Ibis Vaesteras

Bell tower of the Lilla Rytterne Church

by sim1

This the last picture of the Lilla Rytterne Church that I want to show you: the bell tower. I love seeing these old bell towers separate from the church. I remember seeing them in The Netherlands as well, but only in certain parts of the country.

Purchasing spirits......

by Laura_Mexico

In Sweden there is this monopoly exercised by the government on the sale of alcoholic beverages in the country. The prices of the hard liquors are very high due to the heavy taxes that these beverages are charged with.

In Vasteras, you can only buy high-alcohol-content beverages at a specific store located in downtown. This is the only place where you'll be able to get a bottle of tequila, vodka, whiskey, etc. The only alcoholic beverages you can buy freely in supermarkets and such are beers and ciders with low alcohol content (under 15ºGL). Anything else is a luxury so you may as well try to buy it somewhere else; however, be aware that if you're coming in/back to Sweden carrying some spirits, there is also a very strict limit of the amount of beverages and their alcohol content that you can bring in the country without paying outrageous taxes.

Note: the Baltic Sea cruises between Sweden and Finland are very popular among Swedes & Finns as a chance to buy alcohol duty-free, but there is also a limit for what they can buy on board and take back home....

Sweden's biggest burial-mound

by sim1

Anundshög is Sweden's biggest burial-mound. This photo is taken from the stone-ships towards the burial-mound. The burial mound is maybe a bit more visible in the photo about the runic stone, but I have to admit that none of the photos do it real justice. The burial mound is huge! Anundshög itself is about 14 meters high and has a diameter of 60 meters, which makes it the greatest grave-mound in Sweden.
One thing you have to do is climb up the burial-mound; you can either take the stairs on the backside of the hill, hahaha, or be foolish, like me, and climb up the hill on the front side. The burial-mound is quite steep, so that makes it quite a climb ;-) Climbing up here though makes you realize how big the burial-mound really is and gives you a fantastic view over the stone-ships.

The burial-mounds were probably built over cremation sites, where the dead body was cremated together with the burial gifts. It is unknown who was buried here, but it was probably a very important man; perhaps a king.

Lögarängen.

by Dizzyhead

This is the most central beach in Västerås. It is about ten minutes from the center. It is so very close to the harbour of Västerås. Many of the inhabitants go and swim here. It is like a very big gras field and you have lots of space here for yourself and also for your family/friends.

A nice and relaxing city

by Petruta

I found Vasteras in a one day trip there and i've been delighted by the beautiful houses, a big church close by the center and some very interesting statues.
It's a quiet city, although the university brings many students around and i was very pleased to sit and drink a coffee outside, after visiting the shops in the center.

I wish i could meet this guy in person, but ... i don't remember his name though (silly me :))

I love this statues.... they are so close of reality. And Sweden has so many.