Day 5 - Connection & Getting to know the Vikings of Uppsala

​Today started off with what we now call our little routine. A small walk around Eva’s village with Viktoria and Sydney. Again, the houses are just so perfect, all lined up, new and so close together. I am not sure if this is something I would be able to live with long term but hey, I live in an apartment so it probably isn’t all that bad. It was nice just wondering through the area, looking at the greenery. There was one moment (which is in my video) where I was watching these two blue/purple butterflies playing. There was no care in the world and they were just frolicking in some wild flowers. I was mesmerised by this and couldn’t take my eyes off it, I got lost in that moment and it felt really calming to watch how these little blue butterflies would play out this moment. It brought me a little joy in the stillness of where I was in the world and what I was doing.

​Once we got home, we started getting ourselves ready for the day, ready to go to the Uppsala Viking Museum. Vincent wanted to play around a bit before we got ready but the day was getting away from us. I do adore his cheeky smile though and his laugh. He has the most adorable dimples and even though we don’t really speak the same language, we can understand each other through our facial expressions and how we are interacting, maybe through energy even. I really enjoy how we have connected over the last 5 days. He knows how to say my name, but does put an O in it, pronouncing it like Moissa, but he knows that gets my attention. We have developed some lovely little games, that really bring me joy, using a mix of English and Swedish. I think I am really going to miss him. I can feel myself getting emotional as I write this, knowing how much we have connected over the last 5 days and how sad he will be when we are gone because we have developed our own little things, ways of communicating and playing, he is such an adorable little guy that just wants to play. Seeing the world through his curious eyes, is a pleasure and if we could all see the world like children do, we would have far less worries and so much more gratitude and wonder, the world would be different.

​Anyway… onto the Viking Museum. When we arrived there were some stories to read about the Vikings in Uppsala. It used to be the Viking Capital in Scandinavia, where the King and Queen would sit, which is why there are the big burial mounts in Old Uppsala. The stories that must lay beneath these mounds must be incredible, both told and untold. It is the untold stories that I am most fascinated by, the lives that were lived, the lives that were sacrificed, the lives that were not given a chance to flourish. There was a story written about the remains found in a burial mound that contained more than 20 animals, and another some children. I am curious if they were sacrificed first or buried alive. I really hope they were the former, as that would have been a terrifying way to die. But they did believe it was all in the name of honour. Imagine if that happened today? Your grandparent dying and then you were told you had to be buried alive with them, in the name of honour. Because it was the done thing and their culture, it would probably something that was sought after but my gosh it would have been scary! ​I was amazed at how much they uncovered when they were looking through these areas. There were jewels, bones, tools, tiny little beads, anything and everything were uncovered and through this, they put together the stories of the Vikings in Uppsala. The King in Uppsala was said to be very generous and giving, as one of the stories shared, so I am not sure where the idea that Vikings were barbarians because all the stories I have read are they were kind people wanting to learn about the cultures of the people they met…until the Danes went to England.

Another fun experience I had with mum was dressing up in Viking clothes! She did start the idea, as I didn’t know this was allowed. It was such a joy to see her inner child come out to play and just be silly for a moment. Putting on the clothes, taking a picture sitting on a pig, trying on the heavy helmets and having a laugh while doing it. These silly moments are what connect us, where we can just enjoy the moment for what it is, play for the sake of play, no purpose, just play. This moment, I think will stick with me for a long time because we just got to be, and got some funny photos out of it too!!

I found this little Parish museum, with free entry and went inside. There were even more stories of the Vikings in this area and how it was all set up over the land. They had tools, stocks (they were massive and looked really heavy!) Images of clothes and how they would have lived their lives. The gentleman in this little museum was so kind. He was more than happy to tell me all the stories of all the artefacts and images I saw and had this desire to share his knowledge.

​After the museum, we went to “Odins Bar” with Eva, Fredrik and the kids. It was kind of like a buffet, but we were only getting a drink and ice cream. It was a different buffet like we had in Australia, just some simple Swedish food which looked so good. We went to sit outside, playing around with Vincent a little bit then he got tired so they had to go. So I went for little wonder around the area.

It is wonderful small places like this exist, which can share the rich history of the areas they stand in. I was grateful to stumble across this little gem and learn more about the Vikings in Uppsala

I then continued on walking around the area, seeing the mounds, old farm houses and people enjoying the rich history. I remember seeing a family taking their, what I assume summer family photos, and thinking how much joy there is in their faces, being together taking some silly photos and lovely ones. There is something to be said about sharing time with the people you care about. It was absolutely lovely to watch, from a distance, as I was wondering around the meadows.

​When we got back to Eva’s we had a bit of a chill afternoon and then mum started to make Thai Chicken for Eva, as per her request. This was something mum made a lot for her when she was living with us and Eva clearly wanted it again. They all really enjoyed it, as did I! Vincent was not to sure of it to start with but then he started to eat it and really got into it.

After dinner Vincent and I were playing outside for about an hour to an hour and a half, time just flew! Mum and Eva were with us for some of it. It was here we really started to play our games! He really likes the game, which I have called “Caps”. Basically he puts the cap on my head and says “Moissa Caps” then I take it off and put it on his head saying “Vincent Caps” or he just does it and I give my head for him to do it. Then we went to play with the water, watering some of the patches and the salad plans. It was wonderful to watch him communicate with me. He knew where he could water and where he couldn’t. He would fill the water can up from the pool and look at me and point to an area and he would say yes in Swedish and if I responded the same, he would water, but if I responded by shaking my head, he would choose somewhere else.

It was a really interesting game in the way of communication because we both had to pay attention and be present with each other. Like I said earlier, I think I am really going to miss that little guy. Eva said we will have to do some video calls!
 
I had a lovely last day in Sweden, now off to Estonia!!!
Marissa xx