Friday, June 23rd was another Swedish holiday (the second of two in the weeks after our arrival June 8.) This holiday is the official start to the summer; in fact, it's called Midsummer (Midsommar in Swedish) and probably has something to do with the summer solstice. There are traditions for children and other traditions for lovers. Children dance around a kind of Maypole, and lovers (and just about everyone) wear crowns of flowers. We're still learning.

Our friends Vickie and Roland invited us and another boating couple to Midsommar dinner for a traditional Swedish meal. Vickie is American and Roland is Swedish, and they've blended their backgrounds in their warm home in Ellös. They served a cold course of herring (sill) with a garnish of crème fraiche and fresh chives, new potatoes (färsk potatis) with dill, marinated red beets, and avocado with caviar, in a tribute to American summer. The hot course included Swedish sausage (korv) and meatballs (köttbullar). Roland's strawberry cake (jordgubbstårta) capped the delicious meal. We also had copious amounts of a variety of schnapps, too copious for several of the Americans in attendance.

The next day, we all took our boats to a secluded anchorage in Grötö. Rafting boats together is a convenient way to visit each other, and we pooled our resources for dinner. Swept Away is the boat on the far left.