The second Advent candle is lit today. It is called the Bethlehem Candle, for the town where Jesus was born.

Today, it is crisp and cold. At this latitude, the clear winter sky with sparkling stars and the low sun through the short days give a fantastic winter light. It's snowing like crazy outside at the moment. It's like being inside one of those snow globes. I guess someone gave my globe a really good shake this morning, because it's almost zero visibility out there, with the heavy snowfall...

Today and tomorrow it is our Julmarknad (Christmas Market). Just when I wonder whether Sweden, a country of wonderland, can become any more wonderful, well, wonder of wonders, along comes Christmas. And along with Christmas come the wondrous wonders of Sweden's Christmas markets.

At the Christmas markets you can purchase traditional art and handicraft products, knitwear and home made delicacies. Skilled craftsmen offer everything from wooden toys, hand-made candles and painted glass decorations to cigars, exotic spices and home made Christmas mustard - all unique products that can not be bought anywhere else. And yes, it is held OUTSIDE!



Many towns have a local market during this time of year. Christmas markets are rather like "festivals in the street" with lots of booths of crafts, jewellery and food. Ours is held in our harbour area, in over 60 rustic red cabins, outside stalls and in the courtyard. I have been to several markets, and, no matter how often I go, I always find something new and refreshing to lighten up my mood and my senses (especially my sense of taste). Yes, that is me, well rugged up, admiring the straw wreaths.



Our market is quite small and relatively simple, although it offers a nice array of ornaments, handicrafts, smoked fish, smoked sausages and other Christmastime commodities. It is ideal for browsing, snooping, drifting and otherwise honing the appetite with such Swedish treats as vort limpa bread and thin ginger biscuits.



There were lots of covered stalls selling all kinds of crafts, wreaths, straw animals, baked and preserved goodies etc. The ground was covered with straw and everything was colour co-ordinated in shades of red and green. The smell of fresh straw combined with fresh pine, newly baked pepparkakor (thin gingerbread) and warm glögg was divine.



What a lovely atmosphere. Yes, it snowed but everyone was well rugged up. Despite the cold, people were happy, good natured and friendly. No pushing, shoving etc that you get in Australia. I enjoyed it very much, especially after sampling a glass or three of glögg!



As we are on the archipelago and just a short way from Stockholm, Nynäshamn's Christmas markets are well attended. You can come here via traditional steamboat. The boats were built early this century and are really beautiful with lovely all wood interiors and brass fittings. We wandered along the pier looking at one called Blidösund; very civilised, I thought. You can enjoy a trip through the winter landscape of the archipelago, being wined, dined, entertained and WARM! Then visit the markets which are at the harbour and go back for the return trip.



There were also historic steam trains running from Stockholm where glögg and biscuits are served while you journey here. I think that would have been nice, too. And the train station is right by the harbour. Some people came via train and returned via boat which was clever. We just wandered down from home via leg power. Luckily, it is such a small place that we can walk to the harbour in 10 minutes.

Today is also a special day for me, as three years ago today I arrived here in Sweden, coming from a blazing +40C summer day in Adelaide to -6C in Stockholm. I can't believe how fast time has flown by! I reminded L-G that I have been here 1095 days now and his comment was "It feels like it!" Who says romance is dead? I had to send him a little something to remember the day, so I thought that THIS was very appropriate!

To close, I leave you with my Zen thought for the day:

The best way to forget all your troubles is to wear really tight shoes.

Till next time!