Lyngsta Cottage

This is a cottage with some history. It was built back in 1763 and it is the oldest building in the little village of Lyngsta. A rural area with 8 or 9 houses including a few horse farms. Looking at some old documents and maps tells me that Lyngsta once belonged to Stafs Rote and that many of the buildings here was owned by the Upmark family. Today an Englishman lives here and the house has been rebuilt, but the original cottage has been more or less unchanged. Walking around the garden, I can imagine how this place would look in the summer time. I asked the owner if I could visit again later in the year, which he said yes to, so I will be back. Bigger photo.

This way to Lyngsta

A couple of years ago there was an email in my inbox with an invitation to visit a little village in Haninge called Lyngsta. I took the bike up there one day and met with Rolf Sander. He was an interesting man who lived in a unique house that he had built from scratch. He also told me about his plans for a little museum. He wanted to make a gas station from the 1950s. I met him again recently and he told me that the museum plans were on hold for the moment. Anyway, this wagon is Rolf's way of advertising. He sells these wooden water barrels and uses the wagon to point the way to the village.

Meet Rolf Sander

This is Rolf Sander, (he's the guy without the helmet). I met him today at Lyngsta where he lives. Lyngsta is a small village with some eight or nine houses. Rolf turned out to be a nice guy, a collector. Anything that relates to the time when he grew up he will buy. Cars, trucks, you name it. He invited me to have a look around in his tool shop and in his unique house that he has built from scratch, I took a bunch of photos of course. Rolf used to be married and has a few kids (grown up), but today he lives on his own. He is full of ideas, and if possible, would like to set up a 1950s gas station (he already has a couple of pumps), and also build a typical Swedish hot dog kiosk from the same area here in the village. In the summer time he sells wooden water barrels. We took a walk around the houses and met a few of the neighbours. Rolf showed me the oldest house that dates back to 1763 (photos later). Today an Englishman lives there. I talked a little with him and decided to come back later in the year for more photos of that building. One of the neighbours is a Swedish celebrity, Bosse Larsson, I missed him with around one hour, he had just left for a tour around the country, but Rolf showed me around that place as well. He also told me about some of the people that lived in the village many years ago but that's another story.
This picture is #2 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers website or the 100 Strangers flickr group.

Two Happy Gnomes

On my recent visit to Lyngsta I found these two gnomes. Belongs to the collector . Bigger photo.

The Odd Couple

I visited the little village Lyngsta the other day. I met a collector and a few of his neighbours. It's a bit off the beaten track. Follow a gravel road into the forest for a while and then all of a sudden you see a few houses. I arrived just minutes before the post man. There's nine mail boxes in a row at the entrance to the village. Next to them you will find this odd couple. Made by the collector. A bit odd but that's how it's supposed to be sometimes.