Traveling with mum

After three weeks of work I'm well overdue for a holiday.

This time I'm going north to Swedish Lapland and the frozen landscapes of the arctic circle.

And I'm bringing my mum!

We set off from home at 4am. We had a very smooth transit over to skellefteä half way up swedens east coast. 

Mum looked so funny in her coat and backpack. She looked really cute, like a kid on her first day of school. All wrapped up warm, a massive out of proportioned backpack pulled way to high up her back. She clutched an orange in one hand a book in the other and an excited grin to complete the look.

So padded was she that she struggled to walk smoothly, like a toddler does, as she was all wrapped up warm.

We landed in Skellefteä at the perfect moment to catch a bus to town. From the town we were also just in time for the long bus to Luleå.

Luleå seems like a really nice place, snow covered and friendly with very pretty streets warmly light by subtly elligant street lights.

We arrived at the hostel and rang the bell. Then rang the bell again... Then rang another couple of bells for good measure. 

Eventually a crooked old man hobbled to the door. He wore sandals on his bright blue frost bitten toes and shuffled to open the door. He grunted at us in Swedish and looked over his wonky glasses at us.

"Umm we're looking for the hostel?" 

"You reservation?" He replied

"Yeah, Gary Nichols..."

"Ok, ok, you come in now!"

We went up the lift and out into the hostel. He told us the door code and disappeared suddenly. Leaving us alone to investigate the pleasant enough, but deserted, hostel.

Eventually he returned to give us a key and take our money. SEVEN POUNDS FIFTY FOR BED SHEET RENTAL! I was livid. So was the crooked man though, as he had to half limp, half shuffle back up the long corridor to fetch us the bedding.

Eventually we got settled in and went out for a walk around the city centre and to the supermarket to get some food.

I had been drip feeding mum all day on pointers on how to travel, be subtle, and operate in forgien countries. We sat down on a bench by the checkouts and tucked into some hot chicken and bread. I shuffled backwards and fell clean off the bench. In a fashion that could be described as anything but subtle. I let out a shout and thrust my arms and legs out in the air, like a star fish, groaping out for anything that could save me. Before ultimately landing on my arse. The whole shop came to a stand still staring at me as mum cried with laughter.

We then had another walk and met a 12 foot beaver made of Ice and painted in a park. Hilariously random!