High and Low

 

Walking into town on Monday afternoon, via the city park, I happened to see this very tall crane at work, lifting something onto the roof of the hotel with the big mural. I found it better to stop and wait until the crane had safely finished turning to the side, rather than having to pass right under it while it was still moving... 

Continuing straight forward past the hotel, my eyes fell on this old brick building, which in "style" reminds a lot of some of the bigger old industrial buildings in my previous post. 

Because of big city fires back in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, there are very few wooden buildings still standing in our city centre; but in the background in the photo above you see one or two of them. The statue at the entrance to this pedestrian shopping street is called Knallen, an old local dialect word here meaning "The Pedlar" (i.e. "a person who goes from place to place selling small items"). So what he is holding is a sack with rolls of fabric in it. Pedlars were very common in this part of Sweden in the past, and Borås was and is still known as a textile city. 

However, my errand in town on this Monday was to a small "health" store situated in one of those old wooden buildings behind the Pedlar. Primarily they sell things like dietary supplements and other non-prescription "alternative medicine" stuff; but what I was after was a new pair of comfortable indoor sandals to replace my old Birkenstocks (which  served me well for many years but are now almost starting to fall apart). 

I was lucky, as the second pair I tried on immediately felt very similar to my old ones, although they're of a different (Swedish) brand - Embla. So I bought them. And so far no regrets - they're very comfortable indeed, and I hope they'll continue serve me well for another number of years ahead.

(When it comes to buying shoes, my experience is that quality and comfort is usually worth the money, rather than just looking for the cheapest price tag...)

New shoes

Old shoes

 

 "A good pair of shoes is like a best friend,

always there when it counts the most."

 

Stairway to Heaven

 

Yet another beautiful spring day today; but they say colder weather is to be expected again tomorrow, and probably even snow... After lunch I set out on a walk without any clear idea of where to go. I walked towards town along the river but my legs and brain conspired along the way (as they often do) and ended up taking me up to the top of the city park to explore the recent changes made there, with some new stairs and paths - and, as it turned out, at the very top of the hill also a new lookout platform with views over the city.

▲Looking south, one sees our two tallest buildings (apartment blocks) sticking up over the trees. (I live some distance to the west of those, out of the picture to the right.)

▲Looking east, and down: A public swimming hall + parking lot. ▼ 

 

▲Looking north: A mini "adventure" golf course (not new), also on top of the hill.

▲ Looking down and north from the golf course ▼

(Zooming in the mural from a bit further downhill.)

▲ View from the golf course towards south-west, overlooking the new path downhill. And having walked down that, to get back home I turned left at the white building you see in the background, and then walked on another 15 minutes or so in that direction.

 

Linking to Mersad's

City Walk

 "And it was Monday [my previous post] - and then, all of a sudden, it was Friday again..."

These photos are from a walk last Sunday, though. 

Crossing a bridge over the river, and trying to catch a view (as) "from the past"....

... i.e. before this tower block came into the picture (it's been there for several years by now, and as it's the highest building in the city so far, it's kind of hard to ignore)

Walking up a hill where the views have got rather cramped in later years, with a lot of new highrise blocks added. (Older buildings to the left, new ones to the right.)

 

 

We've reached the top of the hill and are walking down on the other side, towards the city. Older (and lower) buildings on this side... And you can see one of the church towers in the background.

 

Some pretty gardens here, too

Rescue helicopter up in the air (there is a helideck at the hospital).

Down below now, closer to the city centre, passing a fairly new multi-storey car park.

Parking for other kinds of vehicles!

Going to visit an "old friend" - the giant Pinocchio statue, created by American artist Jim Dine. It's official name is "Walking to Borås" and it's been here since 2008. I think this project was really the start of all the biannual sculpture and street art festivals we've had since then. It's nine meters high if memory serves me right.

Mural on the building where our local newspaper is being produced.

Borås is an old textile industry town. Nowadays the focus is not so much on production but more on design, fashion, education and developing new technology etc. But we still have quite a few old industrial buildings left (most of them now used for other purposes).

Finishing off with some park views.
(The building in the background is an indoors swimming bath.)

Non-Violence, bronze sculpture by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd. It's a replica of (or similar to) one by the same artist placed at the United Nations head quarters in New York.

It's becoming evident that summer is over and autumn is slowly on its way...

Weekend Reflections / Social Distancing Continued

 
The weather is still sunny, and the temperature "chilly spring" - as in people still wearing winter clothes, but more and more signs of spring showing up in nature nevertheless.

Yesterday the Swedish government declared organized meetings involving more than 50 people forbidden. Still far from the total lock-down in many other countries, though. (For better or for worse, only the future will be able to judge.) Everyone with any kind of flu/cold symptoms is of course (still) supposed to stay home; and people over 70 or in a risk group are urged to keep isolated and minimize all contact with others. Little Red Riding Hood is not supposed to go visiting grandmother (or the other way round) - and everyone else as well is strongly advised to think twice (or more) before undertaking any kind of travel.

I'm still going out for daily walks (not breaking any rules) but keeping away from people. Like last week, I've also stayed away from the city centre during the week - but decided once again to go that way today (Saturday morning), to buy myself another bouquet of tulips (provided the flower shop was not crowded - and it wasn't) ... and generally check on the progress of spring.

Even the ducks seem to be practicing social distancing and "three is a crowd" just now.

Out of the twelve stone chairs in the square (a permanent sculpture art installation), only one was occupied. Certainly no crowds of 50 to be seen.

A new addition is a green mini square with colourful footprints at respectful distance from each other. And a sign saying something like "a safe place to meet". (Mostly meant as a reminder to keep your distance, I think.)

Services in the Church of Sweden churches in our city have been cancelled for this Sunday (tomorrow), in order to follow the new restrictions.

The cherry trees beginning to blossom are a reminder of new life on the other side of winter...

On my way home, after my visit to the flower shop, I passed by this place, which is a small arts and crafts shop and gallery, where local artists sell their handicraft. I recalled having seen an ad for a current exhibition, and decided to take a look through the door to see if it was crowded in there or not... It was not. The only other person inside was the salesperson. So I went in, and very much enjoyed the exhibition of colourful textile art.

(I also bought a couple of little things but as one may end up as a future present for someone, I'm not showing those. Yet, anyway.)