This day, we were invited to go to Utö Island with friends. I met Marina when I worked at the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum. She, her husband and their 9 year old daughter picked us up at our hotel in downtown Stockholm.

We road a ferry-like boat through the Baltic Sea, which we were told is variably brackish rather than salty like the oceans.

The island is a popular nature preserve. Fortunately, we were going before vacation started for most Swedes, so not too many people. We walked through the forest to the opposite shoreline.

The Precambrian (very old) rocks on the shore were sculpted by continental glaciation and later waves from the sea.

Marina brought lunch, which we enjoyed on the rocks by the sea.

Marina’s daughter found a rock with a heart in it! Truly a geologist’s child.

Pretty flowers that look like columbines.

Marina’s husband called this bug a Beetle Bee.

Marina rescued a caterpillar.

We climbed up a hill to see the windmill.

We shared dinner on the island, then ferried back to the mainland.

A wonderful day! Thank you my friend!

• Europe 2018