Sweden: Days 1 & 2

One month after I departed Iowa for my 18 day European adventure, I am finally able to sit down and write about it and share a few photos.

I hope I remember everything.

People, you should always listen to your mom and keep a travel journal, no matter how many times you groaned about it when you were a kid. When we were younger and went on family vacations (Hawaii and England come to mind), Mom would always make us share our favorite and most memorable part of the day as we sat down to dinner. We groaned when it came to "journal time," but looking back, I am sure she has many many fun memories captured in ink.

We walked a lot.

How many more cathedrals are we going to see tomorrow.

Woohoo, we saw yet another church

I am sure all of those are in her journal from our first trip to England. Along with,

I miss Nic, I would rather be in Minnesota.

True. The first time I went to England, I was love-sick for Nic. My how things have changed. In 2004 we were young and in love. In 2011 we are still young, but married. :)

Anyway, onto Sweden.




Kier's European Adventure - Days One & Two: November 10-11, 2011
Cedar Rapids, Detroit, London, Stockholm 

Day One
Nic and I head up to the Cedar Rapids airport. I have three flights ahead of me, and try to pretend I am not nervous to board each and every flight. All of the cop cars, undercover vehicles and a KCRG news van at the Cedar Rapids airport do not help anything, but I quickly push that scene to the back of my mind. We unload my luggage from the car and say goodbye. I can't believe I am going on vacation without Nic for nearly three weeks. I look forward to it and I know Nic is looking forward to having the house to himself.

The Cedar Rapids airport is by far my favorite. Small, but nice - it is a breeze to check my bag, go through security and wait to board.

As I get settled for my flight, I have my usual pre-flight talk with God, "Dear God, if you get me to and from my destinations safely, I swear I will start going to church when I get back to Iowa." knowing in the back of my mind that I won't keep up my end of the deal, feeling guilty because if 'God' is all-knowing, he/she knows I lie. Oh well.

My flight to Detroit is less than 45 minutes from wheels up to wheels down, and is the best flight of the entire adventure merely because I was handed two packages of Biscoff cookies. Two packages, on a 45 minute flight?! I can't wait until my international flight - I will be in Biscoff heaven...


Biscoff cookies - did you know they are vegan? #Win.

Once I arrive in Detroit, I have a few hours to kill. I find my gate, grab a hummus + tabbouleh wrap, because I know I won't be served a vegan meal on the plane (not that it would be good anyway), and give Nic a call letting him know I have arrived safely.

Nic tells me that there was a bomb scare at the Cedar Rapids airport and we arrived 15 minutes after they re-opened. Great. Glad I didn't know that at the time. Apparently someone had found a water bottle that was wrapped in duct tape in a bathroom garbage can and reported it to authorities. Bomb squad, dogs and the works were sent into check things out.

It was just a water bottle wrapped in duct tape.

30 minutes before I boarding my international flight, I pop an over-the-counter sleeping pill. Me + jet lag do not get along. The good looking Brits sitting across from me do the same. They must be wrestlers, muscle men they are.

One last text to Nic and I am ready to board. The flight takes off at 6:30PM, set to arrive at London-Heathrow at 7:40 the next morning.

The sleeping pill works, sort of. If it weren't for the crying baby two rows ahead of me, I might have slept more soundly. I feel terribly sorry for the parents, I am not annoyed, yet others are. I nod off through two movies, Midnight in Paris, and Larry Crowne. The parts I see are good - may have to rent when I get home.

We arrive in London early, the 7-ish hour flight seems short (and to my horror, no Biscoff cookies are offered! What the heck Delta?!). Customs is a breeze, I grab my bag and head to the nearest restaurant for breakfast. My vegan diet comes to an end here. I order a bowl of oatmeal - stoked for a hot bowl of good eats, and it comes swimming in milk. I dont even think to ask how it was cooked. Bummed, I still eat it. It was good, but I will feel it later for sure.

Wanting to tell Nic I have arrived safely, I buy an hour of internet use for $5. iPhones rock, especially if your spouse has one too. We use Facetime to chat for a while, and send iMessages whenever I stumble across wi-fi.

My next flight is to Stockholm. 2.5 hours until I see Maddie. I must nod off, sleeping off the residual effects of the sleeping pill. Maddie has told me where to meet her and I memorize the note - 2nd level information desk. I hope I find her, otherwise I will have to beg someone to use their cell phone.

It seems to take forever for my bag to show up at baggage claim. I spot it and take off in a daze brought on by three flights and over 18 hours of travel, to find Maddie.

Thank the good Swedish vikings, she is waiting for me as I clamber down the stairs. I haven't seen this girl {in person} since we parted ways in Spain last January.

We visit three, if not more convenience stores, to purchase a public transportation card for the week, along with some fruit to settle a stomach already craving a plate of freshness. We board a bus and head to Lidingo, the island where she lives.



I am struck at how much Sweden reminds me of northern Minnesota - no wonder so many settled in the Midwest years and years ago.

We arrive at the house and as Maddie has warned, the girls invade her room and have a pile of drawings, handmade books and other items that they have been working on all week, to give me. It is sweet. Maddie told them I have a dog and a cat, and they have drawn them. The wondered if I was brining the pets with me, I am sure they are sad when I do not pull them out of my suitcase.

I rest for a minute, then take the best shower of my life.

Revitalized, we head to downtown Stockholm for dinner and drinks at Vapiano. The place is busy, but that is to be expected on a Friday night. We share pizza, salad, two glasses of wine, and a table with four guys.

I struggle to keep my eyes open, but assure Maddie I am good. We head out to explore a bit on foot, and end up in "Old Town" or Gamla Stan. This is what I expect Sweden to be like. This square is probably the most photographed area of Stockholm and is featured in many guidebooks Maddie tells me.

Eager to start crossing off our list of bakeries to eat at (oh yes, this is a list), and despite full stomaches, we head in to Kaffegillet i Gamla Stan to share carrot cake.


Outside of Kaffefillet i Gamla Stan (photo taken a few days later)


I am fighting with my 10 pound eyelids by this point, and we decide to head back to the house. I worry I won't sleep well, but conk out before Maddie even knows my head hit the pillow. Blissfully, I sleep through the night.

Day Two

Today is all about exploring Stockholm on foot.



We walk along the water to give me a good feel for Stockholm. The place is clearly amazing. Comprised of 14 islands, Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden.



This buildings are like photos from guidebooks (heh) and I begin taking a thousand photos. Maddie becomes my photography assistant, dutifully holding lenses with the upmost care as I ponder which one to use. (Little does she know that this will be her role for the next three weeks.)





As we continue along the water, Maddie points out various sights, tells me over and over again what neighborhood we are in, and I wonder if tourists in Minneapolis are as awestruck as I am by buildings there as I am by these beautiful buildings here.





I fall in love with these posters promoting a Christmas buffet. Maddie tells me that they include a lot of meat, I my heart falls knowing that we won't be served dinner by St. Nick.

Maddie blends in really well here. We are stopped by an old man who asks for directions in Swedish. Easily, Maddie pulls out her map and helps the guy. I stand back, impressed.

We must go back to the house for lunch, or grab a bite to eat while walking around (Maddie - help! This is why you should keep a travel journal people!).

In the afternoon we decide to go on the Millennium Tour to see the sights of Steig Larsson's, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. Pinching pennies sounds better, and we just buy the guide and do a self guided tour.

Good call. We are able to go off the beaten path and explore a bit more.




Stop #1 - Home of Mikael Blomkvist






Stop #2 - City Hall (in the background)







A good night's sleep clearly did me good and I am happy to be on my feet for 12+ miles today.









We venture off the beaten path, and find a great view of Stockholm near a radio tower. Of course I snap photos for Nic.



As I zoom in, we discover little figures climbing the tour.



As we walk through the neighborhoods of Soderman, I am impressed with the number of people commuting on bike. We also stumble upon a bike shop, but do not go in - a decision that will haunt me to this day.











The Millennium Tour takes us to weird locations, and we decide we are glad we saved money just purchasing the guide. I mean, we were both really looking forward to seeing the 7-Eleven where Lisbeth bought large packages of Billy's pan pizza, cartons of Marlboro Lights, and other supplies...



However, following the map did lead us to interesting locations, sights and shops. We step into various places, including a book + paper store, a fun household store, an expensive clothes shop, among others. We say we'll come back to actually shop another day.


Someday, I will have a mail box like this.






For the record, Maddie is holding up 10 fingers, to represent our tenth stop on the tour, and not being crude next to this very famous statue of two nekkid sisters (right?).













Later in the evening, Maddie has to meet with two of her classmates (Diego and Rosana) to work on a project. The decision is easy and we go to Cafe Saturnus. The place is packed, so we walk to two other bakeries (adding on at least another five miles to our daily walking total) which are also packed. A good hour later, we decide to head back to Cafe Saturnus and manage to grab a table.



I am instantly inspired. This is the type of cafe I will open someday on the square in Washington. The floor alone is enough to make my heart melt.



We have a coffee and split a famous kanelbullar, or Swedish cinnamon roll. Maddie has been looking forward to this all day. The treat lived up to its hype and between three of us, we demolish it.



There are two ladies sitting at the table next to us. They each order their own kanelbullar + the largest hot chocolate I have seen in my life, and demolish them as well. I feel sick.

Their group finishes their discussion, and we depart ways.

We are meeting up wtih another friend, Marco, for dinner. The destination is Sibiriens Soppkok, a cozy little soup place that Maddie has been talking up all day as well.



Another winner. The conversation flows and the bread + soup are savored. I get a vegetable soup determined to maintain somewhat healthful diet while traveling, but Maddie's soup wins hands down. It is called "Orange" and contains bell peppers, mango chutney, and orange (among other things).

We ask the waitress for the recipe, but are denied. Will try to recreate it some other time.



After dinner, we meander our way to a metro, hop on a bus and return home.

I am in Sweden. It is still hard to believe. 16 days to go.


{Maddie - what am I forgetting? Please fill in any missed details, stops, or things you remember from the day. We should have listened to Mom...}