Day 13: Sat 22 Jul: Gothenburg

Cycle: 20 km - Total so far: 484 km

Start time: 8:30
Stop time: 3:10pm
Weather: Fine and sunny 16 to 22deg

It was nice to be able to take our time over the substantial buffet breakfast. Ken and Maree went off on their bikes to do their island-hopping thing on the local ferries while Mick, Kate, Wendy and Greg set off on the bikes to explore the city. It was already warm (16 deg) when we exited the underground car park. Just about immediately we were riding on a separate and very smooth bike path; we can only dream of this infrastructure in Oz. First off, we called at the remnants of the city's 14th century fortifications which were demolished in the 19th century due to it no longer being relevant. I bet they are sorry about that as it would have been a tourist Mecca. Checked out the rather functional and nicely maintained Central Railway Station and then rode to the Opera House / Marina on the main river. 

By this time, it was nearly time for the Maritime Museum to open where we spent an interesting couple of hours crawling up and down ladders in a wide variety of ships, boats and submarines. We had mornos at the canteen. The lovely 17th century wooden houses at Haga were next, followed by the Botanical Gardens which were well worth the 3km ride. 

Back in the city we called at both the Market Hall and the Fish Hall. On the way home Kate found what looked like a brand new iPhone 6S on the road. It was locked but by swiping a text that was on the screen Greg ended up getting the owner's sister on the phone and made arrangements for them to collect it at the reception. The man at reception told us later that the owner had picked it up and was thankful. 

Maree and Ken's choice for dinner tonight and we ended up at a local pub with a substantial selection of beers and ciders. As the blackboard menu was in Swedish we requested the assistance of a waiter and he couldn't have been more helpful. We went home with fairly full tummies and a slightly wobbly boot on one foot. Lucky it was only a few hundred metres away from our hotel.



City fortress remains

Marina near the Opera House

Gothenburg Opera House


Propellar for a Dragon (Draken) Class submarine

Ward Room (Officers Mess) on the Destroyer

Ship's Canteen

A Dragon Class Submarine



At the fort

E-bus being charged - there were 100s of these in the depot

Central Railway Station

Beautiful sailing ship next to the 'Lipstick' Building

Plenty of traffic on the river

Maritime Museum

Maritime Museum

On board a destroyer

The bridge of the 1950s destroyer

Down in the ammo store

1960s sub

Maritime Museum

Haga, with its 17th century wooden apartments

Botanic Gardens

Everyone loves a wedding



Market Hall, we couldn't afford to live here, really expensive!


The Fish Monger outside the Fish Hall


Fantastic cycling infrastructure throughout the city

Fish Market Hall, which is known locally as the Fish Church for obvious reasons


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