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| Gamla Stan, Stockholm |
The past five days I was in Stockholm, Sweden visiting my fellow co-worker and GROW-er, Kim! I got a killer deal on Ryanair for a $38/rt flight from London to Stockholm, so I couldn't resist! I got in LATE on Wednesday night, or EARLY Thursday morning, whichever way you want to look at it! I made it to Kim's after getting off the plane, catching a bus into the city and then jumping into a cab to her flat and arriving on her doorstep at 1:30am, Thursday morning.
Kim had to work on Thursday, so I went into the office with her to see the Bonnier AB I've heard so much about and meet all those with whom I've emailed but never seen! After a tour and a cappuccino, I was off to venture the city until lunch, where I would meet back up with Kim. I meandered around, hitting Gamla Stan (old town) and finding the Nobel Museum. After buying a few souvenirs it was time to meet Kim, so I busted out my trusty iPhone and Google Mapped my way back towards the office. After lunch, my adventure continued. Walking across bridges, taking photos and taking in all the amazing scenery. That night Kim and I planned on heading out to an Irish pub for St. Patty's Day, so we started off with some wine, bread and cheese at her flat before searching for our first Guinness of the night! We found a great pub and posted up on some stools at the bar and enjoyed some good Irish beer and people watching. On our way back, we ran into a Kareoke bar and figured, what the hey.... so we got up on stage and belted out a duet to Pat Benetar's 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot'. I'm sure we did great, but I am definitely glad no one we knew was there to watch!
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| Me in the snow! |
Friday, Kim was working the big,
Bonnier Sales Awards Gala, so I set out to tour the city. I found an Urban Outfitters, so I decided to go inside. WOW. Best Urban Outfitters I've ever been to! Amazingly, I made it out without a purchase. Around noon, I was hungry and to my surprise, I found a TACO Bar! I happily wandered in and ordered the 'super' nachos, and I put this in quotations because their idea of SUPER is not America's! Regardless it was appetizing and I enjoyed every chip! On my way back to Kim's it started to SNOW! I, of course, felt as if I were in a winter wonderland (and I'm sure many around me thought I was crazy, taking pictures of the snow), but I definitely enjoyed it and eventually found a cute coffee shop with big windows where I could sit and indulge in a cappuccino and continue to watch the snow fall.
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| Stockholm, Sweden |
Saturday, Kim and I decided to venture to the world's largest IKEA. We took the metro and then jumped on a bus and there it was....huge. Yes, it was very much like the IKEA's back at home, but just BIGGER. We decided we'd eat there and ordered the Swedish meatballs and potatoes, very authentic! Kim even bought a few items and braved the crowd. That night Kim made us reservations at the Ice Bar, where you have to wear parkas because they keep it about -2 celsius to prevent the ice bar from melting! It was fun. We were served drinks in ice cups and even met a few people! After forty minutes, everyone is required to leave, due to the extreme cold, I think... That or to make as much money as they can in a day, shuffling groups in and out every 40 minutes! We met up with another GROW-er from Sweden and found a cool 25 and older hip-hop dance club, Le Bon Palais, to hang out and get our groove on at! Fun times!
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| Kim and I at Ice Bar Stockholm |
Sunday, was needless to say a L-A-Z-Y day, being that we were out so late and all. We met up with some of Kim's friends and ventured through SoFo, the hipsters shopping area and then got stuff for taco night and had Kim's friends over for tacos and ping-pong. Monday I had to leave in the afternoon, so I met Kim for a great sushi lunch and then jumped on the bus back to the airport. Sweden, you were amazing... I will be back again someday! And Kim, you are the hostess-with-the-mostess! See you again in Rome!!!
