Day 15: Carl Larsson and Uppsala

Although born in Stockholm, Swedish painter Carl Larsson has become identified with Dalarna and the Swedish countryside, perhaps, more than any other painter. He and his wife, Karin, had eight children who served as models for many of Larsson's paintings. Likewise the Larsson home in the small village of Sundborn was replicated repeatedly in his paintings and have become a part of Larsson iconography. Walking into the garden around the home and, indeed, into the home itself is almost as though one has stepped right into a Carl Larsson painting.

It was, therefore, an extra special treat for the group to tour the home of Karin and Carl Larsson early this morning prior to it opening for the public. Although no pictures were allowed to be taken in the home, the house and garden are as much a part of Larsson's art as the children who modeled for him.

Larsson's home (left) with four of the children painted into the entryway (right).

Roger Cohen, "Polly" Ellingson, William Burlingame and Celine Osborn enjoy the ambience of the Larsson garden prior to the tour of the home.

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From Sundborn, we drove south east towards Falun and Uppsala. The copper mines at Falun provided a large majority of Europe's copper since the 14th century and is today on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites. A thriving winter ski area, Falun will host the 2015 Nordic Ski Championships and further show off its mining history and traditions. Before leaving Dalarna, we felt compelled to bid farewell to the largest Dala horse in the world, standing proudly in Avesta, Sweden.

(Front row (l-r): Kay Reissig and Kristin Nelson. Back row (l-r): Walt Reissing, Sharon Nelson, Karl Nelson and Conner Nelson)
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The Uppsala Cathedral, completed in 1435 and restored and completed in the 19th and 20th centuries, dominates the skyline of Uppsala attesting to the city's status as an archbishopric residence in the Middle Ages and the center of university learning for Sweden for six centuries. An hour north of Stockholm, the city served as our gateway to the capital where we arrived in the late afternoon.

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