Shallow Pockets Brimming with Swedish Cowboys

I GOT TO SEE CAITLIN!!!! In Sveeeden, no less. Honeybooboo is studying at KTH for the semester and she was sweet enough to play host to me in her new Stockholm.

Stocholm is: Clean. Quiet. Cold. Beautiful. Confined. Colorful. Black clothes. Blonde hair. Heeled booties. Lots of Swedish. Lots of English. No accents. Perfect genetics. Full heads of thick hair. Expensive. Antique. Fika. Cinnamon rolls and rolls and rolls. Cobblestones. Boats. Sea. Islands. Bridges. Cave-like subways. Mid-street trolleys. Serious. Nordic. Artistic. Athletic. And utterly and completely ruled by IKEA.

 The first night we dropped my things off at Cait's quaint little loft and headed out to the biggest nightclub in Stockholm. The name escapes me... it was probably in Swedish. Everything was in Swedish- which is so disillusioning when everyone speaks such perfect English. Makes you do a double take and think you've suddenly become illiterate!

Saturday was the first proper lie-in I've had in ages. It felt TREMENDOUS. Then we set off to walk the city so I could be a big ole tourist. Caitlin took me for fika which is a big thing in Sweden. Essentially it's a coffee break. But it's like a ritual. And a date. And it always includes food- usually sweets [good for you, Swedes!]. And it's marvelous. England only really has instant coffee... which is awful. I drink it everyday at work but it's just not the same as a good strong cup of joe. So thank you for that Sweden.

 THAT is Swedish cake. And it is HEAVEN with a side of powdered suga.

 

 

 Stockholm was on point with their window displays.

 

You can't quite see it but Swedes are obsessed with remaining outdoors no matter the temperature. Each cafe had a plethora of outdoor seating and every chair had a blanket draped over the back to snuggle into while you enjoy your meal. How damn thoughtful!!

When we were rounding the corner in a sleepy part of Stockholm we chanced upon this beaut: Stockholm's Western Store!!! Caitlin and I stopped dead in our tracks. American flags. Confederate flags. Western DVDs. Cowboy boots. Boots with spurs. Bolo ties. Dedazzled button-ups. Ponchos. Old time soldier hats. Where were we?!! It felt like Texas had swallowed us whole!

 

 

 We had a relatively quiet night with some of Caitlin's classmates, Wiebke [below] and Chris, and we made dinner, attempted to make some Kanelbullar [Swedish cinnamon rolls], drank wine and introduced the Germans to American high school culture via Mean Girls.
Chris was thrilled.