Everyone knows that the Romans never invaded Scandinavia. We wanted to find out why!

The Irish got so sick of training me that they gave me my ratings early enough to allow for the month of August off. We took our campervan on ferries across the landbridge Dublin to Holyhead and Dover to Calais (same call this bridge Great Britain) and had a leisurely drive to Billund Denmark - which means Legoland in kidtalk.

I come from a land downunder and I know distances so it came as a shock that just nipping up to the Artic Circle to see the great Northern Lights was like driving to Cape Naturaliste lighthouse in SW W.A. - a long way to see a glow. So we took it easy and concentrated on Denmark and southern Sweden.

The weather, as usual with our adventures, was glorious (other than when I assured Camilla that that cloud won't worry us - I'm a qualified met observer - we can leave the awning out all day. It was finally repaired last week). The campsites are set up perfectly for families and the Scandish (my term) are great people - very friendly and with better English than mine! Although I would often yell to our kids as they disappeared into another playground; "Hey - Kids" and everyone would answer "hey; hey"??? Hey is Gidday in Swedish! All manner of fun things for children come from Scandland (my term); Lego, Lego and more Lego. Every piece of playground equipment was invented here so the kids absolutely loved the holiday. And we were stuck sipping chardy under the shade of the awning; feet up - relaxing. Definition of holiday: 1. travel somewhere different; 2. put feet up; 3. relax! Successful.

The small part that we saw of Scandinavia impressed us immensely and we will certainly return. Highlights:
-cycling along the GoteCanal, Central Sweden (hardly got a mention in the Lonely Planet);
-beachside dining in Helsingborg Sweden looking at Helsingør Denmark and watching the ships ply the two mile wide øresund;
-boat cruise and castle tour around the Danish island of Troese.

We really needed six months to do these countries justice.

Take care all - next update is Paris and Bergamo (Italy) for short breaks.

The gurus!!