The subtle differences did take me by surprise. When people say "Swedes are blonde, tall, and blue eye-ed," they are SO telling the truth.
While traveling throughout Europe, my friend and I made a quick decision that we needed to experience a Scandinavian country before we headed back to the United States. Luckily one of the flights we were able to find took us to the fashion loving country of Stockholm Sweden!
What to do?
Stockholm Palace (3 museums plus a library will make you want to be next in line for the throne)
Stockholm Old Town (Never ending shops that sold products Sweden is known for)
Downtown (A young and modern area where designers flood to open their own boutiques)
Roaming down tourist filled streets we stumbled upon popular sites. Bright colored buildings, stuffed moose, and quilted blankets made me want to empty my wallet. But rather than purchasing items that would have broken the weighing scale at the airport, I decided to recall the memories later on through pictures.
Where to stay?
While researching a variety of living arrangements for the following days, we were able to find an accommodation on the outskirts of Stockholm.
*Future Reference* I would recommend settling down in a hostel for the low price of $30 per night. This will allow you to immerse yourself in the culture while experiencing the sweet city life of Stockholm.
Another option is downloading an app called "Couchsurfing" where you are able to crash with locals. You are able to read reviews from people who have stayed with that host recently and what the guests experienced during their stay. Many travelers use it throughout Europe and have had amazing experiences!
Culture shock?
While visiting this country for three days, culture shock never hit me. This country is similar to the United States in terms of style (like New York), weather, and citizens love for their country.
The subtle differences did take me by surprise. When people say "Swedens are blonde, tall, and blue eye-ed," they are SO telling the truth.
Being a 5'8, blonde haired woman, I sometimes feel I standout like a luminous light bulb in a dark room. NOT HERE. I felt as though I was of normal height and honestly I looked like everyone else. This experience made me feel more comfortable in my skin and I loved being mistaken as a local. That lasted until they heard my small hint southern accent (for living in the south my whole life, my accent is almost non existent).
Let's go girls
Backpacking down the endless streets of Stockholm as two women, we never once felt frightened! The safety index on this country is currently at 78%. Parole officers were always found walking around the main attraction areas.
Night Life
Being the largest city in Sweden you know that the night life is going to be amazing! To be able to purchase alcohol you have to be over 20 years of age. If you're lucky, some restaurants and pubs will let youngsters in around 18 years old.
Using Uber was a safe way to travel for a night on the town. Once you get to the main downtown area, multiple bars and clubs are meshed together; therefore, you do not have to stumble far to the next destination.
The citizens of Sweden are all about music! From Dutch to English to Spanish, you can hear it all. They were welcoming and loved that we jammed out just as much as they did.
Although our stop here was short, we were able to get a glimpse of Stockholm by traveling streets made of cobblestone.
Unfortunately we did not see the King and Queen, but that just shows that my travels in Sweden are not over!
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