Ever since my sister visited Sweden 11 years ago, I have been
thinking, man, Sweden must be a fiiine country! Over the years spent
abroad I twice had the opportunity to live with a Swede which was
more than a pleasure. Then, when also a good friend of mine moved to Sweden last
year, it was only the question of time when I'd pack my bags and head
to the country of Ingemar Stenmark and Abba.
As many times before, Ryanair again turned out as the cheapest option
to visit Sweden and having bought the tickets already in June it
seemed like the d(eparture)-day would never come. However, the closer October
18th was, the more nervous and excited I was. Finally, the
day came and I packed my bag, checked 100 times if I had all the
documents and the boarding passes and I was off. Arriving to
Stockholm in the middle of the night didn't give me the impression of
how beautiful the city actually is. In Stockholm I was staying with a
friend of mine, Annika, who I lived with last year in Austria. I have
to admit, it was so surreal seeing her after more than a year and a
half, but I couldn't have asked for a lovelier welcome: a huge smile
on her face and a big hug. We quickly got on the bus and when we got
to her apartment, I was simply amazed on what a pretty little flat
she has! I definitely wouldn't mind having such a flat myself. It
took me a while before I fell asleep. I was so excited about
everything that was about to come, but eventually tiredness won over
the excitement. Having woken up early (early = 8 a.m.) the next day
gave me loads of time to discover Stockholm on my own as Annika was
busy with a school assignment. Despite bad weather I was determined
to make it to the City Hall by foot in the morning and then I spent
the afternoon in the city centre. I felt like it'd been my first time
in a big city. I was amazed by the most ordinary things, like the
trams and the underground, then all the big shops and how everything was
lit up in the evening. I had no idea I had missed living in a big
city so much. What is more, I immediately felt at home in Stockholm
as in a way it reminded me of Dublin and in another way of Graz. It
seems I would be pretty happy living in Stockholm. If only …
Over the next days I was walking around the city, I met with one of
my ex-flatmates from Graz that I haven't seen for more than three
years, I (finally) bought myself a new cell phone (after having the old one for four and a
half years it was about time) and I spoilt myself with fika.
Fika is a Swedish “thing” and the word basically
stands for having coffee and cake. It's not only the cakes, it's all
kinds of pastry. I immediately fell in love with the Chocolate
Cup, a café in the old town, where they serve a white-chocolate
cheesecake. It was pure heaven! Having friends that know where to get
good cake is so useful. It makes my life easier.
Fika (top left and right & bottom centre); reindeer with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam (top centre) and a Swedish candy shop (bottom right corner)
While being in Stockholm I had time to see just two museums, the
Nordiska museet and the Skansen (I'm saving the Vasa museum for my
next visit). I especially loved Skansen, also because it was such a
lovely sunny and blue-sky day and I got some great shots of
Stockholm. In the evening I met two lovely Annika's friends that
reminded me of two Irish friends of mine. Not only because of their appearance, but
also because of their sense of humour. It's amazing how you find similar
people on different parts of the world. Anyway, we went to an Italian
restaurant and with the menu being written in Italian and Swedish I
could play a smart-ass with the Italian pronunciation. Oh, such fun!
We finished the evening going to the cinema. Such a lovely evening!
In Skansen, Nordiska museum, view on Stockholm
The next day was already Saturday and, sadly, it was time for me to leave
Stockholm. I took the train to Helsingborg with a heavy heart, but as
I was on the way to another friend of mine, I was looking forward to
visiting the pearl of the Sound. This
friends of mine, Sara, who lives in Helsingborg, moved to Sweden last
year and we haven't seen each other for more than a year. She and her
boyfriend waited for me at the train station with two little flags, a
Swedish and a Slovenian one. Another lovely welcome! At their
apartment they set up my bed in their living room and they put the
Slovenian flag on the bed – so thoughtful! With Sara and her
boyfriend being a bit occupied the next few days, I kept myself busy
with no problems. One day I was walking the streets of Helsingborg,
the other I went to Denmark to see the Kronborg castle, where Hamlet
is supposed to take place, then I also went to Malmö and Lund.
Luckily, the weather was more or less on my side and it was such a
pleasure wandering around.
Helsingborg
Helsingør and the Kronborg Castle
Malmö
They say that time passes quickly when you're having a good time and my holidays in Sweden couldn't confirm this more. So, my last day came and I headed to Göteborg as I was flying to Pisa from Göteborg City Airport. However, my last day started a bit chaotic. Sara, my Helsingborg friend gave me a lift to the bus station as I was supposed to take the 10.15 bus to Göteborg. I arrived to the bus station pretty much on time, maybe a minute or two earlier and I was expecting the bus would already be there or at least it would arrive on time. Oh, how wrong I was! After waiting for the bus for 10 minutes the display at the bus station showed that the 10.15 bus is not coming and that the next bus for Göteborg leaves at 13.15. Oh, dear! Such a panic! I had no idea what to do. I was 100 % sure I had missed the bus and I'd have to take either the 13.15 bus or a train. The problem was, the ticket for the bus I had, was exactly for the 10.15 bus, so I couldn't take another bus with that ticket and the train costed around € 25, which was, regarding I'm a volunteer at the moment combined with the amount of money I had spent in Sweden, not an option. Then, after texting Sara and scaring the hell out of her, finally the bus arrived. The 10.15 bus with an almost 20-minute delay. I was so relieved! In three hours I was in Göteborg, where I was welcomed with lovely sunny weather. Despite the morning panic I still had a great last day in Sweden and it didn't spoil my idea of coming back. So, yeah, Sweden, see you soon, but not earlier than in summer!
Göteborg
No comments:
Post a Comment