We started the day in Arvidsjaur, Sweden this morning. Did some sight seeing, some serious shopping, and then headed north on the train. Saw some reindeer, moose, and swans, crossed the Arctic Circle and are now in Jokkmokk, Sweden. But first - some sights in Arvidsjaur.
In Sweden in the 1680's, laws were passed requiring everyone to attend church. There was also a push to Christianize the Sami, a nomadic reindeer herding people. But for many living in the northern wilderness of Sweden attending church regularly was difficult because of distances. So, those who lived far away were allowed to attend every 3 weeks, but they still couldn't make it to church and home in one day. So, cottages were built around the churches so the attenders had a place to stay overnight. Here's a church town, as they were called, in Arvidsjaur that was built so the Sami could attend church. It is still used by local Sami for festival occasions.
These are fairly typical traditional Sami structures.
We visited the church in Arvidsjaur -
Saw the ubiquitous sign to clean up after your dog - this one reminds people that the dogs can't clean up after themselves.
But, no sign to clean up after the reindeer, despite evidence they'd been walking on the side walk!
We did see a couple moose, a few herds of reindeer, and two swans while riding on the train - but didn't get any pictures of them (it's rather hard to get a photo of a running reindeer, when you are on a train going 50 miles an hour.) The only picture we managed to get was of the stuffed reindeer in the hotel.
And then we crossed the Arctic Circle - Here's me with the Homer News at the Arctic Circle.
And Bruce who got his picture taken in the rain, after a lot of coaxing.
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