What To Do On A Friday Night? Walk to Clas Ohlsen, Of Course!

Clas Ohlsen is pretty much the love-child of IKEA and Bunnings. It sells home wares, furniture, clothing and hardware, even completely random things different kinds of Swedish flags. The store in Lund is located close to the shopping mall Nova. 

Coming from Sparta, it's a 55-minute walk (one way) to Clas Ohlsen. The trip was about 7.2kms in total. I reckon everyone should walk the route at least once, just because it's a great way to explore the city a bit slower and take time to notice the little things - like where the birds nests are, the slightly outer parts of Lund suburbia, the different roundabouts and bike paths - and it's also an experience to see the more industrial and developing side of the city too! 

Plus, the walk is a great way to just get out and clear your head a bit if you need it. I think it was a good break from doing all my readings and in general being shut up inside and meal prepping. Sometimes you just need a good, long walk on a route you've never been on before! 

As you walk through the entrance into the store... 

Clas Ohlsen is kind of set up like IKEA, but smaller and easier to navigate with different sections dedicated to variously categorised items. You swarm through the store kind of poking around and looking at the items they have displayed - unless you're looking for something specific (as I was, at least!) then you ask one of the staff members in blue shirts. They speak perfect English and are happy to help you out and even go to the backroom to get things out for you.

Lights and decor - perfect for winter! Lava lamp, anyone?

Also if you need electronics or wires or anything, here's your best place to go without having to make the big trek to the IKEA in Malmo 

I was on the hunt for a Swedish flag for my corridor's TDC party - I wanted some decoration and also why not be a bit patriotic to this lovely country and lovely town and lovely university that has welcomed me so wonderfully? 

Also! Never fear with returns - Clas Ohlsen will accept returns within 90 days, so long as you still have the receipt for the goods.

Woo my flag in the packet! It cost SEK249. The staff member who explained the different kinds of flags and gave me an indication of the length (because I'm a visual person and I had no idea how to visualise 2m) by his height and was generally all-roundedly incredibly helpful!

I started my walk at around 16:00 and when I left Clas Ohlsen it was about 17:30 so I got home at 18:30. Even though the sun was setting, it was a really pleasant walk there - and back! I think it's always interesting to see how places change in the transitional phases between day and night, and how the buildings light up too. You see things differently - 

Not the best picture but this was taken over a bridge where the train line runs - you can barely make out that side staircase but also just admire the very Hans Christian Anderson aesthetic of the building. (Even though Anderson was Danish...)

There are people wandering around, people biking, buses running and even though the sky is dark and can be windy, the streets - even in the more "industrial" or "suburban" areas are well lit. I felt very safe walking home to Sparta!

And here we have it - my pride and joy of today:

Hung up on my wall ~ true Swedish pride right here :)

Edits: 02_02_2019
When the natural light comes through the windows in the morning the colours stand out brilliantly!

I reckon the whole set up brightens up the plain white room heaps more :)