Thursday - Cycling, Christiania, The Bridge, Malmö

I set myself the challenge of riding in the city of bicycles. After the touchpad set up of an account I was ready to go on one of the 'City Bikes.' I would not recommend them as they are quite heavy and hard to push. This was probably made worse by my failure to understand how to turn on the electric helper, so was under my own steam - literally, as I got a little warm. Anyway, managed to get underway and navigated myself to Christiania, which was a lot less 'community' than I was expecting, looking rather neglected. It looks like I came upon just a small part of the whole, some of which I managed to see from the canal boat tour, but oh well, you see some things and miss others when you travel.

 

Gateway out of Christiania

Back to Magasin du Nord where I picked up a little something for Mum (and something for me too.) A short winding trip to a bike drop off point and I was gratefully back walking. 

The new luggage glided along as I walked from the hotel to the station. The next train was imminent, so I missed getting a shot of the high wooden vaulted ceiling - however someone will have put good photos online. The Oresund Bridge is more impressive looking at it than when you are on it.

The Bridge as seen from Malmö, with the bathing pavilion in front

Malmö station is large and slick. There's a lot less advertising around than Australia. The hotel is close to the station and my small but perfectly formed room looks out over it. The hotel chain calls it 'Lean Luxe.'

I have little judgement about when to stop and rest. I went off to the Malmö Museum, partly housed in the remains of their Renaissance era castle. It has some so-so exhibits and an atmospheric 'dungeon' section with moody sounds to evoke the time it was a prison. It did have a special exhibition on the time the museum was used to house thousands of refugees from concentration camps. It was a series of videos of people who came through Malmö in 1945. The Swedes had filmed the arrivals at the time. The video project was to put names to the faces and interviewed people who recognized themselves in the film and recounted their feelings at the time. One lady remembered that she was very happy, but upset that the coat that she had traded bread for in the camp had to be burned. It was precious as it had meant she survived.

The white buses transported refugees in Sweden in 1945

A long walk through a park to the beach and the bathing pavilion in the Sound with a great view of the bridge. Another long walk back through parklands, the old city squares, a bag of hot chips, apple and chocolate and sleep, sweet sleep.

Fishing boats and fish shops near the waterfront

Malmö's 'twisted torso' building

The bathing pavilion. It has a sauna and massage etc as well as a cold dip in the sea. I didn't indulge, but had a chocolate ball and a cup of tea before heading back.

The castle moat. I'm almost in the picture.

The old square from the late 16th century