There are some obvious differences, of course. Lund boasts a beautiful, bright Romanesque cathedral dating from about 1100 (modified several times since then). Inside the cathedral, near the main 
entrance, is an astronomical clock that was built in 1424 and restored in 1923. At 12 noon and 3pm every day, two knights on top of the clock clash swords to mark the hour; two heralds raise their trumpets while a hidden organ plays In dulci jubilo in two-part counterpoint; and 
three Magi and four servants process with gifts in front of the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus. The lower part of the clock includes a terrestrial calendar that's good every day until 2123.Urbana doesn't have a cathedral, but consider this: both Lund and Urbana are home to world-class universities surrounded by miles and miles of fertile farmland in all directions. Lund University was founded in 1666, but several of its campus buildings are contemporaneous with those at the University of Illinois (founded 1867): think ornate plasterwork, wrought-iron railings, mosaic floors, and carved, richly stained wood. To outsiders, both towns appear flat, but the locals appreciate that there really are hills and ridges--really. Large student populations mean lots of bookstores and cool coffee shops to be chic and profound in. And the welcoming, interesting, book- and travel-loving faculty we met would surely get along delightfully with my parents' circle of friends at Illinois.
Plus, Swedes have freezers large enough to store more than one flavor of ice cream at a time; they call the first floor "the first floor" instead of "earth level" and the second floor "the second floor" instead of "the first floor"; and almost everyone speaks fluent English--just like people in Urbana.
From the Urbana of Sweden, we returned to the Copenhagen airport, flew back to the Savoy of France, and drove home to the Madison/Eugene of Germany.
*Even farther from southern Germany
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