Silly Stockholm, Chocolate is for Puckos

Okay, time for a more comprehensive post.

I wish I had more time in Olso, I didnt even get to see the Viking Museum! But what I did see was beautiful, the mountains reminded Eric and I of Colorado. The weather was very mild during the day, but could get rather chilly at night. Which really feels like day here.

Although I am a terror to travel with, I am glad Eric is here because I am getting quite homesick, and I cant even find a payphone which will take my card to call my family and Jenn! The care package my mom sent with eric was very nice. It screamed "I love you" with the M&Ms and pants I asked for and whispered "Stay regular" with the anti-diarrhea pills I did not ask for. Thanks, Mom.

The conference in Göteborg was very good for me, I have a lot of ideas about school and the direction I want my life to go in. I am now thinking sexologist/researcher for a while, then settle down into therapist when I am ready to commit to a place for more then 3 years. Though, after a couple days, I found myself exhausted by the conference so I played hooky and went to the harbor with Eric and our new friend Alex (A Suisse girl who was in the bunk bed below me and also attending the conference). We layed out on the boulders and watched the Swedes (some topless, but not many) bask in the sun and timidly try out the cold, cold water.

We did go out one night, which resulted in meeting some very interesting locals. George, an Aussie staying in our hostel had arranged to meet with a girl from couchsurfers who ended up being very nice, but Alex and I sat with a group of local guys because Anna's (the couchsurfer) table was full. I spoke in a British accent because it was easier for Swedish Eric to understand and she therapized Ludwig, who had anger managment issues which were prominantly displayed when he tried to fight a guy just for approaching our table to ask Alex and I where we were from.

On the train to Stockholm, Eric slept and I looked out at the lush scenery, interrupted every so often by a lake crowded with Swedish people. Mathias met us at the train station and I was so excited to see him. 2 years ago he was a roommate of my then-boyfriend, Keith, in Gainesville. Very often I would take Mathias out grocery shopping with us and I would cook him dinner (which was admittedly awful). So to see him again after so long was very nice.

We bought bus tickets, headed to his stuio flat and after some home made raspberry lemonade we set out for a picnic in the park. We were not the only ones with this idea, I think because the winter is so harsh, Swedish people just love to be outdoors in the summer. There was no event, but the park was as crowded as if there was an outdoor concert or something.

We went to city hall, a scenic route along the river, and we laughed about Swedish art that spotted the landscape. Then Mathias bought us all the weird things Swedes eat, like tubed caviar.

The night train to Berlin was booked for the next three days, so once again I had to begrudgingly return to the bed of Ryanair. We fly to Berlin at 6:30am Sunday morning, which means we have to catch a bus at 3:45am. Yeck. Then we will either spend the day and night in berlin, or go straight to Prague. Which is my preference, but it depends on if the hostel has an opening.

This morning after a very weird Swedish brekkie, Mathias headed off to work and Eric and I were supposed to head into the city, but he conked out. I will let the poor boy sleep for now. This afternoon promises the old boat museum and maybe old town Stockholm.

xxx