A gajillion things I love about Sweden

Being in Sweden a few weeks ago was the highlight of my spring. I'll say it right off the bat: the weather was lousy and I froze most of the time. But you don't go to Sweden for the weather -- as much as the Swedes rave about the beautiful summers, you can count the perfect days on one hand.

Strolling along the streets of Stockholm, working with my colleagues, being with my friends: it was though I'd never left. I fell right back into a great groove very easily. I really loved it.

Here's some photos I took. See this as my tribute to Stockholm.

A view from the bridge, driving over to Lidingö (my old stomping grounds)

This is James, the dog belonging to my old pals Karolina and Jalle.

I was in the subway every day. I didn't use public transportation much when I lived there, but now I consider it the only way to travel.

Here are some bikes that are for rent, the racks are all over the city. You take them when you need them and leave them at another bike rack if you want. I wanted to try this but it was too cold to consider getting on a bike.

 

They say that more rats than people live in Stockholm (about a million people live in greater Stockholm). I only saw one rat (I still shudder to think of it). However, I saw an amazing number of rabbits. It's said they got there because people got rabbits as pets and then couldn't take care of them so they let them go. I don't know if it's true. But where else would they come from?


One pretty evening I took a walk through town. This is Sergels Torg, with the glass sculpture by Edvin Öhrström.

Some of my colleagues and I went out to eat. We had a great time. I really miss them.

I met my old friend David for dinner with some other friends. He's started a successful advertising business and is doing really well.

I really miss those long shadows you get in the afternoon/evening.

Taken from the bus on the way down to Värmdö.

Little Andrie. I loved him the minute I met him.

One of the first things I did was buy a container of messmör -- it's made from whey -- and put it in the fridge of my hotel room. Yum. This stuff: you either love it or hate it.


While taking a walk on a Sunday afternoon in the city, we had to wait for all the king's horses (and all the king's men) to cross the street.



Seafaring. I took this photo because i thought it was pretty, all the cords hanging there. But Barbara, who was with me, said it was ugly. (Barb if you're reading this: I was right!)


I love the crowns all over the place, including this random one on the walking bridge over to Skeppsholmen, even though I'm not a big fan of the king or his offspring. I'm not exactly against them. I just don't care. ´

Swedish public bathrooms. This one's a model from the Modern Musuem.

Swedish design. Love these cobra phones. These are replicas with modern push-buttoms. Here are the old ones.

Walking over the bridge to the Modern Museum


From our walk to the Modern Museum. The boat is a youth hostel.

Random dude and cherry blossoms in Kungsträdgården.

NK display windows. Man, are they nice. I love these new boxes from Iittala.

Hedvig, me and her poodles.


Me and Millie

Me and the lovely Hedvig, at Monica's super nice dinner.