We crossed the Skagarrak, the strait separating Denmark from Sweden, on the ferry, a three hour ride. The sea was calm. Approaching Goteburg, we passed through a series of small islands and then docked downtown in the city. The city is built on hills of granite so that walking down a street, you can turn a corner and catch a glimpse of the ship of the ship on which you had arrived.
Lots of choices in getting down the street. The main streets are divided into distinct lanes for walking, for biking, for buses, for cars, and for light rail. I found on my bike it was hard to keep track of which lane I should be in. But the city is not kind to automobiles (as we found trying to find our hotel…google maps lied to us but we were set straight by some kind city dwellers). Parking tickets are vastly expensive (we got one in Arhus for just under $100). Parking rates change from daytime (10 kroner an hour) to night (2 kroner after 6 pm); some two hour parking is available on side streets, but must removed on Wednesdays of odd numbered weeks (they actually count the weeks each year to keep track…this is week 29 of 2009). Lots of rules…always better to bike.
