I was recently at a garden party-potluck hosted by friends who also happen to be professional musicians in orchestras around town. Needless to say, we were treated to high quality music as we dug into pasta salad and quiche.
One of the celebrations I still find peculiar is the way high school students in Sweden celebrate their graduation. Wearing white nautical caps, they pile into dump trucks blasting music with heavy bass, and ride all through town screaming at the top of their lungs. You can hear them coming from at least a mile …
Read more “In Pictures: White Caps and Dump Trucks – Celebrating Graduation in Sweden”
I was already at the pastry table when they rounded the corner – a curly-haired woman holding a small point-and-shoot camera, and two kids, no more than 6 or 7, a boy and girl both holding their father’s hands, one at each side. I caught their mother’s expression first – mouth wide open, eyes twinkling, camera ready. A girl-like giggle escaped her. “This is insane,” she must have been thinking. At least that’s what I thought when I rounded the same corner.
Östermalms Saluhall remains one of my favorite places in Stockholm to photograph. Slabs of raw meat, whole fish and seafood balanced atop each other, fruits and vegetables stacked in pyramids, and other gourmet knick-knacks seem quite photogenic on otherwise boring days. You can view more photos from Östermalms Saluhall over at Sweden.se.
It really is amazing how easily we can take places for granted after we’ve lived there for some time. And I feel this sentiment applies more so to locals than travelers or even new expats.
Swedish flags were lowered and moved out of the way as Skansen’s massive bonfire was lit on Saturday, April 30 around 9:10pm. Spring songs were sung, banishing winter for the next 6 months. Thousands of faces were tainted orange by the fire’s warm glow.