Backpacking in Europe: Stockholm

Sunday, February 7, 2016

If we will be in Sweden for three months we had to take some time to visit the capital! But life in Sweden is more expensive than in Portugal. So we decided to talk with Patrick (a very cool Swedish boy, that had study in our portuguese university) to know if he could help us to find a nice and cheap place to stay for four nights. A Patrick´s friend offered his place for that short period of time. Simon is his name. He opened the doors of his house and received us in the most kindest way.On our first night Simons prepared the most popular type of food among the Swedish people: Tacos! This is the kind of meal to have when the friends are joined and celebrate the end of the long week. Swedish are crazy about different types of foods and tastes. They really like to try flavors from other parts of the world.On the next day, in one of the capital´s streets, we met two Brazilians, Mateus and Aline. When you are in a foreign country and meet someone that shares the same language as you do the connections happens very naturally.  We spent the rest of the day together and had a wonderful swedish lunch. I tried my first Semla in their company. When the afternoon arrived we had to follow our own way. How nice it was meeting them!While us three were returning home we decided to cook for Simon. The menu was meat with fried egg and chips, a dish pretty easy to find in almost little restaurants along Portugal. Patrick also joined us for dinner. I cooked veggie burgers for both of us (since Patrick is also vegetarian). After dinner we went to an authentic Viking bar with pieces of fur along the halls and sits. I tasted a traditional Viking beer with such a sweet taste because of the honey.On Saturday we could have the pleasant company of Simon for the whole day. Saturdays always feels so good! During morning we went to Medeltidsmuseet (Museum of Medieval Stockholm) to find more about the history dimension of Sweden. We discovered more about the popular Gustav Vasa and the origin of the capital´s name, (if we divided the word Stockholm we got Stock that means log of wood or ancient German fortification and holm that means island, referring to the small island from the central part of the capital, where the city started to grow).On the afternoon we had a FIKA time. Simon took us to the Chocolate Factory for a  delicious cup of hot chocolate.Since the capital have a such different dynamic comparatively with the peace and quite that characterizes Borås we wanted to experience the night in Stockholm. We went to Uggla Boule &Bar, a place to meet friends and play different types of games. We finished our night in to a very trendy club. We danced so much while listening music from the 80s.In Borås the night finish so early. The sun goes down sooner so the day also starts and finish earlier than what I am used to. Around 4 o´clock we were backing home ready to have a really good night of sleep.On the Sunday we spend our few hours buying some souvenirs for our friends and families.We were a little bit sad to let Simon behind. He has got such a special soul. He already were in a lot of parts above the globe, living adventures and connecting with other cultures. He has a traveller spirit. Just a soul like that would receive three unknown foreign like he did. I will always remind him and we will all wait for his visit to Lisbon. Estamos à tua espera Simão (we are waiting for you Simon).