Describe Gothenburg...

I spent a little time yesterday and today asking some locals to describe Gothenburg for someone who hasn't been here before. Here are the answers:

I interviewed Karin and Anders at a record store called Andra Långgatans Skivhandel.

Karin moved to the city ten years ago. She thinks living here feels like living in a small city. She says it's easy to get to the city center. She also likes the fact that the city is broken up into different sections. She likes the section she lives in, which is called Majorna. She says it feels like a little town where you know your neighbors and the people living around you. She also thinks Gothenburg is a very cultural city. There are many new young artists with many clubs that will give them a chance. She mentioned that Gothenburg is very good at promoting their up and coming musical acts and musical projects. When asked about the best artists from the city, she thinks Soundtrack of our Lives and Håkan Hellström are two of the most well-known acts from the city. She also said that there is a living music scene here. There are a lot of small underground bands in different genres with clubs that support each genre. When asked the worst thing about the city, Karin said she sees less opportunities for people to get help when they need it. She thinks it's probably happening in many places around the country, not just Gothenburg.

Anders has been living here for about ten years. He likes the city a lot says it's a fun place and beautiful as well. He enjoys music and the record store and thinks there are a lot of good clubs and concerts to attend. Gothenburg is a good city to be in when you're interested in music because there are so many places to go and many bands to listen to, he says. His favorite GBG band is called The Embassy. When I asked about the negative parts of the city, he had a difficult time coming up with one, but he finally settled on the difficulty of finding an affordable place to live. If he described the city to someone who has never been here, he would say it's a little city and a beautiful city that's near to the sea. It's a maritime city with everything a city needs in easy reach.

Liv was standing in front of Domkyrkan and handing out information about ecological and environmentally friendly foods. She has lived in the city for about five years. She thinks the city is just the right size. It's not like Stockholm where you're more anonymous. It's easy to get around with a bike as well. Even if it's not a pretty big city, there is always something happening, so it feels like living in a big city. She likes the assortment of ecological and environmentally friendly products available in town. She would describe Gothenburg as a place at the city with a lot of industry. It used to be a workers town but not as much anymore, yet it still has the laid back feel. She thinks it's fantastic to go to the islands in the Summer, while in the winter it's gray and wet. But sometimes, it snows and when that happens, everyone goes out and is happy. She thinks the people who live here are very fine people, although there are some issues with segregation. She lives in a place with many people from all over the world and thinks diversity is a good thing. But she feels there is a separation in society between immigrants and others. She thinks it would be better if the city was more balanced with everyone living together instead of apart. If someone wanted some tips on what they should do, Liv recommends the museums, the sea, and a visit to the Botantical Gardens.

Birgitta and Marie were walking through Vasastan when I asked them a few questions. Birgitta would say the city is big but with a small town feel. Marie agreed with this assessment. Birgitta would recommend a visit to Slottsskogen, while Marie would recommend Kungsgatan and Nordstan for shopping. She also revealed that many people miss Vasastan, Haga and Linnestan because they focus on Avenyn instead. But she thinks people should try the other places because they have better cafes and restaurants than the main street. Liseberg is also a must for visitors. Birgitta isn't fond of the traffic in the city and Marie agrees. They think there are a lot of cars and bikes that drive quite fast.

I also met Håkan in Vasastan as he was walking his bike up the street. Like many others, he also felt Gothenburg has a small city feel. The best part is the location next to the sea. Håkan would recommend a visit to Universeum. His least favorite part of the city are some parts of the city that were hastily built with little foresight in the early 80s, and as a result they didn't reach their full potential.

Lars was another guy I caught up with while walking in Vasastan. He uses the word "lagom" to describe the city. It's a special word in Swedish that roughly means just right. He also mentioned that the city was very cosy with all the cafes and restaurants. If someone was looking for something to do, he would mention a museum, like the art museum and he can recommend Pusterviksteatern near Järntorget for anyone who is looking for good music. Lars has just traveled back to Gothenburg after being abroad. He believes the city is a dynamic place that changes, but still feels like Gothenburg after three years away.

I spoke with several students at Schillerska high school about the city and the school. I first met Jimmy, Amelia, Ragna and Clara near a park bench in the parking lot. They provided me with these thoughts on Gothenburg:

Jimmy said there isn't a stressful feeling like you'd find in bigger cities. It's like a big city but without the stress. Canals also pop up in his mind when he thinks about the city. Amelia thinks the city is laid back. It's a cosy city and she likes the Christmas celebrations at Liseberg. Ragna thinks the size of the city is a positive thing. She says you know someone and they known someone else, so you end up knowing a lot of people in your own age group that way. Clara also agreed that the Christmas celebrations at Liseberg cannot be missed.

The second set of students at Schillerska provided their perspective on the city:

Ziggy mentioned the small feel of the city. He likes the mix of people you'll find here. He said it's not like Stockholm because it's a little more laid back and a cosy city. He also enjoys the fact that the city doesn't look all the same. There are different sections in the city that provides some variation. He enjoys the geographical proximity to the sea. Mathilda also says it's a little city that isn't so big. She thinks the residents of Gothenburg have always been open for new people. Rebecka agreed with her classmates on their summation of the city.

Thank you to everyone who stopped and answered my questions about the beautiful city of Gothenburg! If I talked to you today and you read something that isn't quite correct, or if I happened to misspell your name, let me know. I will be happy to revise anything that isn't correct. Once again, thank you for taking the time to describe Gothenburg for everyone reading this blog!