Following on the success of the last picture essay from Skärhamn, here are more pictures.
 When I leave my house and walk down to the harbor – which really just starts a few hundred feet from my house, and stretches for a long, long way all into downtown, this is what I see. This is sort of the north harbor, and the exit to the sea is just through that narrow passage away in the distance. Beyond that is open sea. And this is what is looks like on a sunny day – just sunshine reflecting into the waters. |
 As I head downtown, I pass by this little houses, like this one. I wonder who lives here. It looks so small and so old, and yet is it very typical for the quaintness of houses around here. Not long ago, I was driving around Stenungsund looking at apartment blocks, and I felt like I would suffocate – who can live in these huge chocolate boxes in the city? Out here, every house is unique, custom built, and just take a few steps and you’re breathing in the air from the open oceans. |
 Believe it or not, but this is the main street through Skärhamn. It’s a strict 30 km/h road – and tourists often drive slower, even stopping in the road – and along this little street lies everything. Over to the right here is the downtown square with a few banks and stores, and the main harbor starts just beyond the bend in the distance. |
 This is what you see when you proceed. Among these red and white houses lie little restaurants and other cozy shops. The main harbor lies here – although the guest harbor, which is much bigger, starts just to the right (and perhaps a little further). The scene sort of reminds of the scottish fishing village from the movie “Local Hero”. Sometimes I hear a moped drive by my house and I think “ooh, t’is just Ricky out driving again” (it’s funny if you’ve seen the movie). |
  The small boat harbor is, of course, the main attraction. Hundreds and hundreds of boats show up every summer, some from Norway, Germany, France, the Netherlands, all over the place. Germans hike up and down the streets, Dutch tourists drive around in RV’s, French families toast with wine on their boats, and Poles walk around the harbor taking pictures. |
  …and strange and frightening things happen with church here during summer. |
 The Swedish Coast Guard have a few boats here too, in case of emergencies, difficult weather or similar. Although, I’ve noticed that there is one distinct difference between the U.S. Coast Guard and the Swedish: The American ships usually have a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on the deck. |
My husband and daughter love the church. In fact I think Goran thought such decorations were not possible. The daughter has watched too many cartoons to think there is anything odd about a smiling church.
Beautiful pictures.