THE STATUE OF LIBERTY IN SWEDEN?

Yes, there is indeed a Statue of Liberty in Gothenburg Sweden. It is not as big as the original, in fact it is so small that it is hardly noticeable. It can be found in a sculpture originally called The Five Continents 1927 by Tore Strindberg. The sculpture is placed on the fountain in the Iron Market, celebrating the Swedish iron trade.
Let's go looking for The Statue of Liberty...

Here in the hands of the woman representing the continent of America is the very small Statue of Liberty.

You have to be very observant to see it.

Note the American Indian feather in her hair. Below are pictures of women representing the other continents.

 Asia

Australia

Africa

Europe

LONGING FOR LONDON...

If you miss London, and cannot go there just now, there is comfort on the Internet:

Picture courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/people/ugardener/

1.

Look at TOWER BRIDGE and watch the flow of traffic. Click on full screen mode and unclick the ads and get that "London feel" for a while.

2.

Look at pictures from LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM taken by visitors. 

3.

If you live in Sweden, visit  THE ENGLISH SHOP 

4.

Take a walk in fashionable MAYFAIR.

5.

Check out a MEWS HOUSE. Formerly places for servants and horse and carriage, they are now extremely desirable, and expensive!

6.

Why not visit a museum you might not have enough time to visit when in London: MUSEUM OF BRANDS, PACKAGING AND ADVERTISING

7.

For those who love VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM in South Kensington. Check out the photos taken by visitors. 

8.

Learn more about England

LONDON TOPIC och PROJECT BRITAIN

9.

Read  A LONDON MYSTERY

10.

Finish with this tour of ENGLISH GARDENS. Photos by Nigel Burkitt.

CNN GIGGLES

http://www.thedailybeast.com/videos/2011/08/18/anderson-gets-the-giggles.html

GOTHENBURG CULTURAL FESTIVAL: INTERNATIONAL MARKET

Every year Gothenburg arranges a "Cultural Festival" and the motto behind this arrangement is: "Gothenburg Culture Festival will offer an annual party that contributes to a warmer, more humane and fun community."

English Food and Cups

Wonderful French Vegetables

Greek delikatessen

Polish food

Dutch cooking

Thai food

German food

There was an long line for the Spanish food

Lovely French Cheeses

The Australian Barbecue was very popular

More pictures in a slideshow

HAGA OLD TOWN IN GOTHENBURG

Haga is a city district in Gothenburg, Sweden, renowned for its picturesque wooden houses, 19th century-atmosphere and cafés. Originally a working class suburb of the city with a rather bad reputation, it was gradually transformed into a popular visiting place for tourists and Gothenburgers

 

Landshövding style house

SWALLOWS

There is no other building in Gothenburg (Sweden) that has so many swallows. It is the Telegraph building built 1909-12. 

The swallows fly beautifully in the portico ceiling

The floral design around the swallows reminds one of William Morris designs.

The doors and stained glass are very much in the Arts and Crafts style.

This is how it looks from a distance. Note the carvings above..

..here you find more swallows carved in granite.

A man sends off swallows...

... they all fly around the corner...

... they have just turned the corner...

... the first swallow arrives and is greeted by a woman.

Another swallow carved in granite...

...with its mates...

...all lined up !

Here is the entire pillar with swallows, dogs and vegetation.

The building style is called National Romantic  -- a look back at older Swedish architectural traditions where the choice of building material was domestic granite, brick and wrought iron. Very arts and craftsy. The swallows and other Swedish animals were preferred to traditional  decorations such as lions and angels.

AS SWEDISH AS IT GETS...

In Sweden you cannot get liquor in just any store. You have to go to a government shop, SYSTEMBOLAGET. This is how the monopoly is explained: "The first alcohol monopoly ever started in the mid 1800s in Sweden. It worked so well that the model was spread all over the country."

Once a year, a special limited assortment is sold and I was amazed to see these people line up early outside a SYSTEMBOLAGET on a hot and steamy Monday morning in August.

Some had waited for hours.

The SYSTEMBOLAGET is very well run and they have an excellent assortment so they are liked for this reason.