The Last Swede

Malmo, Sweden

Just as I was getting used to everything in this country it is time to pack up and leave.  From three months in the U.K. to three weeks here in Sweden, time just keeps passing by.  I can only look back at the places I have been and be thankful for this opportunity to see the world. 

Honestly, I never really imaged that I would be doing anything like this, let alone all the way on the other side of the world.  It’s crazy how things work and end up turning out.  I mean this week for instance, we even had time to take a side trip into Denmark!  We just keep crossing country after country off of our maps. 

So, not only were we currently in the third largest city in Sweden and it just happened to be the third city that we performed in, but we also ventured to a highly recognized city in Denmark.

Here, we came across beautifully colored buildings and homes bordering a canal filled with boats of every shape and size.  In this picturesque land, The Little Mermaid even made an appearance in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Everything was neat and clean and everyone was quite nice just as in Sweden.  It still amazes me that in both places, if someone spoke to you in a different language and you asked them to repeat it in English, they would be able to do so in the blink of an eye.  They also never took any offense to having to do so either; we have however been in a few places over the years that the natives refused to speak English even if they knew the language. 

And being only a short train ride away it was convenient to be able to get back when needed, to our home land for the week.  It seems as if we are in a city outside of a city that was surrounded by construction or open fields that separated us from the other small cities.  However, with a mall across the street, restaurants within easy access, and convenient stores and grocery stores close by, we basically had everything that we could possibly ask for. 

With that in mind, when you visit Sweden, make sure to always have credit card on you because most places only accept a card payment.  As for going out to eat, expect to pay at least $50 to $70 for two people and make sure you are prepared to bag your own groceries at the store.  Also, the Swedish Krone is stronger than the American Dollar so you end up spending more on your purchases than you would in the states. 

And not to worry, just as when you are out in public and the natives can speak English, there are also English television channels so if the cold is too much to bare, you can stay inside and catch up on some quality movie time. 

For us though, that is never an option and we just keep moving along; scratching off another country on the list as we head to Norway. 

The Gateway to Europe

Gothenburg, Sweden

Yay for an easy week!  Not only did we have only have seven shows total this week, but we also had three days off!  I can’t remember if we have ever had it this easy and just in the nick of time too.  We are all still trying recuperate after the holidays and it is time to get down to business. 

Self-evaluations were due, contract talks, evaluations, and in-shows are just around the corner.  Not to mention, more times than not we are going to be changing languages now, so almost each week we will have to learn a new sound track for the show.  It’s about to get a little crazy, just like it always does around this part of the year.  Oh, and I forgot to mention, it is also tax season.  Oh the joys…

Anyhow though, we had a few rainy days here that kept us bound up in our hotel room so it was perfect weather to get a handle on these kinds of things.  Honestly, it is hard to believe that not only are we half way through the Western European tour, but also the entire tour in general from Japan to Western Europe to Australia. 

Before we all get worried about what may happen next year, we have to remember the importance of enjoying what we have right now.  We have to be able to live in the moment and live for right now.  And we had the perfect escape this week.

One of the girls on our show was kind enough to invite us all over to her house where we enjoyed Swedish traditions from drinks, to candies, to desserts.  It was so nice to get out of the hotel and actually be in a house and that was filled with warmth, laughter, love, and whole bunch of us.  Haha.  We cannot thank you enough! 

Along with all the delicious food and quality time at her home, we also learned a little about the city and area around as well. 

It is definitely a place that you should visit in the summer.  It is located along ocean therefore, in the winter season, they receive more rainfall than they do snow.  If it does however snow, it only lasts for a few hours and is cleared before the day is over.  So, that explains all the rain we were having while we were here. 

Dodging the rain drops though, we were able to make it out to see what the area was like and to our surprise, the public transportation was all above ground and by about 10PM, the streets were practically deserted.  There was also a magnificent Ferris Wheel that welcomed everyone into the city and they say that during the summer months, it is actually an attraction in the biggest amusement park in Scandinavia, which happens to be located here, in Gothenburg. 

But like many things, it is all about timing and ours was almost up here.  So we must be on our way, off to Malmo we went.

Beauty on the Water

Stockholm, Sweden

Goodbye United Kingdom and hello Scandinavia!

We were in the Swedish capital of the world that was built on 14 islands and connected by 57 bridges earning it it’s nickname “Beauty on the Water.”  However, its official name, Stockholm, was actually used for the first time by the Swedish statesman Birger Jarl as early as 1252!

Unfortunately, you better hurry to see all its beauty because there are only about six hours of daylight during the winter, however if we were here in the summer, there would be about 18 hours of daylight!

And just as crazy as the varying daylight hours, were the temperatures.  We went from decent and pretty mild to literally freezing within the blink of an eye.  From lows in the single digits to highs in the single digits!  And did I mention snow?!  Yes, it was our first snow of the year!  

And even though it was bitter cold and the white stuff was everywhere that didn’t keep us in the hotel for long.  With only one day off after travel day before we opened the show, we decided to make the most of it regardless of the cold. 

We headed into Old Town and around the canals and to our pleasant surprise, most natives spoke perfect English which was a big relief.

There were a few differences though that not all of us were used to.  A majority of the places around where we were staying closed even before the show was over and not many places accepted cash.  Sweden relies more on the usage of credit and debit cards than it does cash for safety reasons. 

And it’s one thing to have dry hands in the winter at home, but this is a whole new level of dryness and static.  Make sure you keep a bottle of hand lotion, a jar of coconut oil, and Vaseline on hand at all times.  Maybe that’s why all the children had on full snow suits walking around town?  When I was little, we just wore those to go sled riding, but here the snowsuits are full attire in the cold temperatures. 

But with a slight warming in the temperatures, it was time to head south and change coasts.  We were off to Gothenburg.