Living a life on the go affords one a better set of opportunities to find a place where all you ever ask for exists. For photographer Cim Ek (@cimek), her wanderlust has taken her to the scenic coastal settings of Gothenburg, a picturesque region of Sweden. Discovering a place where she finds utmost steadiness in the flow of life and coupled with good food such as tasty pastries and high-quality coffee, she makes the most of her days by photographing the daily scenes she encounters. “One of the best things about being in Gothenburg is that you have the west coast archipelago nearby,” she tells Instagram blog. “For the same price as a tram ticket you can get out and explore some of the gorgeous islands like Vrångö, Donsö or Asperö. There is a never-ending beauty on these small and charming islands and I love to go shoot here off-season when it’s windy and cold.”
Once she gets out of her door, Ek takes a stroll around her neighborhood and hunts for great coffee and pastries. “We have lots of Swedish specialties that one should try, especially the kanelbulle” she says, pointing out Sweden’s own version of the cinnamon roll. “We have a word in Swedish that means having a coffee and pastry, called fika. We have at least one fika a day here!” The rest of the city provides an abundance of subjects ranging from nature attractions to amazing architecture. “Here you have a little bit of everything! The cute cobble streets and old buildings of Haga; the newly built area with fantastic architecture in Lindholmen; the typical Gothenburg buildings called Landshövdingehus in Majorna. It’s also great that we have the canal running through the center of the city that connects to the ocean.”
Developing the discipline of photography and skills of spotting interesting subjects, Ek has also photographed most of her travels across Europe, creating her own unique inventiveness by documenting the relaxing vibe and beauty of the many cities she visited in the continent. Still, every time she travels to another country, she finds her way back to Gothenburg to continue documenting the way of life in the city she now calls home.
Other than the many major European cities, Ek is proud to share her favorite spots to photograph in Gothenburg;
Röda Sten (The Red Rock) —“This is a spot I never get tired of. Here you have the beautiful Älvsborgs Bridge, art galleries and graffiti walls.”
Lindholmen — “For someone who likes architecture, this is the place to visit. One of the highlights is the Kuggen building. You can also enjoy a walk along the canal.”
Redbergsparken — “A small park with an amazing view. Redbergsparken is located so that one can see pretty much the whole city. It’s perfect for late sunsets, and for New Year’s and fireworks.”
Lake Delsjön — “There is a lot of nature and parks in and around Gothenburg. I really enjoy shooting in all the different seasons. One of my favorite areas is around Lake Delsjön.”
Götaplatsen — “This is the plaza where the Gothenburg Museum of Art is located, a beautiful building to shoot. I love the architecture and the lines and shapes of the pillars and stairs. Climb the stairs for a view of downtown of Gothenburg. The plaza is a perfect place to have a drink and enjoy the sunset in the summertime.”
Following her feed on Instagram gives viewers an immaculate view of what kind of life awaits one not only in Gothenburg, but in other parts of Europe. A life that is surrounded by the beauty of nature, fine architecture and an overall vibe that gives a semblance of romance to every frame a travel photographer takes.
To view more of Cim Ek’s picturesque and relaxed photographs from Gothenburg and other European cities, follow her @cimek on Instagram, Facebook, and on her website.