Öland, Sweden - Shelby

Greetings from Öland!
We arrived in Stockholm on the 23rd and were elated to be picked up by Fredrick Anders (Anders' namesake) and his wife Annika. They drove us to where we would be staying for the next 2 nights- the home of Brengt and Lotte, our hosts in Öland. They had already travelled down there, and we were staying at their home in Stockholm while waiting for Roy and Kathy to arrive the next day. It was a wonderful chic Swedish condo, stylized very much like Ikea, though with a much more personal touch of warmth and life. The buildings were made in the mid nineties to the courent day, and were made with green designs in mind. For instance, there is a food waste chute on the side of the building that goes to a processor to create heat to warm one of the complexes! Also, all the lights turn off with motion inactivity and the toilets have a low flush and a lower flush option (as have almost all toilets we´ve experienced on our trip! America is sooo behind the times!).
Roy and Kathy arrived and the next day we travelled the 5 hours to Öland, Anders and I on a bus and Kathy and Roy with Anders (the 1st) and Annika, and their son. At the end of the line, we hopped on a very slow ferry that took us to Öland. We got here yesterday and it is very beautiful - a lot like Vashon or Orcas island. Its very comfortable and casual - the main house being very old and there are three outbuildings, one is our cabin where the four of us are staying, another is a cabin where some other guests are staying, and another building that is used as a kitchen and dining area. Lotte is a caterer, and last night she cooked a delicious meal for everyone, including a vegan option for me! I am so grateful! and it was delicious!
Tomorrow night is the big party, with 150 in attendence, and the next day is my birthday! then on to amsterdam.
Love to all, Shelby