I was out on a tour with a bagpipe band in Sweden (or should I say locally
centred on Eksjö) nad after a long day yesterday I needed some fresh air and
exercise. We were back from a performance in a nearby town - Nässjö - and with a
late dinner tonight, Noeleen, James and I went for a walk into the town local to
the barracks we were staying in Eksjö
There was no photography on the barracks and I did not want to run foul of any
rules so I did not take any pictures near the gates. We left through a gate just
outside our building and onto the road outside turning down towards the town
centre. The through traffic turned around the centre, and we took the cobbled
streets straight into the centre.
We left James at a bar on the outskirts next to the stream running through the
town, so Noeleen and I continued along the straight street (we would march down
this street several times with the bagpipe band). All the buildings at this end were old and mainly timber built. There was also a lamp in the majority of windows over looking the street (historically there was also a mirror for checking on the gossip)
In the centre was a square with some large tiered seating structures all blocked
off by black hoardings. We walked around the arena passing the statue of the
unknown hussar, and along the street beyond (where the band would form up for
its performances) to the end of the town where the main by pass turned.
We turned aroudn the end and came back along a parallel street passing a number
of churches and town hall. The main church would be the centre of all our
performance activities later in the week.
As we came across the river we turned back towards the bar where James was
waiting for us passing the town museum.
Then back up the road to the barracks. We had to continue past the gate we had
exited and go to the main gate so they could check our pass and passport, then
double back inside the fence to our building.
All the lawns around have automated lawn mowers and some even have little
shelter houses to dock into. There was one of these at the roundabout opposite
the barracks.
We were back in time to get ready for the evening reception and meal/.
