About the Roslagen, Archipelago, Uppland and Södermanland trail posts.
Something about Uppsala as as a backround for the trail
The trail done in March 2022. The same day as the Bandy finals. Forza Villa!
Uppsala no 1 and B on the maps
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Uppsala has for a long time been a power center in Svealand. The land that named Sweden Svea rike, today spelled and pronounced Sverige. And until Stockholm outgrew the city, in the 14th century, Uppsala was the largest city. And a religious center.
But it wasn't made Sweden's capital. For a long time there was no real capital of Sweden. The Vikings never understood the benefit from it. The kings moved around and had their Royal Court wherever they were. And there were times where there were no kings either. Dukes, Earles and tribe heads were the bronze age, iron age and Viking ways.
So Uppsala did go for another title. The religious center. Old Uppsala is often referred to in Viking sagas and more modern day Viking stories as such. The grotesque fantasy version in HBO's Vikings is ridiculous. They should have done it right.
This misrepresentation of my heritage and country is annoying.
Old Uppsala is located north of today's city. No 8 on the city map.
Modern Uppsala is a post Viking city.
In a power struggle with Linköping, Uppsala got the honor of being the seat of the Swedish Archbishop. Much to Linköpings annoyance. This was important until the Reformation and King Gustav Eriksson-Vasa took possession over the church. Nevertheless. The Uppsala Cathedral is the most massive in the country.
The Chatolic Pope also told the Swedes to found a university in Uppsala. And since then Uppsala been an academic center. And that in every level of the City. Kjell Erikssons novel Open Grave tries to catch the feeling of the Academic life of a top researcher in Uppsala. If he succeds I can't tell, because I'm not into it. But I guess he does.
Uppsalas achilles heel have been and still is the closeness to Stockholm. Which can be noted in NN crime tv series. Often they start off in Uppsala to go to Stockholm. It is commuter train close to Stockholm.
Besides the academic world, which is very present in the city, the religion is still strong in the city. The presence of American style of Evangelical Christianity is strong in Uppsala. Especially in the Livets Ord foundation. Livets Ord is classified as a Cult by Swedish officials. And have produced people that are in the swedish parliament today. Criticised member of the parliament.
One of the most popular sports is Bandy and the sports finals is often played at Studenternas in Uppsala. The arena is placed by the Stream Fryrisån just south east of the Academic Hospital, no 4 on the city map.
The biggest happening in Uppsala is however April 30 every year. Valborgsmässoafton in Uppsala is on another level than anywhere else. When the City is turned into a festival on a Mardi Gras level.
Valborg is by tradition a night to lit a big fire to gather around. Often some students singing traditional 19th century student songs. In working class areas the student singers are replaced by young local rappers and a cover band.
In Uppsala Valborg is taken to a whole other level where they start in the morning drinking and doing silly student stuff. Such as a styrofoam (home made) canoe race in Fyrisån streams and running like mad bulls in Champagne-galoppen to get the best seats at the most prestigious student pubs. See separate Valborg post.
Uppsala is Uppland. No place is more Uppland than Uppsala. The district of Uppland is associated with the city more than with Stockholm. But Uppsala is not Roslagen.
The capital of Roslagen is a struggle between Norrtälje and Vaxholm. Inland Uppsala is far from the Archipelago and their main water is Fyrisån.
