After a long flight sequence: Guilin – Beijing – Amsterdam – Stockholm, plus the 90 min bus trip from Stockholm to Vasteras, we were glad to arrive.

We had planned on typical Swedish summer weather, but instead we have a heatwave with temperatures in the low 30s, a continuation of unusually hot and dry conditions that have prevailed since early may. There are extensive forest fires and firefighting water-bombing planes have been brought in from Italy.

Highlights so far have been a day at Erik’s mother’s country cottage on a lake near Ludvika, and a day cruising on a steam-powered boat across Malaren and up a canal. You can follow the events via the annotated gallery of photos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/Hvt7JcdwyjXfKrvJ6