Smogen to Marstrand to Styrso for Mid Summers Eve

We left Stromstad and motored to Marstrand. Along the way we saw some beautiful summer homes tucked into the rocks. Once we arrived in Marstrand we took a trip up to the castle for a look around at the beautiful vistas followed by dinner ashore. Some of Helen's friends from her visit to Sweden in 2007 came to visit. It was fun re-connecting especially in another country. From Marstrand  we headed to Styrso for the Mid Summers Eve celebration. Throughout Scandinavia they celebrate the longest day of the year and we joined the celebration in Styrso. For the celebration the whole town turns out with flowers in their hair and gathers in circles holding hands. We all danced around the pole trying to sing songs we did not understand. Our captain explained one of the songs was about frogs who have no ears or a tail, but a pig has ears and a tail. We decided it lost something in translation. After dinner we poked around the town a bit. There were some wonderfull peaceful walks along the rocks around the island. The nice thing about Styrso is that it is commuter island with regular ferry service to Goteberg Sweden, so much of the population work on the main land but keep beautiful homes on the island. 

Decorated boat house

Boat Houses in Smogen

Summer House on one of the skeeries.

Entrance to Marstrand Harbor with the castle above

Mid Summers Eve gathering in Styrso

Our 12 Meter Traveling companion in the waves

The Harbor of Stryso at 10:30PM