The air is clear, I can feel it. The everyday life falls away from me and also the fear. My fear of high altitude, which I have been carrying around with me for half a lifetime. Now I am standing on a high platform and I am happy and free. Just now I was flying at 70 km/h at a height of 50m above pines and spruces in Småland. I am completely intoxicated. In the now and here, in the middle of the beautiful nature of Sweden. I breathe in the fresh forest air and feel the light wind in my hair. The first spring sun tickles my nose while I feel the quiet swaying of the tower below me. I am in Europe's largest zipline park in Sweden.
Here I am happy and free
As long as I can remember Astrid Lindgren accompanied me, the search for the right Swedish bench for my kitchen and the longing for the untouched nature. Not to mention the thought of small cáfes and the unmistakable red houses I had always imagined for the perfect Swedish vacation. But what do I get now? I don't. A zipline tour called "Kamikaze Tour" was in the invitation.
Less than 24 hours ago, I was looking for my alarm clock in the dark and sleepily turned it off. I jumped on the train very early in the morning to take the plane from Berlin directly to Växjö. Feels like a stone's throw. A small "Big Airport" in Småland. The colors of the good mood air BRA shine in the light against the blue sky. Apart from our plane, there are only us and two people from the ground staff on arrival. The runway shines sleepily in the sun. I breathe in and come to rest. Already during the approach to Växjö I could admire the boundless nature. Now I am there.
Do you want fika?
Things are warm in Småland. After our arrival we are asked, how it would be with "Fika"? Pretty straightforward the Swedes! Some of us laugh, others look at each other amused. The airport chief wonders. "Fika?" Cathrine, who accompanies our group, briefly enlightens him about the word parallels in German. Fika is quite normal here. People meet with neighbors, usually in the afternoon, and eat cake or even something hearty. We talk and laugh. And then everyone goes their separate ways. Fika is just that. Every Swede knows it.
Jonas - a little bit crazy and laughs
Our large group separates. I start with three girls into the outdoor adventure to the zipline tour. Jonas, our host, accompanies us into the depths of the woods to the Little Rock Lake Zipline and Wilderness Camp. He is a little bit crazy and laughs at us. We believe him immediately and climb into his jeep. He seems lively, his eyes shine cheekily. He tells us that we are the first ones who are allowed to sleep there in the park. The drive from Vaxjö to the "Bränderydsvägen Sawcreek Crownpark" to Klavreström flies by. Conversations about old and new Swedish experiences make the rounds in the group. Information about Småland, Astrid Lindgren, glassblowing, art, painting, furniture and moose - everyone can tell something.
After arriving at the camp, there is even more deceleration. Except for the wind and the rustling of the trees, we hear nothing. I relax. Being one with nature. I feel that here immediately. Reduced to the essential. We are allowed to arrive and sit on the sun terrace with a magnificent view of the frozen lake Änghultasjön, squint against the sun, drink a coffee. Martin joins us, relaxed. He is Swiss, emigrated to Sweden, and is our guide for the zipline tour the next day. On the afternoon hike through the forests of Bränderydsvägen Sawcreek Crownpark we follow him trustingly.
We trudge through ankle-deep snow, track the hoofprints of moose, creep on silent soles, balance over streams and scramble up hills. Here and there we hear the birds and enjoy the infinite silence of the forest. Becoming one with oneself and nature. Martin casually tells us that here, too, man is already practicing overexploitation, elk are being hunted and foreign plants are being settled. Considering the idyll, we can hardly believe it.
Two hours later, after the hike, we earned dinner. Elisabeth has cooked for us. We only find out later that she is actually a full-time PR woman and has only stepped in.
After the good meal, in a ski lodge atmosphere and exciting conversations, we climb into the hot tub, a large wooden bathtub, on a starry night. It is already steaming on the terrace and is fired with wood. Elisabeth extinguishes the lights and there we sit now, in perfect silence, in the midst of nature. We philosophize quietly about constellations and satellites. Until, in the end, everyone listens to the silence. A special moment, the feeling of being one with nature is back. Four people in a hot tub - in the middle of the forests of Småland.
The quieter it gets, the more you can hear
Too much silence. I toss and turn in bed. It smells of wood. Our hosts meant well with the room temperature. At almost 30 degrees, I lie awake in my bed and try to find sleep. Thoughts of everyday life at home come to my mind. The peace of nature here in Småland is overwhelming. Fears of the zipline tour creep into my room. I think about my fear of heights. What am I actually doing here? Crossing borders was the motto of my year. Now I'm not so sure. I have to go up again and walk across the camp in the middle of the night. An overwhelming starry sky opens up above me. Nobody is there. All around the shadows of the towers. This is true luxury for me. I stand reverently for a moment before shivering and crawling back into my bunk. "The silence - yes..." says Martin the next morning - "you first have to come to terms with that".
The first step decides - Kamikaze Zipline Sweden
The day is here. I am excited and try to adjust mentally. Yesterday evening I was already on the towers of the suspension bridge at 18 meters, trying to endure the height. Today we start together with ten people. Introduction. Strap on. Putting on the helmet. I am tense and excited. I feel that we are in good hands with Martin. Everyone goes up the tower. "Whoever zips the first line does them all," says Martin. He leads the way. Three people later, it's my turn and ... let go ...
Martin is right. Together we zip through the forests of Sweden for 4.5 hours. We cover 2.1 km and rush through nature at up to 70 km/h in places. Treetops fly by at a height of 50 m, while the adrenaline spreads through my body, and happiness.
With each of the eight stations, my fears dissolve. In the end, I find fun in it and enjoy the nature, the breathtaking views - on lakes, in gorges and over the treetops. Martin tells me that even wheelchair users or very old people have zipped along with him. The only requirement is courage and being able to let go. "Children can do that best," Martin says. At the end of the tour, I'm grateful and proud.
Contrasts. Style. Design. PM & Vänner.
Hours later I'm sitting in the middle of civilization again. From the forest it went directly to the PM & Vänner Hotel in Växjö. With my hiking boots directly into a new world - "extraordinaire" the French would call now. My head needs a little to arrive on this side of Småland.
How about a Kafé DE LUXE in Växjö?
After a hot shower, I enjoy the soothing view of the elegantly furnished Scandinavian suite and meet up with the other participants for a leisurely stroll through the city. With the last rays of sunshine, we end the afternoon relaxing in the small Kafé DE LUXE.
Quietly rests the lake - in the national park Lake Åsnen
The next day Lisa, a real outdoor expert and organizer of Ultratlons in Sweden, welcomes us. She speaks perfect German. Thanks to a year of living on Rügen. With her at our side, nothing can go wrong, I think to myself. Of course, we are especially looking forward to this tour and head south to Lake Åsnen - hoping to spot one of the typical red Swedish cottages along the way. "Oh yes!" says Lisa "There are many of them here.". As we drive, forest-lined landscapes and many red Swedish houses pass us by. Sometimes a family sits in the sun on the steps, then again two older gentlemen chat over tea. The Swedes are welcoming spring. Here we have definitely arrived in Småland. Bright blue skies accompany our drive.
The trail leads us into the light forests of Bjurkärr Nature Reserve. On the hike we are welcomed by the bright green of spring and the silence of the lake. We rustle our way through dry leaves, smell the scent of the forest and enjoy the first spring sun on our faces. Lisa has been here with her parents as a child, bouldering over the rocks. They are still too cold now, though. After Bolmen, Åsnen is the largest lake in Småland. It lies 138 meters above sea level and has an area of about 150 km². 19 km² alone are occupied by islands. The Åsnen has many bays and islands and is very popular with anglers because of its abundance of fish.
Lake Åsnen lies there quite still, the frozen ice surface shining in the sunlight and enclosing islands, trees and shrubs. A few weeks ago we could have skated here. Now spring is slowly making its appearance. In summer, Lisa herself and her son often go out on the lake, paddling through the clear water on a SUP or kayak.
After the hike we have to earn our lunch. Lisa shows us how to light a fire. Outdour training, she tells us, is what she likes to do best "with stressed managers." and "the best moment is when everyone has to hand in their cell phones."
On the way back to Ålshult, small red houses fly past us again. We stop for one last time - time for fika. The small cultural cafe on the roadside is run by Quinta. She is Dutch and provides us with waffles, strawberry cake and cappuchino - still in bright sunshine. The perfect ending for our trip. With a broad smile, we fly home a few hours later, satisfied. Hejdå Småland!
Arrival
The journey takes place from Kiel or Hamburg with the feeder ICE via Berlin. Twice a week (Fridays and Sundays) the airline BRA flies directly from Berlin to Växjö. The flight time is about 1:35 hours.
Accommodation
- "Little Rock Lake Zipline and Wilderness Camp" is currently offering the opportunity to stay overnight as a group at Wilderness Camp.
- In Växjö directly is worth the PM & Vänner Hotel. The hotel has a wine cellar that was awarded the Grand Award by Wine Spectator magazine. Over 4500 different wines are stored here. To the PM & Vänner Hotel
Undertakings
- Little Rock Lake Zipline and Wilderness Camp
- Hiking at lake Åsnen in Bjurkärr nature reserve with personal outdoor guide Lisa from PepUp.
On site
- Kafé DE LUXE, Växjö
- Culture Café, Ålshults Handelsbod
- Bar of PM & Vänner Hotel is popular meeting place in the evening hours
Note on our own behalf: This article was partly supported by tour operators, restaurants, hotels, airlines and/or tourism agencies. We attach great importance to independent and neutral reporting; therefore, the opinions, impressions and experiences of the respective authors correspond to their personal views.
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