A Study Abroad Reunion! – Journals from Abroad

Hallå!

This past weekend, my friend and I decided to take a quick trip to Sweden! I’ll start off by saying it definitely wasn’t enough time, but goodness was it gorgeous! (And COLD).

Why Sweden, do you ask? Well, to visit an old study abroad friend of the family! When he was in high school, Sebastian, had stayed with my grandparents and thus a wonderful family friend was born.

4 people facing the camera riding down an escalator, a dad, and two young women and then a daughter at the bottom. — Sebastian (top), Alex, (left), Me (Right), and Elsie riding the escalator down to the train to downtown Stockholm!

We arrived on Friday, April 1st, very late at night and the next morning our crazy jaunt around Stockholm began. We stayed with Sebastian, his partner Hanna and their three daughters. We started our Saturday with a tour of Old Town and the palace, which then lead us to the water front that divides Old Town Stockholm and New. While in Old Town we passed the Nobel Peace Prize building surrounded by beautiful colorful buildings of reds, yellows, blues and greens.

Bright blue sky over red, yellow, green, and blue buildings. — One of the main squares in Old Town Stockholm with a stunning view.

After the beautiful walk through Old Town we crossed the bridge into New Stockholm and quickly peaked in through the National Museum and looked at some beautiful art from Sweden all the way back to France! After the museum our stomachs were growling and we headed over to an indoor upscale foodcourt eatery with a ton of options! Alex and I chose the meatballs and mashed potatoes (which were absolutely delicious). The inside looked like a train station from the 1920’s.

Iron white ceiling framed with red posts and tops of what look like train station markers. — Inside the food court, so different than those in America, more clean, better quality and options of food!

After we were all refueled up, we headed to the infamous Vasa Museum! The Vasa is a 17th Century war ship almost completely intact. The war ship is famous…but maybe famous for something less heroic than you may think. The morning that the ship was set to depart, it sank right out of the port due to a gust of wind. Thus toppling the dimensions of the ship over and ending her grand adventure before it could set sail.

Inside a dark museum with a giant wooden 17th century warship in the middle of the building. — A far away view of the Vasa warship, as you can see compared to the people viewing it, its massive!

After the Vasa, we took a ferry across the water to Old Town and took the train back to Sebastian and Hanna’s house for a homemade dinner! We met Sebastian’s brother, his wife, and their one year old son. It was a wonderful night of laughter, stories, and smiles.

Sunday morning consisted of a quick visit to the city hall of Stockholm and ended with lunch on a crisp sunny afternoon waterfront view. We ended up flying home content and happy with such a packed weekend of new and fond memories.

Until my next adventure!

Emma Libby