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After having completed the (extra short!)  first workweek of 2010  it was time for a little spa get away already. We left early on Saturday morning. The thermometer showed -15 degrees and we had brilliant sunshine!  That IS actually something I have really gotten used to and to LOVE lately. I am enjoying this winter so much because it finally is a real winter the way winters should be. With snow and ice and warm fireplaces and hot tea. What’s not to love about that? So awesome!

On our way down to Varberg we took a short tea break at the nature reserve of Getterön. Here is a glimpse of what we got to see there:

It was truly amazing. After having warmed ourselves up with a good cup of tea we took a walk along the beach promenade.

The frozen rocks were just so beautiful.

After lunch it was time to check into our gorgeous fin de siècle spa hotel. We basically directly proceeded to the asia spa on the top floors of the hotel. Just the view over the rooftops of Varberg, the old fortress and the harbour was so relaxing in itself. It was such a wonderful experience.

After a lot of spa-ing we finished the day with a delicious three course dinner amidst the great bath hotel atmosphere with high ceilings and big chandeliers. After dinner we slept like babies for more than 10 hours. On Sunday we had a great breakfast and then took advantage of the spa for another hour before we checked out and went for another awesome walk. Today the temperatures had risen to just -5 degrees which made up perfect conditions for a LONG walk!

 

Well, and now? Another really wonderful and relaxing weekend is over. In front of us lies the first FULL workweek of the year. But I guess we will even manage that! Good night everyone!

While 2009 had started out pretty crappy for us and even worsened during the fall, we now - 3 days into the New Year – have all reasons to believe into a much better 2010!

However, no matter how bad the year had started, the last day of 2009 showed itself from its most brilliant side – frosty, glittery, white! 

As a leg stretcher on our way home from vacation we took a long walk along the river to suck up the winter beauty as long as it lasts! WHAT a Christmas gift we all got here! The last 2 weeks felt like right out of a Christmas card! 

After managing to stock up on groceries we came home to a 10 degree Celsius cold house. Believe you me – the fireplace came in so heaven-sent! We picnicked in front of  it with a late lunch consisting of fresh, crusty sour dough bread with buffalo mozzarella and olive oil. So nice! We then prepared some spinach feta pastries to bring along to Trenda and Jims NYE party and off we went. The party was really nice and the view from their apartment overlooking the river and thereby all the fireworks made for a great welcoming of the new year!  

Usually I’m a bit melancholic when it comes to saying good-bye to the year that’s passed, but not this time – I’m embracing you 2010 with open arms!

The past two days were the winter of a lifetime! We always woke up to -30 degrees and got ready for an adventurous day on the mountain!

On Monday we went out dog sledding with huskies. I can’t put in words how it felt like to sit on a sleigh going through endless white or rather pink open spaces! The frost made the snow glitter and the sun was standing so low that it felt like a 2,5 hour sunrise would go over into a 2,5 hour sunset, with all the different shades of pink, red and purple reflecting in the snow. It felt like being on top of the world- a different world of amazing beauty! A glittering, sparkling, pastel coloured and ice-cold world! Even though the pictures can’t really transport the amazing beauty, come along to the ride of a life time!

 

 

When we were getting a bit too cold we stopped at a cabin for a hot chocolate and a waffle.

 

At the same time we could warm ourselves in front of the open fire. And then off we went for the last part of the sleigh ride.

Back at the winter garden of the hotel- one of the most amazing spa hotels in Europe- we had another coffee to warm up. The winter garden looked a bit like Vegas but everything was natural and not fake!

All warmed up we explored the area by car. We saw two herds of reindeer and amazing views like steaming rivers and lakes in the sunset.

 The evening was spent in the coziness and warmth of the cabin.

On Tuesday we woke up to another clear and frosty day that we were to spend on the mountain again. This time we rented a snow mobile which was so much fun to drive around with through the great white open! Really it was amazing and all the colours and views feel like a dream to me already.

We took a chocolate break again to warm up and then kept the fun going. In the afternoon we took a long walk through the snow-covered world because I didn’t want to go skiing this time. We were so lucky with the weather and I will never forget these perfect winter days we spent up North! We will definitely be back!

 

Our Christmas in Värmland was peaceful, serene, extraordinarily happy and very white. In fact it snowed so much that we really couldn’t go out and therefore didn’t do much more than eating good food, hanging out with family, socializing, watching TV  and playing board games.

On Sunday morning it was time to leave again and we went off to Härjedalen for a little get away to the icy North of Sweden. The road conditions weren’t that good and it was a strenuous drive, which is why we took it really easy after our arrival at the cabin. We just did some grocery shopping and a short walk in frosty -15 degrees Celsius before spending a calm and cosy evening in preperation for the next days adventures…

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And just because I LOVE this winter so much, there will be another photo blog entry! Because really: what’s not to love about this weather 3 days before Christmas Eve?

It started snowing last night and this morning we woke up to a picture perfect winter wonderland! Pity it was a work day, but we took the opportunity to take a walk at the lake during lunch break. Wanna come along?

The sun stands really low in Sweden during winter time which is why it looks orange already at 12.30 pm.

The trees were covered by thick and fluffy snow, the kind we get way too seldom here at the coast.

It was as if the bushes were covered with fluffy cotton balls

 and the lake was frozen and covered with snow.

The colours were just beautiful

  and everything looked so pretty in this winter wonderland!

Even though or maybe because we had to wait for the snow to arrive in Gothenburg until today, we had the most wonderful, frosty winter day on Saturday! When I woke up the thermometer showed -15 degrees and the sun was just about to rise – to make an awesome bright winter day! We baked some waffles for breakfast, got the camera ready and then went off to the Northern archipelago! Here are some impressions

 

When we were just about getting a tiny bit too cold we decided to have a yummy lunch with an incredible view in one of the harbour front restaurants. Warmed up and with a full belly we went out again just in time to view the spectacular sunset.

After the sun was gone it got freezing cold from the sea breeze, so we went straight home and lit a fire to warm up!