Visby - The most beautiful town in Sweden
30 June 2014 | Visby
Ulric N2
Monday 30th of June
Fog had descended all around us yesterday before we reached Gotska Sandon. Visibility was less than 100 meters. The island suddenly appeared. We anchored off the point with the colony of seals. Off in Princess Ransom for a spot of seal watching. We motored slowly and then just drifted and indeed seals appeared on different sides around the dinghy.
We motored along the island towards the lighthouse. Hans, Peter and I went ashore while Gertruida stayed onboard Queen's Ransom. We crossed the tip of the island to the Western shore which to our surprise had no fog! We walked for a couple of miles on the beach around the Northernmost point of the island. We also visited the beautiful lighthouse.
Back on the boat, we decided to move to the Western shore to escape the fog. We had dinner in the cockpit enjoying a very calm evening with no wind. There wasn't another boat in sight at the island. Most likely there was no one else this night anchored off Gotska Sandon. How amazing is that? To have all this for ourselves. We listen to Frank Sinatra's New York New York before turning in. New York felt very far away indeed!
I was briefly up at 1 am this morning to see if there was wind. I think it was more my tiredness than that 8 knots wasn't enough that kept me in my bunk! However, Hans I and met up on deck shortly before six am to raise the anchor and set off. Interestingly, there were now quite a few sailing boats in the vicinity. It was the race "Gotland Runt" or AF Offshore Race as it is called. It is the legendary Swedish yacht race from Sandhamn in the Stockholm archipelago around the island of Gotland and back to Sandhamn.
Today's sunshine was a welcome break from the grey of yesterday. We passed by the highest sea stack on Gotland, the Maiden, at Lickersby before getting to Visby. Just before entering the harbour, we were very suddenly surrounded by fog again! It came and went very quickly, but at the worst moment. We were guided in to a berth outside a fishing boat built in the 1950-ies.
Exploring Visby is a delight. I think it is the nicest town in Sweden. It is medieval and very well preserved. It is surrounded by a wall. Another event in the Swedish calendar was about to hit us. It was "Almedal's Veckan"; everyday one of the Swedish party leaders give a speech in the park of Almedalen in Visby. Its origin comes from the late Swedish prime minister Olof Palme, whom every Summer stayed at Faro and from 1968 held a speech in nearby Visby. By the time of his assassination in 1982, it had turned into an official event which soon became frequented by all political parties. Now it has grown to an event for every imaginable cause and 25000 visitors descending on Visby. It was very interesting to see in reality. I had completely missed its popularity.
We walked, we ate and we drank well in Visby. Peter treated the crew to another excellent meal and as always some very good wines. After a brief night cap at the English pub in Visby, we had retired on the boat by midnight. Peter and I listen to Monika Tornell's "En vintersaga" in which indeed she sings about the flickering lights in the port of Visby when the Swedish long and hard Winter moves in. We switched the mast lights off and entered the land of dreams!