It might seem like an odd statement for a grown man like me to make, but without doubt, one of my favourite places in Sweden is Astrid Lindgren’s World in Vimmerby.
If you don’t know who Astrid Lindgren was then I suggest you report yourself to the nearest Migrationsverket and offer yourself up for immediate deportation from Swedish soil (alternatively, go to the children’s section of your local bookshop/library). Just to fill in the Philistines, Astrid Lindgren was the author of Pippi Longstocking, Emil, Ronja, and loads of other brilliant kids’ characters and stories.
I did have my kids in tow and I suggest that as and when you do visit the park (note: ‘as and when’ not ‘if’) you borrow a couple of under tens. And make sure that whoever you borrow them from also kits them out in waterproof clothes – when we went, nobody had told the weatherman to order sun. Despite the rain and even though the high season doesn’t officially start until June 6th, the atmosphere at the park was still so special, like nowhere I have ever visited before. It’s like stepping into the pages of a story and interacting with the characters who don’t just ‘do shows’ but go about their daily business.
One quick example: Sheltering from the rain in a cafe, Emil and family came in for fika (coffee and a cake) and between sips led everyone in a singsong. Simple, innocent, entertaining, good old-fashioned fun.
I know a couple of the actors who work there and managed to catch a bit of the rehearsal for Ronja – my pal Lasso plays Skallepär – Even in rehearsal, the choral singing was magnificent and am looking forward to going back later in the season to catch the full show and hopefully in full sunshine too!
Tags: Astrid Lindgren, music, plugs, Uncategorized
Another really good Astrid Lindgren book is Mio My Son. Here in the US we were read Lindgren’s books and they were great fun. Thanks for sparking my memory. Pippi is the original wild child we wished we could be.
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