More Than What Meets The Eye

Lucky for me and my travel buddy Janice, we were not drowning in this sea of tall blondes. We were fortunate enough

Our Sailing Boat, built by Svante's father. Amazing

to have swim floaties – our generous friends living in Stockholm, who went above and beyond our expectations, taking the time to show us around, providing us a place to stay and invaluable insight to Swedish customs and social norms.

After a few days of wandering the streets of Stockholm, exploring and sampling what the city has to offer, Janice and I were presented with the golden opportunity to go sailing to the outer archipelago islands with my friend Svante and his brother, Eskil.

On this trip, Janice and I discovered some fascinating information and interesting fun facts about Swedish lifestyle and culture.

1. Most Swedes not only know how to sail, but many of them also build their own boats.  SO impressive
2. Swedes often spend their holidays at their summer home on the various archipelago islands, where they choose to escape city life to enjoy a simple and mundane lifestyle living on an island without plumbing, walking to the local well to pump water, chopping their own wood, and often without electricity.
3. Children spend their days exploring the islands and hunting for berries.  The ‘coolest kid in the garden’ was
   

   Sunset on the Island with our Sailing Boat

   always the most knowledgeable berry and flora gatherer. While there were many berries, many look

   

   Gathering Berries on the Island

   dangerously alike the poisonous ones.  Good thing I was accompanied by THE Coolest Kid in the Garden aka Svante.

4. The archipelago islands are full of various berries and beautiful flowers.  On the island we explored, Rödlöga Island, Svante introduced me to over ten types of berries we came across on our exploration from blueberries, raspberries, goose berries (red & green), cherries, odon, crow berries, cassis (black currant), lingon berries, red currant, and blue raspberries.  AWESOME.
5. Swedes are very particular about any “invasion of personal space,” meaning that it is against social norms to speak to a stranger without a good excuse.  For example, it would be considered very odd for a stranger to randomly strike up a conversation with you. An ice breaker is required– i.e., like you drop a book and someone picks it up and then you thank them. Hence, one of my favorite phrases “Always Scheming Swedes” – which is absolutely necessary to create elaborate schemes just to meet someone without giving a bad impression. In the way most Swedes keep to themselves and to their close group of friends, I quote my friend Jenny – “It’s something in our Viking blood that makes us this way – even me.”
6. Swedes are not only crafty and innovative, they are efficient and handy.  As labor is beyond expensive in Scandinavia, Swedes fix everything themselves.
7. Swedish men can cook a mean meal.  From the little stove on our boat, the two brothers cooked up an unbelievably impressive dinner– lamb sausages with mushroom risotto.  SO Bomb.
8. My new favorite Swedish breakfast: Filmilk with Applemouse and Cornflakes.  (Filmilk is a hybrid between yogurt and milk.)  Excellent to complement the other ingredients and a perfect way to start a day.

This 2-day adventure was the highlight of my trip, memories I will always cherish and smile upon.

Sailing the High Seas

Janjan in chill mode

Eskil, Svante's brother and a damn good sailor/chef

Svante aka THE Coolest Kid in the Garden

Shout Outs:

Thank you to Jenny and your lovely family for your warm hospitality and for welcoming us in your home. You have the most charming home and your parents are so sweet. Thank your Mom for the elaborate crayfish dinner.  It was so special and I was honored to be a part of such a wonderful Swedish tradition.

Thank you to Svante and Eskil for taking us on such an exciting adventure. It was the best part of my trip and I will always treasure the memories of the four of us trekking to your summer home, sailing the high seas, exploring the island, hearing about your childhood and learning about the berries we gathered and devoured.  You were right, it was an once-in-a-lifetime experience and I owe it all to you both.