Karlstad - science, shopping, swimming and socialising

After morning class (G&T's in a hotel bedroom) we were collected at 10am by Marie, Eva and Kjell who drove us to the Varmlands Museum to see a visiting exhibition on Muslim Heritage. This exhibition was an exciting way to explore some of the scientific achievements and inventions made during the Muslim civilisation from the 7th to the 17th century. Their discoveries helped pave the way for the Renaissance.

In addition to all the intellectual information to read there was a computer game to play which involved flying. This was achieved by waving arms up and down at different rates to gain height or lose it. This skill was used to avoid hitting birds while trying to hit other flying objects and score points. This was projected onto a big screen for all to see and proved a big hit with everyone. The high scorer was Val - congratulations on flapping your way to victory!

We had lunch in the museum with Per-Inge Liden the Deputy Mayor of Karlstad who had responsibility for sport and culture. Once again we were offered a wonderful choice of food.

With a free couple of hours we split up and went our separate ways: some walked and took photos, some shopped for glass and some swam in the hotel pool.

We re-grouped at 4.30 so we could be taken to the ice rink for some curling. It had been agreed we would play two 5 end games and then have some supper. Results will be in the next blog but all did not go our way!

The ice rink was a great facility built by the town for use by its people. The were two halls with four rinks in each. The meal afterwards was fantastic - three sorts of smoked salmon, cheese potatoes and salad followed by strawberry pavlova.

Val gave the vote of thanks (no Swedish) and gifts were presented to the ice rink president, Marie, Eva and Kjell for all the hard work they had put in to make our visit memorable.

Back at the hotel we had evening class (more G&T'S) whilst getting our instructions for the next day. We had to retire to bed at 12.30pm because the people in the next room said we were making too much noise!

A few photos (I'm having trouble annotating them - sorry).

The group with Per-Inge Liden

Karlstad Catherdal

Carpet in the hotel - you could travel the whole length of Sweden!

Karlstad houses