Saturday, July 28, 2007

Rescued on our way to Captain Lifecruiser

A Saturday in July 2007
ps. This is a time jump

We arrived Visby and Gotland Island in the Baltic Sea (Sweden) on a Saturday Evening. Nothing special about that. We thought. We arrived at Nynäshamn and waited 20 minutes before the ferry headed out for the Island.. Three hours with the speed ferry - with our car and canoe.
Only, we had not booked a place to sleep - hotel. During the summer months, that would be a wise thing to do. Special for the weekends. And this weekend - all youngsters from the Capital of Sweden, Stockholm, did have their summer party in Visby. We did not know. hehehe.
We asked at the Tourist Information:
- What hotel do you recommend for people our age?
They looked at each other...
- There is no hotelroom left here in Visby, you better go North.
Well, so we did. By road 149.
Asked everywhere we observed a sign with a bed. After 10 pm, it's a sort of panic around...
This is the Sunset from Fårösund - Kustparken
- Sorry, can't help you. All occupied. Drive North.
We did drive North. Same message 7 places (Villages). Anna sent me a certain "eye".
- It's nearly 11 pm.
- We will find something, I said, (I'm allways looking at the positive side of life)
We at last came to the ferry to Fårö - then I observed a sign with a bed. We drove out there- to Kustparken at Fårösund. (Kustparkens hotel)
- Do you have a room for two persons for one Night?


- hm, well, sorry, Michael said - butt?
- Have you any idea where there can be a room for this night?
- Well, let me think - no - no
- We have sleeping bags, I said ....
-----
Silence
Then we walked out the door. What to do? Sleep in the Car? Well, we were convinced that would be the solution - and went towards our C5-car.
Suddenly Michael (the owner) ran towards us and asked:
- Do you have a tent?
- Yes, I replied, why do you ask?
- If you want, you can set up your tent just here, on my lane for one night.
We of course, said - yes, thank you very much.
Tent picked out of our Car. First time. Never raised it before. And we started to assemble that "thing". At the platform 15 meters away - 45 feets - was the Saturday Nightclub. Lots of people. Looking at those old people trying to put up a tent. Anna in the inner tent. Me fighting with the outer tent. Around Midnight. In the lights from our Car.
After 39 minutes Michael came back:
- Do you have some problems?
- Yes, we said

After closing time - *giggles*
- Well - if you do not manage to assemble your tent - I can offer you to sleep in my Office. But You have to have a look before accepting. OK?
- Yes, I said - and followed him to the office.

The rest of the story:
We accepted. Brought in our sleepingbags - went to the night club and bought some white wine.
Then went to bed. And slept very well.
What did we pay for this overwhelming service?
Office view - the morning after
Zero - no nothing.
-Then I told Michael: I'm a blogger. I will do a post about your hospitalty and caring and service.
Breakfast? We had to tell the waiter: We have stayed here for free, hence pay for the Breakfast.
The answere was: No. - - - But we payed. Some dollars.

The platform, from which at least 27 people were amused by the Norse trying to raise at tent. We had breakfast out here the very next morning
A wonderful place. And wonderful people. You may now have seen some pictures from Kustparken.

Thanks to Michael Söderberg - we did survive in comfort.
To read more about this wonderful region and what's going on there - Mrs Lifecruiser

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14 Comments:

Blogger Puss-in-Boots said...

Oh dear, Tor. Just as well you had that lovely young man to help you out. I'm glad that you entertained the night clubbers so well, though. Free entertainment for them, they would have been pleased.

I hope you found somewhere to stay the following night.

July 28, 2007 6:22 am  
Blogger Unknown said...

Now this is a most excellent story. I was smiling and laughing along with you while reading this. Such a grand adventure. I think your positive attitude has led you to many great places in this life.

July 28, 2007 6:29 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

**cack** Could just picture all the cafluffling trying to raise that tent! Glad you guyz got a good night's rest. I wish my family could be there laughing with you guyz. ;D

July 28, 2007 11:07 am  
Blogger Shammickite said...

Ah, that Michael, he is an angel!
Hehehe I can just imagine the entertainment value of you and Anna trying to put the tent up in the dark, I would love to watch you! But I am so glad you had a comfortable night.
Holidays can be an adventure, don't you agree?

July 28, 2007 5:14 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What an adventure Tor! And told!! to us with so much humour!
I don't know if a french man would have a such positiv attitude!
And the nice man who helped you is an angel!

July 28, 2007 10:28 pm  
Blogger Gattina said...

Wow ! what an adventure ! I can see you both fighting with the tend. People like that confirm that not everybody is bad and that's very nice. We had the same experience in the States 500 km through an indian reservation, my uncle had seen of the map a lot of towns, in fact there were only a couple of houses each time. We finally arrived at 3 am in Durango and got a room at a very kind family. all hotels and motels were also full.

July 29, 2007 10:27 am  
Blogger MaR said...

What kind of a hotel is appropiate for people "your age"?lol! This was a wonderful story, your pictures are fun and the sunset and deck are just beautiful!!!
I need to book a trip to Sweden sometime...
have a great sunday!! I am slowly catching up

July 29, 2007 12:47 pm  
Blogger Ginnie Hart said...

A story you will never forget, Tor, and one you can laugh about now. I'm sure there were several moments when things were pretty tense. :) Everything came out okay in the end.

July 29, 2007 4:37 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

wow - what a story! Those pics are so beautiful too! Yes I guess that was fun after all and worth the luck that you had in the end... Ah we are hopefully leaving for a weekend retreat next weekend, hopefully!

July 29, 2007 5:34 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thats my friends Tor and Anna; always finds a way around. Your so creative - but then again every knows that of course:-)

July 29, 2007 11:36 pm  
Blogger Joy Des Jardins said...

Oh, the picture of the sunset is just amazing Tor. All of your pictures are wonderful. Looks like Michael was your own personal guardian angel, wasn't he? What a beautiful time you had. You have a way of making things work out...Cheers to you.

July 30, 2007 4:20 am  
Blogger OldLady Of The Hills said...

What an adventure, TorAa...Unbelievable! Also, unbelievable that you had not made a reservation somewhere.....LOL!
Tents and Sleeping Bags, Offices...Well, I couldn't have done it...Anna is a Queen! That she is still speaking to you says what a WONDERFUL Woman she is...!
Michael was incredibly nice and generous...That would be a Hotel I would have to go bavk to and as you did---TELL Everyone!

July 30, 2007 5:52 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great hospitality.

I met my husband at Gottland, on a tour in 1978 :-)

July 30, 2007 8:42 pm  
Blogger Mother of Invention said...

What a chain of events! You were lucky. I bet Anna will start giving you the eye now at 9:00 p.m.!!!

August 01, 2007 4:02 am  

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