MozamWeek

Driving through the countryside in Sweden Through forest and farmland Then... Blocks of blue and white and gold and black and red   overtake the green Shopping centers. Grocery stores. Parking lots with rows of spaces... a few cars stand shiny, without rust... without dust. Metal, plastic, colored glass, clear glass, cardboard, newspapers... Recycling bins awaiting deposits from the conscientious residents of a conscientious country. ... bright squares standing in the sky. Golden arches on a red sign promise drive-thru service of burgers and fries until 2am. Now... Bike lanes. Bus stops. Round-about. Overpass. Traffic light. Houses tighten their ranks. Lawns draw in close. Flowers in pots. Balconies. Blocks of brick reach higher. Town. Stone buildings three hundred years old. Sharp roof-lines. Church steeples. Bells ring at noon. Parks. Cobbled walks. Tiny shops with gilded writing announce- "REA" "SALE" in...

I'm in Sweden. I have been for a month now. Deep sigh. The air is clean. My feet are clean! I wear white... and it stays white. Welcome back... ... after years in Africa's throbbing heart I see... The flag is blue crossed with yellow. The grass and trees are green. Lakes shimmer surrounded by pine and birch and oak. Red houses with white trim. Summer... The sky is blue from 4am to 10pm. Another day. The sky is gray with heavy clouds and cool rain. Another day. The sun warms again in the clear sky. In the car... Wheels hum on the black ribbon cutting through the pines. Passing... Fields of green... hay, oats, wheat Fields of yellow... canola flowers. Roadside wildflowers, shoulder-high... white, yellow, blue and pink... nodding in the green. Horses trotting in the pasture. Cows grazing in the pasture. Passing... Campers. Campgrounds. Boats. Canals. Trains. Stations. Crossings with booms. Summer vacation in Sweden... ...