A few days in the city I was born

I spent 4 days with my parents in the city of my birth, Visby, on the island of Gotland just east of mainland Sweden. My parents are there as missionaries for the LDS church just for another month. I just couldn’t miss that opportunity. My dad had a job there at the newspaper Gotlands Allehanda from 1952 until 1955. So I was only 3 years old when we moved from there to Sollefteå. I was back there in 1961 for a week with my dad, but that is the only time. So I was very excited!!!I spent a lot of time walking up and down the streets, taking in all the sights. It is a very old historical city with a wall around the original city. The wall was built in the 1100-1300 and most of it is still standing. There are also lots of old churches and church ruins from the same time period and some very old homes. All three homes (apartments) we lived in are still there, but many others are hundreds of years old. The first home of the Mormon church in Visby in 1861 is still there. It is a beautiful city. My parents’ missionary apartment is within the city walls, close to the south entrance. The streets are all cobble stone streets. This is not the most beautiful time of the year, but the city is called the City of Roses, with roses and flowers everywhere.

The Botanical Gardens, close to the beach, was a favorite place of mine and my mom’s when I was young. We lived right behind it and my dad needed to sleep during the day, so we spent all day there, or walking along the strand or the city. Now, there were some beautiful Crocus and Snowdrops. And the leaves where just starting to come out.

I got to see some of my friends from when I was little, including my first boyfriend (best friend), Yngve. I also got to meet just about all the members and investigators of the church on the island, and other friends of my parents’. I also got to attend a Genealogical conference and had my picture and a little write-up in the same newspaper my dad used to work for.

To get to Gotland, you have to take a large ferry from Nynäshamn to Visby. I left Gotland today and now I am back in Södertälje with Louis, my brother, and his family. But I am staying with Richard’s family tonight. They just opened the first LimitedToo store in Sweden and are planning on opening a lot more. It is a girls clothing store. They are really busy right now. I have been down at the store a lot, too.

In a day or so, I will leave for Göteborg to see my family there.

This is Clara, Louis’ baby girl, who is almost 2. Isn’t she cute?

Another one. I will add some more pictures later from the trip.