Sexy Stockholm! That pretty much sums up our time here. The weather is gorgeous, the architecture and design is stylish and clean. The people are good looking and friendly and the nightlife is rockin. Outdoor activities are based around the water and the islands off the coast, which means a lot of boating, swimming, rock climbing and some cliff jumping.

We’re staying with a friend of my brothers who is working as an architect here. He doesn’t have any furniture in his house because he’s moving in a couple of days so the three of us are sprawled out on a hardwood floor in his living room sharing a couple pieces of silverware and using an internet connection that only comes through the window late at night to work. But it’s FREE, which is huge since the Kroner is 3 times the dollar. So for example my redstripe beer I had was $8 USD. Tasty little redstripe it was.

What have we been up to? Got into to town and went to this great little park with plush soccer field, miniature golf and outdoor café and had a couple beers and people watched. Got into a local soccer game, which was a great way to shake off the two plane rides and bus to get here from London. Oh, and did I mention that we missed the bus to the airport from London and had all but given up on the idea of making our flight which would have meant no trip to Stockholm and having to reschedule our flight to Spain costing us an arm and a leg.

[Insert airport story]
So we we’re sitting on the curb with 35 minutes to get to an airport that by bus is 50 minutes away. Our only option is to grab a taxi that is going to cost us about $200 and may or may not get us there in time. But we had not choice, we had to risk it. So we finally flagged down a taxi and of course it’s the oldest, slowest taxi in all of London. Thee driver is flooring it and we’re getting passed by mopeds on the freeway. The minutes are ticking down and to make things worse we are flying RyanAir, which is ruthless when it comes to being even one minute late for check in. Shit. Traffic ahead. We’re done for. But driver reassures us that it will clear up and that we are going to make it. He was a good man, as he could sense the anxiety coming from the backseat.

3 minutes to check in we pull up to the airport. We sprint with our huge backpacks, a suit bag and a small duffle through the airport taking out woman and small children and stumbling into the check in desk with one minute to spare. We were greeted with a sour look of I should close the window on you guys right now, don’t you know we’re RyanAir sucka. After a little sour face and a lecture our bags were checked and we started the mad dash for the gate were we were told our flight was boarding "NOW”. So of course whenever you hurry through the airport, security stops you checks all your bags makes you have to sprint at top speed to the gate where the plane has not even arrived and is 20 minutes late. I would say it was ironic but then again this is what always happens when party all night in London and try to make a flight the next morning. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Anyway, back to Stockholm…

Did I mention it’s light almost 24 hrs a day? So at 9pm it feels like it’s one in the afternoon and our bodies are so off from jet lag and partying in London that 9pm actually is 1pm according to our physical clocks. So the first night we’re in Stockholm is a Saturday night, the first official day of summer and what people are calling salary day, which is when everybody gets paid and goes out to celebrate. Needless to say everybody and their mother is out on the town for a good time. We ended up rocking out all night in a variety of different plazas, bars and clubs with all kinds of Swedes. The sun rose as soon as it set and before we knew it we were back at the park playing soccer with some locals and a bottle of champagne at 7am in the morning. Welcome to Stockholm, huh.

Since then we’ve been riding bikes around the Islands, rock climbing, and cruising through the archipelagos. One night we checked out open mic night and we’re amazed by the creativity and… Yeah the creativity. I think the long, dark winters may get to some of the people here and the open mic was an outlet for some pent up creative juices. We also went to a big music festival that showcased some of the best hip-hop and dance hall musicians in Stockholm. Some of these cats could rival DJs and artists in the states and we may be bringing a Stockholm DJ over to play our next Matador party. Everybody speaks English in Stockholm and for the most part are into learning more about the American culture that many have integrated into their own style. But I have to say that Stockholm came correct with their style and way of life. I was definitely taking notes.

I highly recommend a trip to Stockholm, just keep in mind that it’s incredibly expensive so hit the grocery store and try and find a couch or an empty floor to crash on.