SI MONTHLY NEWS November 2006 Travel reports
From SI Exco News
SWEDEN 2006, from Turkey
We are members of Servas Turkey. (Ismail, Ayfer, Damla and Okan). We departed Istanbul on September 9, 2006, at about 10:40 a.m. local time by Turkish Airlines. After 3 hours 10 minutes flight time we arrived at Stockholm Arlanda airport. The time difference between Turkey and Sweden was 1 hour. The population of Sweden is about 9 million and Stockholm (the capital) is about 760 000. The area of Sweden is a little larger than half of Turkey. Our Hertz Rental car was ready at the airport, since I reserved it online a few days before our arrival date. We loaded our luggage into the car and started driving from Stockholm to the south of Sweden. We took the freeway E4 south to Norrkoping, then E22 to Rockneby, 30 km north of Kalmar. Distance of Stockholm to Rockneby is about 420 km, it took about 4 hours to drive it. In Rockneby, we met our Servas Hosts Lars, Ulrika and their children Jakob and Ellen. They live in a country house near Rockneby Lars is a social worker and Ulrika a University Administrator. We stayed with them for 2 nights. We visited Kalmar and Oland. Oland is an island connected to Kalmar with a 10-km-bridge. Kalmar is a small city. Oland is one of the summer holiday destinations of Sweden. Dear Lars and Ulrika, thank you for your time and hospitality. We've been happy to meet you in Rockneby.
Then we drove the same route (E22 and E4) from Rockneby to Stockholm. In Stockholm, we met our Servas Hosts Hans, Christiane and their children Stephan and Estelle. Christiane was born in France. Everybody in this family was French speaking so Damla had a chance to speak French with them. They had a piano in their house and Damla also had a chance to play piano for us. Their house was located in Huddinge, about 10 km south of downtown Stockholm. We stayed for 2 nights. During that time, we visited: the TV tower of Stockholm from where you can see all the city; Vasa Museum; Skansen where you can see old styled and historical houses of Sweden; Stockholm University, Natural History Museum and Cosmonova where we watched an IMAX 3-D movie. Dear Hans and Christiane, thank you for your time and hospitality. We have been happy to meet you in Huddinge, Stockholm.
Next we headed to north of Stockholm about 30 km north of Arlanda, about 60 km north of Stockholm, to the city of Uppsala. This city is well-known with its University and the famous Biologist Linne. We met our hosts Christopher, Eva and their 4 children. They live about 6 km south of downtown Uppsala. We stayed for 3 nights. During that time, we visited Linne Garden, Linne Museum, Cathedral in downtown Uppsala, Hammarskogs Herrgard in south of Uppsala, Skokloster Castle in north of Sigtuna, small city of Sigtuna in the West of Arlanda. We also visited IKEA of Sweden in Uppsala. Dear Christopher and Eva, thank you for your time and hospitality. We've been happy to meet you in Uppsala.
We stayed 2 nights in Rockneby, 2 nights in Huddinge (Stockholm) and 3 nights in Uppsala. I drove about 1500 km in 8 days(7 nights) in Sweden. Sweden is greener than you may expect, has lower density of people than you may think, has beautiful and unpolluted nature, has intelligent people, has world famous companies like Volvo (cars and trucks), Saab (cars and airplanes), Scania (trucks), Tetra Pak (packages), Ericsson (telephone), IKEA (furniture), Finally, on September 16, 2006 at 02:10 p.m. we took the scheduled flight of Turkish Airlines and after a 3-hour-trip we arrived in Istanbul on our scheduled time at 06:45 p.m. Thanks to everybody who made this holiday possible, enjoyable, valuable, unforgettable. We highly recommend all travellers to visit this beautiful country Sweden when they have time and energy. With Our Best Wishes,
Thanks,
ismail+ayfer=damla+okan
Israel and Turkey - part 3
Last month the 12 Servas travellers from India visited a kibbutz. Now they continue their journey.
As last month, due to space, I have cut down on the very interesting descriptive and historical detail. Those who would like the complete text are welcome to contact the editor.
3 June 2006 Drive to the Dead sea- visit Masada, Ein Gadi, Bath at the Dead Sea. Qumeran and to Jerusalem.
We started today’s journey late, crossing different cities and driving at the shore of Sea of Galilee. We observed many people at the shore of Sea of Galilee with their tents. Friday was a Shavuot day, holiday followed by Saturday and Sunday, so people were enjoying their holidays at sea-shore. It is known as sea of Galilee because it is a huge big lake, of course with sweet water. After a long drive approximately at 1.p.m., we reached to Masada. We had to go up by huge bus like Cable car .Before we went to the cable car, there was a film of 20 minutes by the historian who found this palace.
At 3700 square meters, the western palace, built during Herod’s reign, is the largest structure on Masada. We saw the Northern palace and the upper terrace. It is 30 meters high and built on three rock terraces and supported by impressive retaining walls. Herod and his family lived on the upper level and the two lower levels were for receptions.
The Dead Sea region. 417 meters below sea level, is one of the world’s wonders- a body of water so rich in salt and other minerals that entire economic sectors are based upon it. Cosmetics firms the world over market Dead Sea salts, mud baths and other cosmetic items made from products mined from the Dead sea; year-round sunshine and the ability to effortlessly float upon its waters lies at the basis of a flourishing tourist industry. It was my dream to have a dip (floating) in the Dead Sea! It was a unique experience where we could not touch our legs on the sand. The legs would come up automatically. It was very hot. I could be in the sea for four minutes and then I could not bear the burning sensation. After having floating experience, I came out and had plain water shower. Out of 12 persons, 4 took bath in the Dead Sea. We proceeded towards Qumeran after half an hour. There was a small fort on the mountain from where we had the panoramic view of he plain lands.
We reached Jerusalem at 8 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. Our hosts were near the place where they had decided. Our host Nurit( Nurit is a name of a flower and it is a very common name in Israel ) came to receive us and we walked down to her house one furlong away from our stop. It was a small house, maybe 500 sq.ft but the old couple were very hospitable. Her husband Yehudah L. Werner is a Prof. Emeritus of Zoology in Jerusalem. Both knew English very well and had visited India on the way to Australia. He had many books and Atlas in his house. His wife Nurit had prepared pure Vegetarian Lasania. Tasty Lasania and then fruit-salad prepared by her husband satisfied me and Ms. Azone. They were sorry that on the following day they were to receive their son’s friend as the Guest and so we were with them only for one night. They were SERVAS Host for a long time because their daughter when she was young, desired to meet the people of different countries hence they preferred the travellers with the child of their daughter’s age. Now, the daughter has got married and she has children, so they entertain the travellers of any age.
I had taken Indian gifts of shawl, ear-rings, cloth- bags, Vanity box. for every host. They were happy to get something new.
Dr. Geeta Mehta, Peace secretary, SERVAS India
Continued next month.
uploaded by Amelia
