Did They Switch Legs Too?

First morning after Sweden changed from driving on the left side to driving on the right, 1967

I understand the confusion of the drivers, but why do the walked seem lost as well?

I Am A Fulparkerare Who Livsloggas

I found this article that was entitled "Ogooglebar... and 14 Other Swedish Words We Should Incorporate Into English Immediately". Why not right? Turns out ogoolebar just simply refers to a search that gets zero results in Google. I remember hearing something awhile back about these guys putting together a website that listed words or combinations of words that received zero results on Google. I guess they failed to realize that once they listed those words or combinations that they were no longer unGoogleable, so.... failure. But here the Swedish have decided to invent a new word and try to add it to their dictionary. That is until Google wanted in a refused to release the right to use the foundation of their company name unless the name itself was in the definition, which I guess the Swedish Merriam-Webster was not willing to chalk up the cash. Anyhow....

I found a few words that I myself would like to work into my vocabulary, so I'm putting them here, so I can practice them, because Swedish is wild.

Firstly, anyone who knows me knows that I'm a Livslogga, (v. - literally translating to "life log," the word refers to continually documenting one's life in pictures). And proud of it. Going on seven years without missing a day so far. Makes for some pretty damn harsh realities of my boring life, but, now I know what to call myself.

Ask Laura, I am a Fulparkerare, (n. - literally translating to "ugly parker," the word describes someone who parks his or her car in a particularly egregious or unlawful manner). But only since we've bought the van. I don't know if it's the shortened front end or the concern for sliding doors but I cannot park that thing straight. Like not even close. And I find myself really concentrating on it too, thinking I've nailed it, only to hop out and find the parking spot nearly perpendicular. Yeah, I'm an ugly parker.

This one doesn't so much refer to me or even Laura, we're constantly without our phones, but we do know a few Nomofobs, (n. - any person who feels anxious at the very thought of being separated from his or her mobile phone. Adapted from the clunky English "no mobile phone phobia."). And now we know what to call them. Not that it will matter because they either won't understand what we're talking about to even care, or by the time we explain it to them we'll be too hungry for Swedish beef curry to remember what we're talking about.

Something Swedish Lives

The Swedish version of this film is one of the best movies I've ever seen. This is the American remake, and it doesn't look too bad.



I know this seems like another part of this new vampire furor, but I assure you it is not.

My Swedish Cuisine

The meal that awaited me upon arrival. It was breakfast time.Let's see here, we got rice, good, with curry powder over it, chicken and a little veggie medley with some basil sauce, some sliced banana and a little tangy thai sauce on the side. Random yet wholesome.



Hawaiian Pizza (I think I've already posted this but...) As you can see the Swedish are quite fussy about the placement of their pineapple.



This is just some basic Lebanese kebab. Can probably get it on any corner of midtown Manhattan, minus the rat hair.



A typical grillad kyckling (grilled chicken) salad with corn, pasta, peppers, lettuce etc. But they had the curry dressing that put it over the top. I like curry.



This was the night Lars wanted me to eat traditional Swedish food. Herring, herring, a potato, and looks like more herring. Ahh raw fish in cream sauce. Oh and don't forget the boiled egg topped off with some tubed caviar. MMMM, I'm licking my chops right now.



I drank a few of these big boxes of juice. Sorry Lars.



Probably the most delicious bacon burger I've ever had from some little roadside stand in Strängnäs.



Oh and no cereal. Just porridge, like Goldilocks. Or maybe Papa Bear would be more appropriate.

Now I'm hungry.

Djurgården/My Garden

Where'd I leave off? I think I was on the ferry. Yeah. That was fun. Took the ferry from Gamla Stan to Djurgården, an island that holds most of Sweden's larger museums and only amusement park, Gröna Lund.



I had come to Djurgården to see a few things in particular. Skansen, Vasamuseet & if time allowed Nordiska Museet. On my way to Vasamuseet I found myself walking past woodland cemetery, Sandsborgskyrkogården, so in spite of seeming morbid, I checked it out.







Did you know that I am an avid fan of bocce? Neither did I. But it seems to haunt me wherever I go. And Sweden would be no exception. These women were serious. I think there may have been money on the line, or some form of geriatric pharmaceutical.



Finally I came to Vasamuseet, the museum that holds the salvaged remains of Sweden's warship Vasa. Vasa, was the pride of the navy but is now more commonly referred to as "Sweden's Titanic", as it capsized on it's maiden voyage only 1,422 yards from port back in 1628. Even the Titanic made it halfway.

Nonetheless, this museum was an unexpected highlight of the trip and a highly recommended stop for any future visitors to Stockholm. Mark it down.

Some of these photos are dark and/or a little blurry, because well, it was dark in there, and the I didn't like the flash photos so.... you will see these and like it.











This here is the Nordiska Museet, a museum that portrays everyday life in Sweden from the 1520's to present day. I didn't get to go in. Seemed too daunting a task for the amount of time I had. Next time then.



Next on the list was Skansen, and tho I was warned that it could be too much to try and squeeze into a short day I was feeling ambitious and, at the time, up to the challenge.



You see, Skansen is a 75 acre open-air museum that exhibits life in Sweden prior to the industrial era. Complete with a full scale replica of a 19th century town and it's inhabitants going about their 19th century life, you have silversmiths, bakers, glass-blowers, shoemakers, farmers all out doing their thing right in front of you and I'll be damned if that baker wasn't baking the most delicious apple pies ever. I almost passed out. Those shoes didn't look to comfy tho.












Skansen has a zoo that holds all sorts of Scandinavian animals like elk, bison, brown bear, wolverine & reindeer so naturally I checked that out as well.











The view of Stockholm from Skansen


By the time I navigated thru all of Skansen with lightning quick speed and precision I was pretty much tuckered out and starving.



And since I didn't have much time before my train back to Strängnäs I headed across the river into Östermalm...



...only stopping briefly to rehydrate & rest my weary feet in Berzelii Park.




When I finally arrived at Central Station I queued for my ticket and, like an oasis in the desert, saw the golden arches of deliciousness rise from behind a crowd of travelers. At first I thought it a terrible shame to eat McDonalds while in a foreign country, but my mind couldn't convince my feet which were already next in line. So I ordered a McFeast, Oh! and in Sweden only one size fry. Small.



So off to Strängnäs I went, McFeast in hand.