We've all seen the quintessential photos of the Nordic world. The colorful houses along the sea. The fishing boats for their culture. We've all heard some of the history, with Vikings and so on. The north is a mystery to so many people who grew up visiting Disney every year and their parents dreaming of retiring in Florida or Arizona. Is it any wonder that when those of us who like to be a bit adventurous dream of going to an exotic place, we don't dream of the South? Our parents and their parents all dreamed of the warm. Our generation has been there done that and done it about to death. So, like Merle, I too have always been drawn to the north and all the exotic wilderness and culture it has to offer. This is why I've taken some time, once again, to discuss Sweden.
Previously, I've discussed Stockholm for Miss Jen and the Royal Castle at Drottingholm. I would love to spend some time in Stockholm at the Viking Museum and Fotografiska. But, then I realized that another one of my friends, Merle, had requested that I discuss the country. Well, if you thought there was nothing beyond Stockholm, let me tell you. Not true. There's so much that's amazing about all the countries that we call Nordic and all the countries that we call Baltic. And Sweden, which we call both.
Sweden is one of those countries. It has ports. It has access to the Baltic Sea and the North Sea and the Arctic Ocean. It has a large portion of its land above the arctic circle. They are a leader in design and innovation, much like Finland. They have a broad world community and global industry. We've all heard of IKEA. Well, another thing that Sweden is known for is its innovative architecture. There are tours of some of the most amazing modern architecture in the world available from numerous companies. They are famous for their saunas, ice hotels, ships, music, and so much more. There's no end to the surprises you'll find in Sweden.
The Nobel Prize is one of the first things that I always think of when I think of Sweden and particularly Stockholm. This world renowned prize is given each year to a select group of scientists and social scientists for their advancements in medicine, peace, sciences. The country is proud of their forward thinking and it shows everywhere you go.
They've had an interesting history from Vikings to Germans to Russians and beyond. They've battled and surrendered and battled again. Drottingholm Castle is home to the Royal Family who still is the icon of the country today. They now have a democratic parliament running the country, but like England, the royal family is of the utmost importance to the country's identity.
There's a lot more to Sweden than Stockholm and Malmo. A full 15% of the country lies above the Arctic Circle. This is the land where reindeer herders or Sami live. This is where the world famous Ice Hotel is located every year. This is where you can see the Northern Lights on a regular basis most of the year. This is where people take their snow machines to the drive through at McDonald's. The DMV in Sweden gives a driving test on ice, and if you can't handle it, you can't drive. That's life in Sweden. They do things their own way because they need to. There's a reason Volvo's are so safe. There's a reason for everything.
Northern Sweden is home to one of the northernmost national parks, Abisko. Wildlife is abundant in Sweden and Moose, Elk, Reindeer and Even Brown Bears are common. They have one of the largest Iron ore mines in Europe in their arctic lands. And let's not forget the Sami.
The Sami people are indigenous to the laplands and have been around for thousands of years. Their life is traditional. Their ways are something unusual in today's world. The Sami have been granted many freedoms by Sweden. They have their own regional government. They have their own lands and their own way of life. They have towns and farms and whatever they need for their lifestyles. They love to have visitors from the outside world, and there are a ton of tours to choose from if you decide to go and visit them to learn about their world. It's an amazing opportunity to see inside a whole different life, and I would love to do it.
Other things that you can do above the Arctic Circle. Hiking is amazingly popular and the St. Olavsleden Trail is the northernmost pilgrim trail in the world. There's mountains and hiking trails all over the laplands. Any town you visit will be able to help you with hiking.
There's a lot of life above the Arctic Circle in Sweden. There's a lot to see and do and enjoy. They have a unique lifestyle that merely adapts to the forces of nature. I witnessed the attitude when I visited Iceland, and I must say, the Nordic folks truly are happy. I'm still figuring out how to have that mindset, but I'm getting closer. The weather simply doesn't hamper them. They just go about their lives in winters that would have most of us crying in our beer.
One of the things that Sweden is most famous for is their saunas. It's a national tradition to sauna and then jump in snow or cold natural water. This can be extremely foreign to foreigners. I learned recently that there's an etiquette when it comes to saunaing. First, everyone brings beer. Did not know that. It creates a relaxed atmosphere. Second, bring that towel. Some places and some people are nude in saunas, but you don't have to. Some saunas are towel favorable and some are more hit and miss. It's best to always have one with you just in case. Birch leaves and the smacking are also optional. Not everyone chooses to have the birch leaf thrashing that we've all seen on TV. Swedes are social and not overly judgemental so just go to sauna prepared, and take it from there. It's meant to relax you, so don't overthink it.
Sweden is one of those long countries. Like the state of Florida without a panhandle. The east coast seems to be where the most notable things for tourists are located. This is the land of decorated farm houses, beaches (yes beaches), a lot of notable architecture, and a theme park with a water park included called Furuviksparken. The Gulf Stream feeds into the east side of the country and makes the climate milder. This is where a lot of fishing, swimming and boating in general takes place. Not far from the coast you'll find some unique spots like the treehouse hotel. There's the Sauna in Frihamnen. There's colleges, mostly revolving around science and design. There's an assortment of castles to visit throughout the country, but a lot of them are along the east coast and in the larger cities of Malmo and Stockholm.
In Halsingland, notorious for the decorated farm houses, you'll find what they call the Orbaden or the area's Riviera. They have giant flea markets or Loppis and it's a very quiet and laid back region to visit. It's scenic, the shopping is good, the entertainment it good, the food it good.
Realistically, there's a lot of contrasts and ingenuity in Sweden. They are a unique people living in a unique country with unique challenges. During the pandemic, they decided not to quarantine, sending the world's media into a tailspin. However, they now boast one of the lowest covid rates in the world. Should they do things their own way and not listen to the hype? Maybe so. Some of the greatest scholars in history have been honored by Sweden through the Nobel Prizes. The entire country is known for its innovation. The people deal with a lot of natural obstacles just to get through the day. And still, they're some of the happiest and most productive people in the world.
They have a royal family, and yet the Sami run their own lives and the rest of the country is run by an elected parliament. They have to drive on ice to get a license. They still eat largely seafood and traditional Swedish dishes. They're an unusual concoction of cutting edge and tradition living together in harmony. And 15% of it is above the Arctic Circle. They swim in Baltic Water, they roast in saunas. They love photography, spatial design and ABBA. There is no pasta with their meatballs, and Herring is king. Sweden is one of the most unique countries in the world.
They're also versatile when it comes to tourism. Many cruise lines stop there. You can see the country largely by rail. There are well maintained roads up into the Arctic Circle, so driving around the country isn't difficult. They are visitor friendly. A lot of folks in the cities even speak English.
So, if you want to take a look at the Northern Lights, sleep in an ice hotel, try Herring, visit a castle or several, learn about forward thinking architecture, swim in the Baltic Sea, or even go to an amusement park or ABBA Museum; Sweden could be for you. I would love to visit, just to meet the people. The rest is just meatball gravy. Enjoy!
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