Right now I am sitting in cafe by a canal, in Stockholm, having a very late lunch, with very sore feet. I have just walked through the “trendy area”, with all the vintage shops, overwhelming, and so much going on.
Stockholm is very beautiful city, difficult transport system, and the taxis charge whatever they feel like, so beware! Sweden is very expensive and changing from pounds into Swedish Krona, bad enough, I have decided not to translate into Canadian dollars, I would get depressed!
I fly back to the UK tomorrow, it has been a wonderful 10 days here, my hosts Ragnar and Elisabeth, have been perfect hosts, first staying in their new home near Gothenberg, by the sea, then having the honor of visiting Ragnar’s family farm, where they lived as children, it was pristine, such care and attention by all the brothers and sisters! I have known Ragnar for about 6 years, we worked on Spirit of Humanity together, and he and Elisabeth have an amazing love story, which will stay with me. I am now staying in their flat in Stockholm, Ragnar also got the Democratic Republic of Congo to finally issue my VISA, they had my British passport for 6 weeks, so I can travel in September, Ragnar is the former Ambassador for Sweden, he was extremely helpful! The family farm was close to a forest, we had a bonfire, and lunch in the forest with all the family! Also, they arranged many special times to visit friends and children, where I could ask all of my questions about the Social Structure in Sweden. Canadian Bryan Adams had a major exhibit at the Photography Museum, pictures below, I felt very proud and today I visited the Museum of Modern Art, to see an exhibit by famous artist Kusuma, she now lives in New York and I was told she is 87, very dramatic and unusual art.
Observations:
- The employment rate is very low.
- They are working very hard to try and integrate refugees as fast as they can.
- They are very proud of their History and Culture.
- IKEA and H&M were founded here, H&M in Stockholm, whole city block, with Home Department!
- I think the rest of world has caught up somewhat with social programs, but the Swedes are very creative and always are thinking outside of the box! At museum I saw Future Home exhibit which shows how we will live, much smaller spaces, rooms will have multi use and we will have many fewer rooms.
- Have a Homeless and Gypsy problem, (am told from Romania) begging on streets and underground! (Quite aggressive)
- Design is beautiful everywhere! City is surrounded by water!
So. Again I say my good fortune to have this wonderful experience in Sweden!
Thank you so very much to my friends Ragnar and Elisabeth!!!!
The Nomadic Intern 
What a journey! Sending my love to you wherever you are. xoxoxo
Thank you so much for your comments!Warmest wishes Betty Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Rogers network. From: The Nomadic InternSent: Wednesday, July 27, 2016 9:21 PMTo: bettypbf@interlog.comReply To: comment+c3kfn79j_ptankcbxipwd3ja5@comment.wordpress.comSubject: [The Nomadic Intern ] Comment: “Sweden!”
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Betty: In an earlier post, I was mistaken in thinking that your blog was referenced in a magazine. I had been reading Margaret Trudeau’s book on growing older, The Time of Your Life, and you were one of the models she chose to illustrate that one need not crumble inside as the years go by, and that life is still good. Sorry for the error, but perhaps some interested readers will pick up Ms. Trudeau’s book and find that, to borrow a phrase from Anonymous, “it’s not over until it’s over”.
Dear Betty,
I found your delightful travel blog through a mention in a recent copy of a magazine (Maclean’s, I think) and signed up for your updates before even reading all the previous posts. Your delicious toast to Sweden was dropped in my email box this morning, thanks to some hard-working electrons, and I enjoyed it along with a second cup of coffee. What an inspiration you are to travellers, both young and young at heart! Actually, it isn’t true that we become aged, at least internally; we grow old only when we accept the attitude of others that we must be so. Otherwise, if you feel 35, then you are. You, Betty, must be all of 21, given your remarkable zest for travel, new experiences and people. Long may you travel!–Mary Anne Morel
Hi Betty Thanks for the note and excellent pictures so glad you had a good visit to Sweden, we hope to get there one day! Jonathan’s in-laws come from there, so one day we should make it! Enjoy your time back in the UK and we look forward to meeting up when we get there! All well here, but very hot right now! Love Prue
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Hi Betty So glad. You have had a really good visit to Sweden! Jonathan’s in-laws. Come from there, but we have not been yet!
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Betty, Glad you had a good time in Sweden and appreciated your observations. Is there a country in Europe that is not expensive. Canada and US are almost the same. That’s only one of the reasons I love Mexico. First the climate, then the people,and then maybe it does not cost a fortune, but you have to be prepared to accept that it does not have the same infrastructure as Canada and the US. Continue to enjoy yourself on your travels! Brian
What a great adventure! Thank you for sharing.
Betty: I’m so glad you had a wonderful time in Stockholm….I haven’t been there yet!…Sounds like you’re really enjoying this adventure. Stay in touch. Barbara
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