Driving with an electric car around a small town was a breeze. It held a charge all day and we had a charging station at the hotel. Long journeys though, are another story.
As I write this, we are on our 600km journey home. With better planning we have been able to time our stops better, choosing quieter rest stops and taking our coffee and meal breaks while the car is charging. The only hurdle we have had so far was that one of the rest stops had no functioning charging stations, which could have been a problem if we had been low on energy when we stopped.
Interestingly, we spoke to people at the charging stations (it brings out the chatty in people). One man had a company e-vehicle and said he hates it for long trips. He was glad that he would be changing jobs soon and would never choose an electric vehicle again. Two enjoyed electric cars. Another one said he would not buy another one.
The other problem we had - not related to energy - was that the road was like an ice rink with several multiple-car pile ups and overturned cars along the way. Rental cars don't have studded tyres, just 'winter' tread. This is okay for town driving but on the open road you really need the studs when it is very snowy and icy.
Our car looked a little like a Star Wars stormtrooper as we left early in the morning.
I found this in a little second hand store. It is not something I would ever like, but my mother collected them. She had them in all different sizes and shapes. She loved her collection of china donkeys. They were all pulling different kinds of carts. After my parents' death, our house and contents were auctioned so I am not sure where they actually ended up. But I bought this one in her memory. I can't say that I have ever seen another one.
I didn't go there but I like the idea of a punch museum
These flowers were on the walls in a restaurant we visited. I don't think they are real flowers but they looked so pretty.
This Christmas display was gorgeous. This shop always reminds me of an old fashioned clothing shop. I bought two things - a green down vest for $10 and a gorgeous summer dress for $24. Both were 70% off. On my wish list for this year were a long down coat and a down sleeveless jacket, so I have found 1 of 2.
Look at this doorhandle! This belongs to an amazing stationery shop I visit whenever we travel to Karlshamn. They have Filofax products and all kinds of pens and notebooks.
And here I made a very Swedish cultural faux pas. Things I teach my students not to do when visiting other countries. You are supposed to eat the cakes from right to left. First a more plain one, then a more fancy one. Me of course took the one in the middle. My sister-in-law assured me that it didn't matter because I was home (thank you C!) but I still cringed. Almost as badly as when I drank out of the finger bowl at a restaurant when I was young.
I am contemplating buying some of these the next time it is so icy. It is a bit of an 'old lady warning' as Swedes say, but I really don't care at this point. I would rather that than a broken hip.
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