One of the sad facts of this summer is that long distance traveling is pretty much out of the question. I certainly wouldn’t have minded going overseas this summer, but nope…not gonna happen for me…nor for pretty much everyone else in Sweden. The fact that we’re barred from going to most other countries made me worry that the Ale Stenar, a very famous Iron Age megalith monument in the shape of a stone ship, on the southernmost coast of Sweden would be very crowded.
What I didn’t take into account was the fact that group travel is pretty much cancelled right now, so any crowds going up to the ancient monument would be pretty much non-existent. It’d be smaller groups only…which in these social distancing times is definitely a GOOD thing!
People queueing at the fish store, while maintaining a good distance.
Ale Stenar is an interesting location for sure, and I’ve been there a few times. This however was the first time that I could actually take photos without a single person in them (if I waited a few minutes for some people to walk out of my frame).
The stone ship under the big sky
There were so few people there that my photography buddy (a.k.a. Dad) and I could find a parking spot in the small harbor by the sea within throwing distance of the start of the trail up to the monument! That hasn’t happened before!
Anywho…the monument is a bit of a mystery to the historians, but most agree that it is probably from the Iron Age, preceding the Vikings by a few hundred years (even if it gives off Viking ship vibes it is older than that). Some theories proclaim it to be an ancient astronomy tool, a calendar, because it lines up in particular ways with certain annual events, like the spring and fall equinox and the solstices. That hasn’t been accepted as the de facto reason for the monument to be built, but it’s an interesting theory nevertheless. (Ale Stenar on Wikipedia).
We got lucky too with being there just as the poppies, lavender and other flowers were in bloom, making the trek up to and down from the monument a virtual explosion of red, yellow and blue. With the ocean behind them it was absolutely a gorgeous scene, well worth the hour’s drive there!
It’s a long way down so it’s best to watch where you’re going!