Wilsons Visit Sweden

The Homeland TourJune 2009

Your Tour Leader: Helga!

Team Mike

Our adventuring…tour GROUP!

Tomima

Hilde

Alexandra CassieClaire

Jane

MikeEMilyTori

Nonie

The first few days in Sweden:

From The Province of Bohuslan, our Swedish relatives

departed Goteborg to the New World: American & places far

beyond…

Departing Swedes headed to the

New World left from this dock in Goteborg

Do YOU really eat Herring?

Fish Markets and Fishy Treats

Have mini van…we go sight seeing

WE go shopping for clogs, shoes & treasures

Guess what? … The Sweden ride bicycles

The Swedish youth are really……into their fashion

…the comment is made: “Sweden doesn’t look foreign, it looks like home !”

Boats, fishing and the Sea

Even Churches…even seem to worship… sailors & maritime

Göteborg Church oversees the Harbor

We have dinner with cousin Carl Spalde….and we meet some new

family

Cousins take us to the Botanical Gardens in

Goteborg

Cousins Andreas & Solveig

Goteborg Botanical Gardens

Bohus Fortress on way to Uddevalla

Since the 1100’s, this fortress protected the Swedes from invading tribes

Uddevalla=Largest city near Bokenas. Wilsons originated

close by

Cousins Helene & Jonas Larsson

Helene helped to research book. Emily 1st visited Helen in 1991

Fred Wilson Named one of his ships after

this Swedish vessel

HASSELO

Annette’s Grave

BokenasThis is the region outside of Uddevalla from where the Wilsons originated. They lived on farms, raised animals, fished and sailed their boats. The Bokenas Old Church was where they spent their Sundays.

Katarina

Hillevi

Grave of Charles R. Wilson’s

mother

Dragsmark A 13th Century Monestary and Burial place

of other Wilson relatives.

Alice Simonson was daughter of Adolf Carlsson. She was born in Aberdeen

The Secret Chalice

Johan Sterner, he was 6 years oldwhen I last saw him. He likes to watch “Deadliest Catch”

a Seattle based TV show

Orrevik

Where the father of Charles R. Wilson

was born & raised

Stora KarrWhere the parents of Charles R. Wilson

lived after they were married. The birthplace of Charles R. Wilson

Mid Summer’s Eve

Light abounds until well after midnight

Hooray-it’s Midsummer Eve-possibly the BIGGEST holiday in Sweden

It’s time to meet the WHOLE Family in Sweden

Most people are free from their jobs & shops are closed. We decorate the Mid-summer’s pole, sing & dance PLUS eat & drink like crazy.

Fiskebakskil“Fishkill city”…and it rained and rained and rained. We learned that the Norwegians are buying up all the summer homes, cuz they have all the $

Swedes love Yellow Houses, Decorative Windows & Lots

of Flowers

TO the Beach Cottage with Carl Spalde, Solveig & Andreas

We meet Carl’s brother’s & sisters;they are so happy to meet more

cousins…

BEACH BBQ Swedish style

We are across from Rolf & Katarina’s house, looking at the Rorback property

Rorback

Waterfront Acreage & Farmland of

Christina Elisabeth's family

Christina’s House

All too soon, we must go home

The Wilsons Visited Sweden!

to reconnect with our roots & family