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Hej!

March 24th, 2015 at 11:10 am

Hej is Swedish for hello! I spent, and I do mean spent, last weekend in Stockholm. Why Stockholm? My grandparents were Swedish, I grew up with my grandmother speaking Swedish, and I though, after my adventures with students in Iceland that I should go. I shopped hard to find the right flight and hotel, preferrably leaving from Heathrow. It all came in for under $400 with the airport transport and a great central hotel with breakfast as I heard (rightly) how expensive Stockholm is.

I had a marvelous time; it was very fun to wander around the Old Town, look at all the cool Swedish design, and sample excellent seafood. I was glad I planned carefully as things were indeed staggeringly expensive, but I found great places and things to do that didn't kill the budget. There was a great museum on Scandi living called the Nordiske Museet on one of the small islands that make up Stockholm. Next door was another huge museum containing the reconstructed 1628 ship that sank in Stockholm harbor 20 minutes after sailing. Everyone was lovely and friendly and spoke English in response to my faltering Swedish. And I have a Scandi surname which everyone commented on, so I got to talk with lots of people--nice for chatty me when traveling solo.

Got back to London at 9:30 on Sunday night feeling like I'd been gone weeks. DH and DD here in a couple of days! I spent more than I'd planned on gifts, but it was so lovely. Yesterday I went to another gallery with students, then stayed on to go to the John Singer Sargent show at the NPG. Very interesting but came home exhausted after days on my feet. Only two weeks of classes left, but with Easter Monday off, that's only three days after tomorrow since I teach two days a week.

My editing work for the d--m textbook publisher has still not been paid, and I'm getting pretty hacked off. My contact forgot to invoice them, but said they screwed up. They owe me $2500 which better show up soon. Sitting in my sunny flat before my afternoon meeting, and really again feeling so blessed and so lucky to have this time.

5 Responses to “Hej!”

  1. laura/the deacon's wife Says:
    1427200927


    Not to be a bother, but pictures? Pretty please? With sugar on top?

    Some us are trapped in the Midwest, where a little taste of spring made us shed our winter attitudes. Now that it is chilly and snowy and cold here, we are all befuddled!

    Sounds like a grand time!

  2. creditcardfree Says:
    1427201161

    That sounds wonderful!! What a wonderful trip to take while you were so close. Enjoy seeing your family. Smile

  3. CB in the City Says:
    1427202836

    What a great experience! I hope to someday travel in the lands of my ancestors, too!

  4. bluesfemme Says:
    1427215588

    Glad you enjoyed and it looks like you found a good deal! We had 3/4 of a day in Stockholm, and enjoyed it so much I looked into a long wknd when next we were in the UK, but it was so pricy. Bet you're looking forward to some family time!

  5. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1427290485

    That's a lot of money to be out!

    Sounds like you had a good weekend.

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