Dags för Fredagsmys/ Time for Fridaycozy

One of my favorite things about Sweden is Fredagsmys!

The word mys means "cozy" and can be used to describe many situations or things - a dinner, an outing, a teddy bear, a cafe, whatever. But Swedes have a special place in their hearts specifically for Fredagsmys [silent g], literally translated to "Friday cozy."

Fredagsmys is the cozy, end-of-week evening snuggled on the couch in front of the TV, usually with a bag of candy and a bowl of chips [Swedish chip manufacturer OLW has capitalized on this concept with their Fredagsmys commercials, see above]. 

Sweden's long winter nights are well-suited to Fredagsmys, as are warm Friday evenings in May, as it turns out. Although laundry is probably not included in the typical Fredagsmys agenda, I've added it to spice things up (getting pretty crazy over here).

I can highly recommend Fredagsmys - if you haven't experienced it already, do so now. It's Friday afterall.

Valborg in Stockholm!

While my hometown of Annapolis, Maryland celebrates May Day with a flower basket-making contest, Sweden celebrates a bit differently - by lighting enormous bonfires throughout the country, burning any remnants of winter and welcoming spring at long last.

This celebration is called Valborgsmässoafton, or Valborg for short. The holiday is celebrated in many countries throughout Northern Europe, and is named after the English missionary Saint Walpurga, who was cannonized on May 1. The day falls exactly 6 months before Halloween.

It's difficult to fully appreciate how welcomed this Valborg holiday is if you don't live through the long winter that overtakes Sweden each year. I understand it even more so after my 2nd winter, which felt longer than the first. 

Valborg marks the beginning of the season not only of warmth but of light. As I write this post, it is 9:45pm and the sky is not fully dark yet. Each day the sun is rising earlier and setting later than the day before, culminating on June 21 when the sky is dark for only a couple hours. There is an energy that comes over Stockholm at this time of year, and I am so thankful it is finally here... still, I won't be surprised if we get another snow shower before it's really summer. But at least we're almost there! 

Mysterious Steps in Stockholm

Have you seen these footsteps in Stockholm?

I first discovered these mysterious footsteps outside my apartment almost a month ago. Then they were on the cobblestones down the street from my office. The ones pictured above appeared by the tunnelbana (metro) station in my neighborhood. And now they're all over Stockholm - coming from the lake, across bike paths, along sidewalks. 


My question is: why? And where did they come from? 


Perhaps building anticipation for some major event on the horizon? Or supporting the local AIK football team, whose colors are black and yellow? Trying to make a statement of sorts? Or is someone just bored?


Any info, please share tack!

Påsk i Riksgränsen

Påsk=Easter

Riksgränsen=one of the most beautiful places in the world

My shins are still a bit sore from my ski boots, but it's a sore I don't want to go away. It reminds me of our incredible Easter holiday in the Arctic Circle, in a tiny place called Riksgränsen. Just next to the Swedish-Norwegian border, you can't get much further north than this beautiful oasis of winter wonder.


The tiny town of Riksgränsen, where only half a dozen people live all-year round, is not easily accessible - it's an 18-hour train ride from Stockholm (which turned into 22 hours for us). But that's exactly what makes it so great: it's off the beaten track.

just a few reindeer running around the slopes, totally normal

Imagine skiing in complete powder on a mountain of your own. That's how it felt, there were so few people. At least, when it was snowing. But even on the sunny days, it was easy to feel secluded on one of the many off-pistes.


We stayed in NS' aunt and uncle's charming cabin, where we had a stunning view of the mountains and the cozy warmth of a sauna to come home to after a full day on the slopes. It was heaven.

the whole crew, just before we said goodbye

And how nice it is to actually come home from a holiday feeling more healthy than when you left! Although now back at my office desk, the effects of skiing all day are slowly wearing away...

Thank you Syks for a fantastic Easter holiday! Jag saknar det redan och hoppas att komma tilbaka snart : )

the Swedish Easter tradition: feathers in trees

Squeeze Risk

This may look like an April Fools' Day sign, but in fact, it is not,

and can be found on many elevators here in Sweden.

This "squeeze risk" comes from not having a door as part of the elevator, so you can reach your hand out and touch the wall as you go up or down. Unfortunately, this missing door can wreak havoc if you happen to have a large item, say a trash can, with you in the elevator. Don't become the victim of this unfortunate calamity - take the stairs!

On that note, I'll leave you with the Swedish April Fools' rhyme>

April April din dumma sill,

Jag kan lura dig vart jag vill!

which literally translates to>

April April you dumb herring,

I can trick you where I want!

EMG in Åre

Åre is Sweden's biggest ski resort.

Nestled in Jämland in the midwest of the country - a 7 hour train ride from Stockholm - Åre is gorgeous, on the edge of a lake creatively called Åresjön (Åre Lake). And last weekend, my team was sent to this beautiful ski village to celebrate reaching our goal last term. 

Despite overcast skies and rainy weather, EMG's International & Norwegian teams made the best of our 4-day trip. Snowmobiling and skiing are indeed possible -and fun! - in the rain. 

Although it was hard not to look forward to the well-earned After Ski at Fjällgården (see below), conveniently located on the slopes. The tricky part was skiing back down the mountain afterward. 

 

We had some amazing dinners, fun ski runs, wild nights out - wrapped up with a last day at Tott Hotel Spa just up the street from our abode, Åre Bed & Breakfast (sorry to all the guests who were disturbed by our music, although I have to say, going to sleep on a Saturday at 8pm is slightly unrealistic in a hostel).

Tack allihopa for a great weekend in the mountains! It was well worth the extreme exhaustion that greeted me Monday morning ... and Tuesday ... and ...

Stockholm's Best Asian: East

Team dinner @ East!
My meal:
Started with> Thai Beef Sashimi. garlic & chili marinated filet of beef
Followed by> Duck Tamarind. with pineapple, macadamia nuts, & red wine tamarind sauce
And to finish> this delicious fruit salad


a very satisfied me