After two days exploring Copenhagen, I decided to take a short day trip to Lund, Sweden. Just a brief forty minute train ride from the station in Copenhagen, I barely had time to crack open a book before rolling into Lund Central. Beyond checking off another country (which I’m now learning is not an ideal metric to measure quality of travel), I had heard great things about the quiet, historic streets of Lund. Renowned for its academic history, Lund has long been host to the brightest of philosophers — even today, it remains a university town. You can often spot students deep in conversation about life and the human experience at one of its many kaféer (cafés), where the international makeup of Lund University is apparent in the number of languages spoken just tables apart from one another.

Immediately after hopping off the train, I was greeted with beautiful Swedish architecture that seemed straight out of a movie (or Epcot). A lovely constellation of flowers seemed to flow from every windowsill, and open squares dotting the walkable city made it an incredible place to simply wander. It is small enough to meander toward the center without relying on maps — the ebb and flow of tourists and locals alike seems to gravitate toward a main stretch of shops, restaurants, and the town cathedral. Sitting on benches or even laying the grass, Swedes seemed to bask in the summer sun that disappears during the cold winter months.

Right near the center of town stands the Lund Cathedral, built in the captivating, if looming Nordic Romanesque style. The kyrka (cathedral) stands tall and proud above the small Swedish buildings and beautiful meadow that surround it. Originating from the Old Norse kirkja, the modern Scandinavian languages of Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and Icelandic (which is closest to the Viking tongue) all use some variation of the word to describe their church structures. Religion in the Nordic countries is particularly interesting, as they sport some of the lowest rates of belief and church attendance in all of Europe. It was not until c. 920 that Scandinavia was converted to Christianity — and even then, it was embedded with elements of the Indigenous religion that venerated well-known gods like Loki and Thor (as well as some less-known deities, like Njord, a pre-Viking Norwegian god of the sea).

In any case, the beautiful church grounds lead to the winding roads of the city which connect the downtown, university, and garden districts. I must have chosen a particularly quiet day to visit, because off the main road in town it seemed as though I was alone at times. Passing through the beautiful campus of Lund University, I at last arrived to the botanical gardens.

Beautifully preserved and maintained, the gardens feature a number of local flora — each with its own detailed description. Complete with carefully-procured walking paths and even a café, the gardens are a must when visiting. Among the tulips of Lund, I enjoyed a meditative and reflective quiet that provided ample time to appreciate the journey and look forward to where it would take me next.

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