Day 12 - Boat Ride to Blidö, Swimming in Swedish Waters & Breathtaking Concert!

This morning we got up and zipped across town to get on a boat for our day trip through the Swedish archipelago to Blidö. The departure from Stockholm was particularly spectacular as we cruised out of the harbor and past various grand buildings (and an amusement park!). Many of the kids enjoyed the views from the lower deck while playing cards, coloring, reading or just chatting. The scenery along the way included brightly colored houses along the river, mansions with boats out front, breathtaking views of trees, rolling soft mountains, and floating clouds drifting by in the grey blue sky.

The boat made numerous stops along the way at islands big and small. Several of them looked like we were pulling up in someone's backyard as we picked up a person or two. At lunchtime, the chaperones broke out the fixins for sandwiches. The other passengers on the boat were particularly curious about what we were up to and could often be found staring (especially as we pulled out jar after jar of peanut butter which is not a staple in the Swedish diet like it is in the American diet). Four hours into the trip and about 15 stops later, we disembarked at the island of Rodloga. We were met by Ragnar Bohlin, a friend from the bay area (and the Chorus Director of the SF Symphonoy). He had set up the concert for the evening in Blidö as he spends his summers on the island. He had driven his boat over to meet us and to have some time to spend with Bob and Sue as we would have to rush off after the concert to catch our ferry back.

Ragnar took those who were interested on a hike to the other side of the island while others stayed "in town" and hung out. According to one of the locals, Rodloga is one of the last islands that you can freely roam on where they don't have laws about where you can and cannot tread. The hike was lovely with some beautiful flora and fauna along the way (including some blueberries that were picked and eaten!). At the other side of the island, we stopped for a moment to enjoy the quiet water on the other side and to help some locals pull up their boat and drop anchor.

Those that didn't opt for the hike took advantage of some rope swings on a big tree and visited the local store. The stay on Rodloga was only about an hour as we reboarded the boat for the final leg of our trip to Blidö. Many took this last hour or so to catch a quick nap. Bob and Sue took the final leg of the journey with Ragnar in his boat.

Upon disembarkation, we met our bus that had taken several ferries to meet us there. The bus took us over to the church area where everyone had the option to go swimming, go in the public sauna or just hang out. Many of the girls enjoyed jumping in the cool water at the dock and then walking up the road to the sauna to warm up.

After a rehearsal, we went next door to have a meal prepared by the church. Everyone was expecting sandwiches and we were pleasantly surprised by a make your own burrito dinner complete with tortillas, ground beef with corn, lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, bell peppers, salsa and sour cream. What a treat! Almost everyone went back for seconds. Our hosts were thrilled that we enjoyed it so much. After dinner they broke out cartons of ice cream and chocolate and caramel topping. Many enjoyed trying pear ice cream for the first time.

After a quick change, we piled into the church for the concert. The island of Blidö is small and gave the audience and the singers a particularly intimate experience. The singers really connected with the audience in a special way and it became a very emotional experience for many. Following the concert, many audience members approached the chaperones and the kids to express their gratitude for sharing their music. One particularly moved couple came over to the bus after the concert and the gentleman commented that "this explosion tonight was an experience of a lifetime...it blew my world". He wore a yellow shirt with elephants and said he was a director of many choirs and a singer himself.

The two hour trip back to Stockholm via the bus on two ferries flew by as the kids discussed the unique experience each one had during this magnificent concert.