First cities!

I figure I should dedicate this post to the cities that I will be visiting/spending the most time in, during my first week in Sweden. I guess that would be nice for (you all) to know. I mean I guess it makes sense that you might want to know something about the first cities that I will be visiting before I get there. So you can have an idea of what I'm going to be doing, in case I don't post right away. I'm going to try to get in the habit of posting at least every other day while I'm there, but if I get too busy, I'll cut back. But enough rambling on to the basic facts about the cities that I'll be staying in!


First places first: Växjö


I decided to get fancy, and post audio so you all can hear how its pronounced! Now that you know how to say it, I guess I should get to the facts. Växjö is the city where Anton's family lives. I will be hopping off the plane, and onto a train to there, once I land in Copenhagen. Heres some of the basic facts about Växjö:


1. Växjö houses about 64,200 people as of 2010.


2. Its total area is only 11.3 miles.


3. The average temperatures in Växjö during the months that I will be in Sweden are as follows:

• January:
• high: 0 °C or in the American system 32 °F
• low: -3 °C or 27 °F
• February: 
• high: 2 °C or 36 °F
• low: -4 °C or 25 °F
• March: 
• high: 5 °C or 41 °F
• low: -3 °C or  27 °F
• April:  
• high: 11 °C or 52 °F 
• low: 2 °C or  36 °F

4. The word Växjö is believed to come from the Swedish words väg (Which means road) and sjö (Which means lake) 


5. Several times during the Northern Wars, Scanian Wars and thereafter, the city has been plagued by fire (in 1277, 1516, 1570, 1612, 1658, 1690, 1749, 1753, 1799, 1838 and 1843). After the last fire in 1843, when 1140 citizens were rendered homeless, Växjö got its current street plan.


6. Växjö is situated in south-east Småland at the heart of southern Sweden and close to Copenhagen, Malmö and Gothenburg. 

7. The city is home to Linnaeus University, which has 15,000 students. 

8. The Swedish Emigrant Institute was established in 1965 and resides in the House of Emigrants near the Växjö lake in the heart of the city. It contains archives, library, museum, and a research center relating to the emigration period between 1846 and 1930, when 1.3 million (or 20%) of the Swedish population emigrated, mainly to the USA.

9. Immediately north of Växjö is Kronoberg Castle, a ruined fortress constructed in the 15th century. This castle was used as base by rebel Nils Dackeduring the Dacke War. The fortress has thick walls and an interesting array of artillery portals that face out onto the lake Helgasjön to the north. The city also holds another castle, Teleborg Castle built in 1900 and situated near the University.

10. One thing that I found interesting: My home town of Toledo, is known for their glass work, and so is Växjö. It houses Sweden's National Glass Museum


I plan on visiting Kronoberg Castle, as well as Teleborg Castle, before I leave Sweden for good, I want to visit them within my first weekend there, but I am not sure if I will have time. I do know for sure that I will try my best to visit the glass museum during the first weekend. 

Kronoberg Castle

Teleborg Castle 

Smålands Glass museum

And: Yes, Aunt Joyce, If you are reading this, I do plan on taking lots of pictures of the glass museum for you! (I also hope that one day I can take you to see it) 


Now on to the next city: Malmö   


Malmö is the city where Anton lives. Its the third largest city in Sweden. It has a lot of neat places that I hope to visit over the three months that I will be living there! At this moment I am particularly excited about visiting a contemporary art museum within the first week that I will be there! (Its free on Fridays. and free is ALWAYS better than paying) I also plan on going to at least one night club while I am there. Theres one in particular that I want to visit! (Dont worry mom and daddy, I wont get into trouble)
We are now reaching the point in my blog where i post more facts that you may or may not find interesting about the city of Malmö! 


1. The city itself has an area of 129.4 sq miles. The metro area though is 979.1 sq miles. The metro area covers the areas of  Burlöv, Eslöv, Höör, Kävlinge, Lomma, Lund, Skurup, Staffanstorp, Svedala, Trelleborg and Vellinge.


2. Malmö is thought to have been founded in 1275


3. Malmö's  location in southernmost Sweden makes it closer to the Italian city of Milan than to the northernmost Swedish town Kiruna.


4. The city itself has a population of 300,515 people, the metro area has a population of 658,704


5. Despite its northern location, the climate is relatively mild compared to other locations in similar latitudes, or even somewhat farther south, mainly because of the Gulf Stream. The average temperatures for the months that I am going to be living there are:

• January: 
• high: 2 °C or 36 °F
• low: -3 °C or 27 °F
• February: 
• high: 2 °C or 36 °F
• low: -3 °C or 27 °F
• March:
• high: 5 °C or 41 °F
• low: -1 °C or 30 °F
• April: 
• high: 10 °C or 50 °F
• low: 2 °C or 36 °F

6. Malmö has the country's eighth largest school of higher education with the university college 
Malmö Högskola. (When I move to Sweden, for good, this is where I hope to attend!)


7. Malmö's oldest building is St Peter's Church. It was built in the early 14th century.


8. The beach Ribersborg in the western harbour, is a man-made shallow beach, stretching along Malmö's coastline. (This is only a few minutes from Anton's apartment)


9. Malmö is literally across a bridge from Denmark! (See below: Oresund bridge)

10. One of the museums I plan on visiting: The modern museum, holds key pieces of, among others, Marcel Duchamp, Louise Bourgeois,Pablo Picasso, Niki de Saint Phalle, Salvador Dalí, Carolee Schneemann, Henri Matisse and Robert Rauschenberg. (I'm SUPER excited to get to this museum, I really want to go there within my first week! I love Picasso, Matisse, and Dalí! )

So I guess that is enough facts for one day. Maybe I'll post some more about the places in each city that I want to go to tomorrow, like specific facts about all the places, as opposed to just stating where they are! But for today that is all I have. I'm sure that I'll come up with more later!