FROM GARDENING TO HARBOR SWIM: MY CHAOTIC ÖLAND WEEKEND

Have you ever been woken up by your mother, kidnapped into her garden before coffee, and somehow ended up at a windswept harbor before lunch? 🌿💦

This is exactly the sort of weekend that happens in Mörbylånga, on the Swedish island of Öland — and darling, it’s fabulous in its own chaotic way. From pulling weeds like a runway model pulling on opera gloves, to plunging into the harbor for a swim in water as warm as rumor but with a wind as sharp as fashion week critique, this is a small-town adventure you didn’t know you needed.

🌾 Morning: My mother insists we “just do a little gardening” — which, of course, turns into a full morning’s work before I’ve even tasted coffee. The weeds never stood a chance.

🌊 Midday: Off to the harbor for a swim! Warm water, wild wind, and a thrill you can only get when nature is fully in charge.

🍷 Afternoon: A pre-barbecue walk with my mother, sipping on a bottle of red wine called The Idiot (fabulous, by the way — full-bodied with a cheeky personality).

🔥 Evening: My cousin Carina and her fiancé Åke host a barbecue. I arrive with my signature Swedish pizza salad and garlic bread with tomato sauce. Guests include my dear old friend Nina and her girlfriend Sann.

✨ Why you’ll love this video:

• Pure, unfiltered Swedish countryside charm
• Cozy family moments mixed with spontaneous adventures
• The perfect balance of humor, warmth, and a little glamour in the weeds

Whether you’re here for travel inspiration, a taste of coastal Swedish life, or simply to see if I survive a day without coffee — you’re in the right place.

📌 If you enjoy:

• Scandinavian travel vlogs 🌍
• Small-town weekend getaways 🌻
• Lifestyle content with personality 💬
  …then click play, settle in, and let’s escape together.

💬 Join the conversation: Share your funniest “before coffee” story in the comments — I’ll be replying to as many as I can!

📢 Subscribe for more: I post daily vlogs mixing theatre life in Stockholm, vegan cooking, travel adventures, and a sprinkle of camp glamour.

#ÖlandVlog #SwedishSummer #IslandLifeVibes #SmallTownWeekend #TravelStories #CozyVibesDaily #GardeningLife #HarborSwim #FamilyTime #j250803

I WALKED INTO VISBY’S PRETTIEST ALLEY… THEN GOT COMPLETELY LOST IN HISTORY!

This is not your grandma’s day trip. This is VISBY — with vegan tacos, Viking towers, and drag queen drama on the medieval wall. 🌊🍦🌮💅

I’m Joakim Clifton Bergman — content creator, vlogger, and passionate explorer of magic in everyday places. In Part 3 of my Birka Gotland series, I disembark into the heart of Visby, Gotland’s crown jewel. This city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and once you step inside its 3.4 km medieval ring wall, you’re stepping into another century. 🏰

We start at Österport, the eastern gate to the city — built in the 13th century, it served as a fortified entryway and now welcomes travellers like us with open stone arms. From there, I meander (as always) in search of food. But first — Visby Cathedral (S:ta Maria Domkyrka): built in 1225 by German merchants and still active today, with warm sandstone towers and a view that steals your breath.

Next: lunch at Mirells, a vegan-friendly gem where I indulge in a plant-based Mexican feast bursting with color 🌮🌶️. Meanwhile, Magnus takes a detour for meat elsewhere — it’s all part of the drama! He rejoins me for dessert: two scoops of delicious vegan sorbet at Gute Glass, a local favorite. 🍨

We make our way to Sankta Karins kyrkoruin, an open-air gothic dream built by Franciscan monks in the 13th century. Towering arches, ivy-clad walls, and ghostly echoes await 👻. Then: the Visby Domkyrka, glowing with stained glass and spiritual gravitas. It's not just a cathedral — it’s a sanctuary of stories. ✨

We detour through modern Visby to visit actor Isak Bendelin, who now slings bottles with flair at Systembolaget. 💁‍♂️🎭💥 Back in time again, we explore Kvarntornet (grindstone glory), Skolporten (where knowledge once flowed), Tjärkokeriet (a place once used to boil tar), and the magnificent Stor Cristin, the largest of Visby’s towers, standing proud and tall like a gothic Beyoncé.

This is not just travel — it’s theatre. Stay tuned for Part 4, as we continue the cruise and uncover even more Visby gems.

💬 Tell me — what’s your dream historical destination?
🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, give a thumbs up, and hit the notification bell so you never miss a moment of this stylish journey!
📍#visbyvlog #medievalmagic #vegantravel #visbygotland #travelwithjoakim #j250714

🌞💃🚶‍♂️🍽️🛳️🕍🍨🍷🎭🍃🏰🌊📸🎒🌿⛪📚🪻⚔️🌅
✨Because travel isn’t just where you go. It’s how fabulous you look doing it.✨

I Lost My Key as We Docked in Paradise – First Day in Visby!

I lost my cabin key the moment we docked in paradise… and that was just the beginning.

This is the story of day one of a fabulous summer voyage to Visby, the crown jewel of Gotland 🇸🇪✨ Join me—Joakim Clifton Bergman—and my forever iconic friend Magnus as we sail aboard Birka Visby, and disembark into what might just be Scandinavia’s most beautiful city.

🌞 It’s a morning bathed in sunlight. We wake up in our cabin just as the ship glides into Visby harbor. The weather? Dreamy. Clear blue skies and glistening Baltic Sea light. My first order of business? A quick vegan breakfast at The Lobby Café & Bar. Yes, it’s the same vegan baguette I had yesterday. But let’s face it—vegans can’t be choosers, darling. We can only be cruisers. 🥖💚

🚨 But then—disaster! I can’t find my cabin key, just a slip of paper I’ve misplaced. The chaos! The drama! I flip the cabin upside down in full detective mode until Magnus reminds me I put it in my iPhone case yesterday. Voilà—found. Crisis averted.

🌿 Then we step ashore, and the real magic begins...

🧱 We begin at Stora Strandporten, the mighty medieval gate that once guarded Visby’s Hanseatic glory. Just a few cobblestones away is Lilla Strandporten, a charming, almost secretive little portal into the heart of the city.

⚓ We find Fiskarporten, an old fisherman's gate whispering salty tales of the sea. Then we’re off to Kruttornet, Visby’s oldest standing tower, dark and storied and built for battle.

📸 No visit is complete without Fiskargränd, the legendary alleyway that’s like something out of a fairytale. Roses climbing limestone walls, narrow enough to whisper secrets. If Instagram were a medieval painting, this would be it.

🌸 We wind up in DBW:s Botaniska Trädgård, a botanical wonderland founded in 1855 and brimming with magnolias, fig trees, and 700+ plant species. It’s a green sanctuary wrapped in history. And that, darling, is where our next episode begins…

🎬 Whether you’re into historic towns, LGBTQ+ travel, vegan eats, or pure Scandinavian charm, this series is for you. Watch, like, comment, and SUBSCRIBE because there’s so much more to come from Gotland’s medieval dreamland!

🧳 Let’s cruise. Let’s get lost. Let’s find the key to joy.

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#VisbyVlog #GotlandCruise #VeganOnTheGo #ScandiTravel #TravelVloggerLife #BirkaVisby #LGBTQTravelVlog #JoakimInVisby #SwedishSummerVibes #j250714

👍🏼 If you loved the episode, drop a comment with your favorite part of Visby—or tell me what I absolutely must see next!

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Outdoor Swedish Musical in the Rain?! | Höga Kusten Vlog feat. Tomas Led...

Experience the magic of Swedish summer theatre with us as we travel to Lövvik for the spectacular open-air musical HÖGA KUSTEN 🌲🌊🎶 — even the rain couldn’t stop us! Invited by director Markus Virta, we witness a musical celebration of love, nature, and iconic Swedish pop music, written by the legendary Tomas Ledin.

This video captures the full vibe of a Swedish outdoor musical experience — from arriving in the charming village of Lövvik just outside Härnösand, to getting rained on (but being totally prepared), and watching the clouds finally lift during the breathtaking second act 🌤️

🎬 Watch for behind-the-scenes moments, weatherproof outfit inspo ☔, Swedish musical vibes, and how to survive a soggy theatre adventure with grace and giggles. Whether you’re a musical lover, travel fan, or Sweden enthusiast – this one’s for you!

Don’t forget to like 👍, comment 💬, and subscribe 🔔 for more theatre vlogs, Swedish travels, and content straight from backstage and beyond.

#SwedishMusical
#HögaKusten
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#j250703

What if every old photo was a portal to a perfect summer day? ☀️📸

Have you ever scrolled all the way back to the very first photo on your phone and suddenly felt sand between your toes again? 🏖️📱 This is the oldest photo on my iPhone – taken on August 11, 2024, at Sandby Strand on the eastern coast of Öland. A calm, sunny day with a cobalt blue sky, playful white clouds, and my friend Ulf by my side 🌤️🕶️

We were on a little excursion, just me and Ulf, with my cousin Carina driving us there 🚗💨. We were visiting my parents and decided to explore this beautiful, slightly hidden part of the island. The beach was quiet, almost empty, with just a few large flat rocks scattered across the sand 🌊🪨

Ulf – in black sandals, tan shorts, and a light blue short-sleeved shirt – stands with the sun at his back, smiling behind his sunglasses 😎👕 Carina, wearing a black sleeveless dress and tights, walks along the shore, her hair caught in the breeze 👗🌬️

This photo captures more than just a moment – it captures the feeling of summer freedom, simplicity, and friendship ❤️☀️🧡

There’s something magical about old photos: they remind us who we were, who we are, and how every moment – no matter how simple – is worth remembering 📷💭

📣 Do you have a photo that takes you back in time? Drop it in the comments and tell me what you remember! 🗣️👇

 

#FriendsTrip #BeachVibes #MemoryLane #SwedishSummer #RoadtripVibes #Nostalgia #ThrowbackMoment #IslandLifeMagic #PhotoMemories #EverydayJoy

What if Time Never Moved?

Some photos capture more than just a moment—they capture a lifetime of friendship. 📸✨ This is the oldest photo on my phone, taken on August 9, 2024, in the quiet village of Mörbylånga on Öland. It features my friend Ulf, dressed in a white t-shirt and a beige hoodie, his grey hair and beard glowing in the dim streetlights. 🌙🌾  

We had just arrived to stay with my parents for a couple of nights and went out for a walk through the village's dark, sleepy streets. 🚶‍♂️🌌 Mörbylånga is the kind of place where time seems to slow down—perfect for nostalgia.  

Ulf and I go way back. 📜 In the late ’80s, we were in the same amateur theatre group, and in the early ’90s, we both studied at Teaterverkstan in Stockholm, though I was a class ahead. 🎭🎓 But our true glory days? The ’90s club scene. 💃🕺 Ulf had an apartment in the city, and I spent countless nights there after dancing until dawn. Those were the days of loud music, neon lights, and endless energy. 🎶🌆  

Now, decades later, here we are. Life has changed, but our friendship hasn’t. 🌿💛 Sometimes, a simple walk on a quiet street can feel just as significant as a night out in a crowded club.  

Have you ever stumbled upon an old photo that brought back a flood of memories? Share your story in the comments! ⬇️💬  

#friendshipgoals #nostalgicvibes #lifelongfriends #swedishsummer #travelmemories #öländsknatur #quietmoments #smalltownlife #throwbackstories #minnenförlivet