Autumn Arrival!!

"Autumn is the second spring where every leaf is a flower"

These words by French Nobel Prize–winning author and philosopher Albert Camus are absolutely apt.

This was my second tryst with the Swedish autumn but honestly it was for the first time that I actually witnessed or rather experienced the marvel and splendid shades of Swedish autumn in its full galore and glory. Just like Fika, Swedes love to talk about weather and let me tell you if coffee gives an opportunity to socialize with people, then Swedish weather can offer to be an excellent topic for conversation.

Although the Swedish seasons have their unique charm but the golden yellowish shades of autumn foliage are absolutely stunning and incomparable. Presently, entire Gothenburg looks drenched in the beauty of autumn. The bright shades of orange, brown and yellow are a photographer's delight. The autumn sky despite lacking the summer sheen looks brilliant. Though the day light saving is over, darkness hasn't yet invaded the day sky completely as there is light until at least 17:00 pm. Gradually as the winters approach, darkness will slowly engulf the day sky in its enormity and at times it can become tricky to predict the time just by looking out of the window.

Honestly, if we look past the darkness, there is so much Swedish autumn has to offer. Every evening when I go for run past the serenading trees and fording through the golden dust on the ground, there is a sense of pure pleasure. I do miss the long summer days, flooded streets and the bright sky but then the clean and crisp autumn air feels equally blissful. So let's embrace autumn till it lasts. 

Swedish Summers

Being an Indian summers aren't something I should yearn for but surprisingly this time it has been pretty different. Few days back I stood next to my window side and I silently thanked the mild sun glaring out of the blue sky for my Summer of 69 (pun intended). 

Those who think Gothenburg is all about cold and harsh winters, dear get the facts right. Gothenburg enjoys a temperate climate. Summer days are long with abundant daylight and bright sunshine. Here the daytime temperature varies from 15 to 25 degree Celsius and the summer sky gets dim to twilight and then lights up again. One can find people everywhere around, in the city center, in the parks taking sun bath and in the outdoor cafes catching up with their pals as the mighty Sun barely dips below the horizon. What a sight it is!

Entire city seems drenched in splash of colors and basking the warmth of Sun. For Swedes summers are like a religion and midsummer is nothing less than a party time. People indulge in festivities and outdoor celebrations. Midsummer Day is celebrated on a weekend closest to June 24. People gather in parks and raise a "Midsummer pole" which is decorated with flowers, leaves and flags. One can feel the merriment in the air.

I must say there is something alluring about long days and the bright evenings. Though I was home for the initial part of the summers but luckily I was well on time to experience almost a month of summer bliss! My friend and I went out for summer sale shopping. We roamed around the city, went walking through the meadows, volunteered for a food festival and tasted some good cuisines. Not to miss the amazing dip in the waters of Stensjön under the azure sky. To sum it up, it was summers experienced like never before.

Swedish summers. Goodbye till we meet next!