Uppsala (SE)

[LandoCal126 0]

Uppsala (SE)

[Captain]

FAQ
Situated at the Fyris river, 60°N, a 40 minute train ride north of Stockholm, 20 from the airport. Founded in the 10th century, Uppsala was once the capital of Sweden, but is nowadays mostly known for its university, one of the oldest in the world (1477). Swedens fourth biggest city, it sports around 140 000 inhabitants of which 40 000 are students. Members of this forum might recognize Uppsala for its hardcore/crustpunk scene.

Accomodation
There are four hotels and three hostels, usually fully booked due to proximity to airport and a lot of international students and researchers. Members of this forum can crash with Captain if they show up in IH gear.

Shopping
Davidssons Skomakeri: Skilled shoemaker (Swedish champion of shoe repair/building) who stocks high quality shoes (Crockett & Jones, RM Williams etc) and leather goods. Does great custom jobs. Old fashioned store where you can discuss handicraft and attention to detail.

Dreamers Vintage: Just an ordinary thrift store, but if you ask for the proprietors husband he sports a great vintage watch collection where many pieces are for sale. Said man also knows reapirs on older watches and can locate any watch for you.

Musikbörsen: Good second-hand record store.

ironheart.co.uk or see Stockholm

Sights
The Castle - a pink one (!), see above - with its rococo garden adjacent to the botanical garden (good greenhouse there with a fine selection of water lillies, giant lotus and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_regia).

The Cathedral - see above, one of the biggest in northern Europe, stems from 1237 and houses among other things the remains of Swedens founding father and a candelabra granted by Haile Selassie.

Carolina Redeviva - the university library. Still in use today but also exhibits 16th century maps and old war treasures such as parts of the Silver Book, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Argenteus.

Less tourist shit and more action to follow…

[Giles]

@Captain:

Members of this forum can crash with Captain if they show up in IH gear.

Nice touch…....

[Captain]

To do
Ungdomens Hus - home of Uppsala Harcore (UAHC); skate facilities, good pinball selection, hosts gigs. All kinds of music with an emphasis on heavier music. Well connected so any touring HC/crust/metal/etc-band close to Sweden usually stops by here. The downside is that it is alcohol-free and thus a younger crowd.

Alans
A run-down pizza parlor in the student ghetto hosting regular gigs, mostly r&r and punk. Like above but with beer.

Palermo
Day-time your regular lunch restaurant, after midnight the water-place for punx and such.

Ranstafestivalen
Small one-day-festival just out-of-town with a DIY ethos, ecological signature and the greatest mix of people you'll meet. Always superb shows by well-picked bands. Highly recommended. http://ransta.wordpress.com/

[Captain]

Nationerna
The student "pubs" - 11 in total - are called nations and require a valid student visa. As such, they count as all-members-, all-students-organisations why they are tax-leviated - food and alcohol costs 50 % less. They host all kinds off events, from all-you-can-eat-hangover-brunches, via clubs and discos to fancy restaurants. These are the places to go to verify the cliche that all swedes are strikingly tall and dazzingly beautiful.

The actual buildings are often of historical significance, notable are VästGöta Nation, built 1667 (great cellars)
where yours truly occansionally plays record at the wednesday beer&pingpong club, and Västman-Dala Nation, designed by Alvar Aalto: