Volvo, for Life

 

A little bit absorbed in all the ethical and history of the volvo brand today, they won me over for sure, and it turned out to be a great way to spend a few indoor hours in Gothenburg on our last day.

Before heading over to World of Volvo had a bit of hotel admin and final tasks to sort out. Most of this involved visiting the gym for the one and only time, must be the first time I've done that on a last day, but just the way that exercise has fallen on this jaunt.  A good gym in the basement / dungeon of the Radisson, amused by the doorway in and out, before hitting the tread for a simple 5K After that it was shower and pack and check out for 11, no rush, last days need to be an amble.

We always had a bit of a museum thing in mind for the last few hours, the weather had closed on so even more important we had a rood over our head. A quick shift on the tram took us the few stops to the car theme park. Right next to the actual theme park, closed on Mondays, but a big deal out here, the Liseburg. Saw a few families emerge from their fairground hotel, looks like the kids had their fun and it was Dads day at Volvo world.

Not quite Griswald this one, in fact a big exhibition centre with a nice cafe which we needed for a brunch/breakfast type of injection. Cheese roll, cake and coffee seemed to do the trick nicely, then scanned our bar codes and into the 'museum'.

The first part lots of fun and games, bit of artificial intelligence, trip down volvo memory lane, the inventors of seat belts which they seem rightly proud of. Also their ideology of openess and innovation both political and commercial I guess, and plenty of games to sample their technology, recognition of space and safety and human movement seems to be all central to their brands philosophy.

The car showroom bit a fun little adventure, recalling friends Dads cars from the 80s, big trucks and diggers of course throwing me back to childhood obsessions.  And a couple of cultural references, old Simon Templar, 'the Saint', Roger Moore, a volvo driver. So him and Darren Abrahams Dad then ...

Was even allowed a go on a digger, in the ball pit, inner child. Chrissi enjoyed the wind tunnel, inner child. On that subject I won't even deign to reference the 2 English 'earthy words' that are fairly ubiquitous in Sweden. Let me know if you know what I mean ...

The clouds lifted a bit mid afternoon as we left, and able to get the tram back to town. Didn't get my latest international haircut of the year even though it was wall to wall barbers near Volvo world. Just like Gorseinon High Street.

Instead we made our almost last sight the botanical gardens, and the rose garden in particular. Not really the season for roses, but lots of names, some literary, some famous, some randomly normal lined the flower beds.  The autumnal foliage colours a little more apparent in the trees so we did get a bit of horticulture or whatever the relevant green term is.

A final snack and shake in Jo and the Juice, and then Chrissi would have not had the trip of her dreams without visiting a lion statue that had caught her eye a couple of times on the tram. Found it, photographed it, and then back to get our luggage from the Radisson.  The return trip to the airport was on the same bus that got us into town, an efficient 25 minute journey. So efficient check in not open so gave me half an hour to put this blog post together!

Pretty much a trip down memory lane after that, passed a Espresso House, a Bastard and a Volvo. Before a nice view from the lounge of planes taking off, not that many, very quiet airport.  Bit more travelling to do now, but will take my leave now ... next blog hopefully Bucharest for New Year.