Sunday, July 11, 2010

day 20

friday 28 may 2010 stockholm

absolutely action-packed, and i wouldn't have it any other way!

began with lunch at berns with O and M, two swedish gentlemen that a family friend introduced me to last semester. going to berns for lunch was a little like going to zouk flea, i.e. odd to see the interior of and be inside, in the day. but it was great to see them again. they were part of my record-breaking dinner last year and truly excellent company for a delightful 9h long evening. never a dull moment with them and they give the best crash course to swedish culture ever, from how it's ingrained in O to conceal a vodka bottle in his jacket (drinking in public is illegal in stockholm!) even when he was in berlin (where it's O-K to be seen swigging from a bottle at noon), to M and the efficiency (or not) of the road works pre-royal wedding. there's definitely something to be said about picking up the intricacies of a culture from born and bred swedes, although O did spend most of his childhood in various exotic locales and M spent a good while in the UK. and maybe that little added 'outsider' advantage is what makes them the warmest (haha) swedes i've had the pleasure of meeting. although a warm swede is largely an oxymoron to me.


think O took the photo below when he was trying out my camera!


delish lunch of thai meatballs (oh yeah, in sweden, totally politically incorrect!) was followed in quick succession by tea with the glossy posse in ostermalmstorg. who'd have thought that we'd all be back for our first visit at the same time? perfect timing, couldn't have planned it better myself. and it was exciting catching up because everyone's moved on and yet is the same (sense the recurring theme?) A had finished her masters and begun teaching criminal law to freshmen back home (lucky them!), T was done with her bachelors and had just bought an apartment, R was finishing up her 2nd masters thesis and about to plan her great south east asian escape and J was reunited with the love of her life in their love nest. so all good and happy to see them happy :)

loved the tea salon they picked, perfect for stureplan girls and ladies who lunch ;)


and after tea, it was off to S' for fredag punch, our swedish institution.

S transformed J's room and really made it his own


yay to friends and catch ups and non-stop face stuffing in stocks!

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