30am. It can be pricey depending on the day and the type of seat (sitting or a bed) although there are student rates. Check www.sj.se for more information.

Planes:  Umeå’s airport is about 15 mins away from the city centre and airport buses depart directly outside the terminal after each flight has landed. SAS, Norwegian Airlines and Malmö Aviation are the airlines that fly to Umeå airport.   Tip: You can get a student price on internal flights in Sweden so don't book your journey all the way through.. you might save a lot of money. 
http://www.sas.se/en/?cep=215536&id=3 

Taxi’s: I always use ‘Umeå Taxi’  Tel: 090-77 00 00. They are really reliable and they text you 5 minutes before they arrive. Efficient isn’t it?

Thats all from me today..have a lovely Monday,

Louise J