Swept Away: The Cold North Of Europe

Välkommen, tack för att läsa hoppas att ni är bra!

(My budding but still heavily assisted Swedish abilities)

The last few days have been really different, to say the least. My unpaid tour guide of sorts is Mitra's son, Amir, whom you may remember from my last post.

the venerable Amir and I

Actually, time has slipped so effortlessly through my fingers that by now my tour guide has been replaced by Abtin, Mitra's nephew, as I am in Stockholm. Hence my (Always embellished) title for this blog. It's a warm night of -4 degrees and I am proud to say that yes, people please gather round:

I am holding the first heap of European snow in my hand.

Anybody who overheard my checklist of things to do in Europe would have undoubtedly encountered my determination to see snow fall. It's not thick yet, but who knows? Weather has been very gracious whilst we're over here. Right now I feel like I'm teetering on the edge of the world, of oblivion, being so close to the pole. I can't even fathom the fact I'm here, it seems like it was only yesterday Mitra was suggesting I 'might' go see her sister up north. Let's just say, the circumstances being I am completely unorganised and Mitra, having a certain maternal stake in my best interests, used this to bolster her own organisational might which has resulted in me not really knowing what's happening. Phone calls, emails, alarm clocks all blurring into one paste that is my days here. But that's not a bad thing at all! I have lots of opportunity to lose myself too.

So I just did a little bit of research (I'm helplessly committed to providing a quality read, as are all other troisbros) and it seems like Sweden has not yet been represented by myself. It is... I just buried my head trying to think of a word. Enrapturing? If it's not a word, I'm using my 'josh points' to make it one. I think I have some left over from not being lame and making up jokes that orbit my own ego. I love here so much! Every day is tinged with that icy crispness that sharpens the mind as soon as you get outside. The first day I was here (after my last post, if I can remember correctly) I slept for what felt like ages. So, naturally, I awoke with a lot of ambition for the coming day. I stayed in Lund, which is east of Malmo in Southern Sweden, and Lund is where I roamed the first day. Lund is a gathering of breathtaking stone churches and towers that have stood for countless years joined by thin houses with steep roofs that hold each other up scattered around an intricate network of cobbled streets and laneways.

Mmm architecture

There's so many incredible angles I could only catch a few. This one church I went to had a subterranean room with tombs thatjust stood there in the open, no guards with newspapers or alarms set up to hold you back.

Diablo II much?

Oh and I have been faithful to my calling so far in that I have had coffee in every place I've been to! Unfortunately, I was decieved into getting coffee from an 'espresso house' outlet which is a BIG chain in Sweden. but euro-chains aren't as bad as US-chains. So after Lund Amir and I made our way to Malmo, the second largest city in Sweden. As trick said, way too much too do! we then went to downtown Malmo to check out the city at night which was fantastic, then he rounded up some friends and we went out. N

Downtown Malmo: where 'nothing is impossible'

Next day, we headed over the sea to Copenhagen, Denmark. This is a colourful city aswell! We went walking around again, seeing the sights. Couldn't get any photos of Christiania but that was an experience too! Sprawling tents and trucks bustling with people, it was vibrant. Going out again last night, I left this morning on a train to Gutenborg, West Sweden.

I played guitar most of the way up on the train, which was so awesome. Just looking out at this incredible scenery, the raging greys of the northern ocean or the postcard houses perched on craggy mountains. You really don't get this in Oz! So I walked around the city, talking to everyone I could. I asked around for places to go, heading to a restaurant where I had the national food of the Swedes, some uber meatballs and jacket potatoes. Catching a beer at a pub, exploring a park, trying to explain to a deaf man that I can't speak Swedish. All good times.

And yes. There are many, many Swedish girls. If Kim is reading (either one), don't be envious because I wanted this and it was an essentiality. I was hoping, just hoping that all the seats in the train would dry up except the one left next to me, and one Swedish girl, not contemplating the wonders that awaited her, saw this oasis from the world outside and sat down. Lo and behold, in Europe, all hopes are fulfilled. This goddess, with blonde curls falling over her shoulders and blue eyes glinting in the flickering train lights, put up with my ridiculously bad attempts to understand her english through her Swedish accent for a truly sublime hour and a half before her stop. Once again, luck abounds!

So here I am, ready to crash, in a warm bed in northern Stockholm. Tomorrow, this incredible city awaits and I wonder just how much I can fit in! Apologies if the verve wasn't present in this post, I'm quite sleepy.

Keep in touch!

first snow! woo!