“You can smell the anti-bacterial detergent in the air” – This was my first thought when I arrived in Stockholm. I thought the place was so clean you it was ridiculous. I had heard all kind of things about the cleanliness of places like Sweden, but it’s really something to witness. Also, being in Stockholm made me think of Karl Ove Knausgård’s My Struggle 2. It is the book when he decides to move to Stockholm and falls in love. Anyway, his acclimatising, or rather resisting to acclimatise to Stockholm culture makes you see think differently about some of the prized qualities of the “best countries to live” lists. The Stockholm he describes in the book is evident in the way that the people of Stockholm behave. One of the best things about traveling is to see people, how they live, what they wear, what they eat, and generally how society is organised elsewhere. I suppose that’s the sociologist in me.
Stockholm is a beautiful city. It is well organised and runs efficiently. There is an interesting mix of old and new buildings. The people are well dressed in the streets. The only problem is that it’s expensive, especially if you are traveling with a powerless currency like the South African Rand. I manage to go out for a meal and have a drink to eat. Mostly I went to the supermarket and made food at the hostel where I was staying. It was no glamorous at all, but I wanted to travel, and it was only possible if I was willing to live like the grad student that I am. Overall the trip was fantastic. The city was beautiful. It will probably be a long time before I go to Stockholm again, and I will make sure the next time I go with a friend. Here are some snaps from the trip.
