Lindsborg is located about 55 miles north of the thriving metropolis of Yoder, and was settled in the spring of 1869 by Pastor Olof Olsson from Sweden. Known as "Little Sweden", some thirty percent of the population is of Swedish descent. Downtown shops specialize in heritage souvenirs, including various sizes of Dala Horses. The Dala Horse has been chosen by the city of Lindeborg as its symbol of identity with Sweden. Originally carved from scrap pieces of wood during the long, cold winters of central Sweden, the Dala Horse was chosen as part of the Swedish display at the Paris Exposition in the mid 19th century. Lindsborg has placed a number of specially decorated and named Dala Horses along the main street of town.
Beautiful, eh? Since it was raining pretty hard, we drove up and down the street, hopping out every 100 feet or so to snap a pic!
Downtown Lindsborg is a quiet place on a rainy day, but they say it buzzes with tourists on weekends!
A bed and breakfast is located just off the main street, and is elegantly decorated. We had to snap a photo!
A display of Gnomes in the Hemslojd got us to this figure of a cowpoke! By the way, Hemslojd is a Swedish word for "handicraft".
Dozens of Dala Horses decorate the town, but we simply couldn't compete with the rain and only got pictures of a few. This guy is near a Sprint phone store.
Just outside a Mexican restaurant, this horse is decorated with a Dio de Los Muertos theme.
We stopped at Jalisco for a mexican food lunch, and admired the artwork in the dining room. Every chair, every table, and every booth seatback is decorated with artwork reflecting Mexican heritage.
Heading south out of town on a really cool brick paved street,
we arrived at Coronado Heights. Constructed in 1936 as a project of the Works Progress Administration on a 300' bluff in the Dakota Formation, it is said that this point marks the place where Francisco Vasquez de Coronado gave up his search for the seven cities of gold and returned to Mexico. This area is known as the Smoky Valley, and the bluff is a landmark seen for miles.
Normally, one can see for miles from the top of the castle, but today was an exception. The area is a well visited park during good weather.
Although we didn't get out to investigate and search, the bluff is a haven for the Prairie Racerunner, a species of lizard that lives throughout the US. According to a signpost, it's also known as Cnemidophorus Sexlineatus Viridis. Pretty cool, huh?
Well, I gotta go for today. We're planning on going across South Yoder Street for dinner at the Carriage Crossing restaurant. They're supposed to have great fried chicken and chicken fried chicken. Don't tell my cardiologist!
Swedish afterthought:
Ole (our favorite Scandinavian) got a job at the fertilizer factory. The boss tried to determine the extent of Ole's abilities. "Tell me, do you know anything about nitrates?"
Answered Ole...."All I know is dey are cheaper dan da day rates,"
And then:
Ole was hitchhiking and was picked up by two Swedes in a pickup. Ole rode in the back. The truck ran off the road into a river. The Swedes got out, but Ole drowned trying to get the tailgate open.
And, finally:
Lena: Vhen ve vere younger, Ole, you used to nibble on my ear.
(Ole starts to leave the room)
Lena: Vhere are you going, Ole?
Ole: Into da bedroom to get my teeth.
ok, ok....
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