Amsterdam

Amsterdam.  Just the name brings a smile to many third year abroaders.  A must.  At least this is how a friend and I felt when we looked into booking our trip.  We would make it as cheap as possible.  We decided to make it a brief 3 nights/ 2 days and flew RyanAir from Skanska to Eindhoven.
Of course the benefits of savings on airfare are quickly sobered by a 2 hour bus ride from Stockholm to the airport and a 2 hour train ride in the Netherlands.  These are things one needs to remember when booking with a discount airline such as RyanAir – they are cheap for a reason!

 We booked at what looked to be one of the most popular hostels in Amsterdam, The Flying Pig: Uptown. It was Complete with a bar and smoking room. While the hostel lacked common space, the bar was comfortable and played good music while those in the enclosed smoking room burned their day away.

We arrived after nightfall at Amsterdam Central Station.  It was not until we left the station that we realized we didn’t have clear directions to our Hostel. This ignorance was met with an incredibly difficult street system. Which, if looking from above, spreads from central station in a circular or hexagon-like grid.  Therefore it’s essentially impossible to ‘walk up a block’ without walking further away from your destination.  We quickly learned we should take note of exactly how to get to a given location – or take a cab.

We went on a quick tour of the busy downtown. I was surprised at just how many people filled the streets. The other feeling was just at how international the crowd was. It gave the impression that this downtown could be anywhere, and very little about it was actually dutch. I later confirmed this with dutch friends who, themselves, feel ‘out of place’ or like a tourist when in Amsterdam.  We spent the night exploring various cafes and bars in the downtown area before catching a cab back to our hostel.
The next day we had high hopes… We’d meet up with a friend staying at another hostel and make our way to the Van Gogh museum. After that we would enjoy the Heineken museum, before another night on the town.  The start of our day was a bit delayed when we could not contact our friend. We took advantage of the laid-back hostel bar and ventured around our hostel before making the decision to leave.

 The Van Gogh museum was busy but not overly crowed. Starting on the bottom floor it was organized to illustrate influences along the life of Van Gogh.  Despite neither of us being art connoisseurs in the slightest, we enjoyed the museum and benefited from the biographical descriptions at the beginning of each section.  Up next was the Heineken Experience.  Part interactive museum, part brewery tour the experience was a fun and interesting few hours. Whether it was just the atmosphere and anticipation or the authentic quality, the included two beers were remarkably delicious. 

 On our way in the building we spotted an O’Donnell’s Irish Pub. The first I had ever seen, so of course we headed there for dinner.

We spent the last night the same way we spent the previous two, taking in the sheer amount of people and bight lights that makes up the downtown.  Although, we were less interested in exploring as we were in relaxing and having a good time.  We kept noting the strategic position of fast food and dessert stands that stood under bright lights opposite of ‘cafes’.  

 It seemed like everywhere people were constantly spending money and lots of it.  With rumours and political debates about the continuance of the cafes and the red light district it seems unlikely many would risk losing such ‘easy-money’.  While the associated crimes are by no means acceptable, it’s hard to deny the benefit of so much tourism.

 In the morning we traveled south to Eindhoven. Arriving at the airport I felt disappointed I had not bought a single souvenir. Shamefully, I headed to the overpriced and underwhelming airport store and picked up an Amsterdam Coffee Mug.  An expensive but practical reminder of a fun weekend. 

Sigtuna

This fall in Sweden has been uncharacteristically mild.  In order to take advantage of the weather and see a little more of Sweden we planned a day trip to Sigtuna. Fortunately, all I had to do was agree to go. The plans of grabbing a train and a bus were taken care of.  I still prepared the same way I do for any trip: charge my camera and search wikipedia.
Sigtuna prides itself on being 'Sweden's oldest city'. Tourism is obviously important and it benefits from its close proximity to Stockholm (and Uppsala). Located on the shores of Lake Malaren the scenery reminded me of cottage country back home. Historically the shores were lined with homes of merchants and residents. Nowadays it gives the impression of a well-off commuter village.
Around the small town are plaques showing a number of historical ruins or sites. We essentially followed the numbered sites before taking a break by the water.  It was hard to comprehend how old some of these crumbling churches really were. The fall colours, coupled with the nice weather, made for great photos and walking-weather.
A small walking street  with small boutiques and stores was the busiest attraction with small boutiques and stores. Apparently it is there that Sigtuna hosts its popular 'christmas market'.  A term I wasn't familiar with before moving to Europe. It seems every city or town has its own version.
We stopped for lunch in a sports bar. The food was good and it was nice to find a place to accommodate our group.
Shortly after eating we were surprised to see the streets emptied. It was not busy before, but now it was simply deserted. By 3pm the stores had closed for the day.  We found this surprising as we walked down the eerily quiet street back towards the lake. With the bakery closed, I had to settle on a kaffe & kanelbullar from pressbyran. A distant second. By then it was time to catch the regional bus back to Knivsta train station and Uppsala.

Mother Russia - Vodka Trip Part 2

We arrived in Saint Petersburg early in the morning. As we disembarked we walked across the tarmac to an imposing concrete building. We would be channeled like sheep through customs and make our way to the bus.  We were warned it would be quite different than Estonia and were encouraged to be early. Different it was. We were all quite tired, dehydrated and hungry as we stood holding all of our luggage.  Entering Estonia (thanks to the Schengen Agreement) consisted of letting a yellow lab sniff out knees as we walked toward to terminal.  Russian customs would require proof of tour registration, proof of accommodation, passport and student ID. Just the thought of dealing with customs intimidated me. This was Russia after all… aren’t you suppose to be intimidated?
Eventually we made our way to the terminal waiting room and were told to find our bus outside. Heading towards the parking lot I seemed to think to myself,
‘we’re not in Kansas anymore’. 
Taxi drivers with buzz-cuts, blue jeans and black leather jackets conversed as they waited for potential customers. Behind them, the skyline consisted of a few large smoke stacks attached to a rather dilapidated building. It looked as if these stacks were responsible for the gloom that was the sky.  A few of us joked that we should go back to the boat - back to Estonia.
We all loaded into a coach bus and were introduced to our Russian guide.  She would provide commentary as we toured the city. She welcomed us to her home and when commenting on the weather said, ‘it’s good you get to see the real Saint Petersburg, this is the way it is most of the time’.  O great.
The rain held off but the overcast conditions persisted as we drove around the city. It became apparent that the guide could talk constantly, barely pausing to breathe.  She filled us with Russian history and factoids as we passed countless buildings. I got the impression that she would feel guilty if she forgot a single detail, often clarifying and adding information long after we passed the site of interest.  When she eventually took a short break from speaking she said ‘If you have any questions please just ask, yeah?’
how could we possibly have any questions 
She seemed to answer her own call for questions by heading into another monologue about the founding of Saint Petersburg.
We lunched at the comfortable restaurant ‘The Idiot”, named after the Dostoyevsky novel.  It was well furnished with old chairs, couches and bookshelves.  And decorated with an eclectic mix of ‘stuff’ – from a half burnt/melted boom box to a formidable bust of Lenin. The food and atmosphere made this a great place to take a break while still getting a ‘taste’ of Russia.
After a few hours, including ‘photo-stops’, we went to check into our hostel. I was impressed. It was centrally located on the busy Nevsky Prospekt and afforded some great views of the city(from the rooms). It also featured a big kitchen and common room with both a TV and a few computers.  We were a bit stunned to learn we could not wear our shoes inside – at all.  It was suggested we find a shoe locker and take out a pair of thin fabric slippers.
You can’t be serious.
We all abided and ditched our shoes for these one-size-fits-all slip-ons. 
That night, we organized – through the hostel – a pub-crawl. A pretty large group of us were led to a few of the pubs and bars of Saint Petersburg. Mainly chosen as ones we might not find ourselves. One of the first things I noticed was people smoking. It had been a long time since I had seen people smoking in restaurants/bars. The smell of my clothes the next day made me appreciate the smoke free environment back home.  Smoke clouds aside, it was a fun night of trying to find the cheapest beer, socializing and seeing the city at night. One of the best views of the trip was when we walked over a bridge and saw The Church of Split Blood lit up against the night’s sky.  I think we were all glad we still had two more days in this place... 

Estonia - Vodka Trip Part 1

I was hesitant to start this latest entry. I had been away for a week in Estonia, Russia and Finland. I had seen so much, I wasn’t sure how I would condense it into an entry.  What’s worse is that I had missed a seminar and two lectures. I had to play catch-up; the blog would have to wait.
This trip was organized through Scanbelt Experience.  The price was right and I knew someone else going. I thought to myself, when else will I get to go to Russia? Apparently, one can only spend 3 days in Russia without a visa. I think arriving by boat is also part of the condition. So, to get the most out of this, we would spend two nights and three days in Saint Petersburg.
The trip was entirely by ferry. From Stockholm we would travel overnight to Tallinn, Estonia. After spending the day in Tallinn we would travel to Saint Petersburg, stay for 3 days then head to Finland.  After a day in Helsinki we would head ‘home’ – back to Stockholm/Sweden.
I had never been on a cruise ship before. I didn’t think about this until I was just about to board. Another ‘first’ was about to be crossed off my list.  The Lonely Island’s ‘I’m on a boat’ was on everyone’s mind – at least mine. This hilarious song was countered by a fellow traveller who insisted on telling everyone about the 1994 MS Estonia tragedy - a horrible accident that took the lives of 852 people.

It was a warm sunny morning when we arrived in Tallinn. The boat that brought us to Tallinn would also take us to Russia, so we had the benefit of leaving everything on board.  I had read or heard that most of the downtown was UNESCO protected but other than that had really no expectations or knowledge of Tallinn.  The guide, who would stay with us for the entire trip, gave us a brief walking tour. We learned about Estonia’s history of occupation and the influence of the Russians, amongst others on the country. It painted a rather depressing past for such a beautiful place.
As a group we stopped for lunch and ate outside. We didn’t want to waste too much time eating but we were all tired, dehydrated and hungry from a late night on the boat ride over.  After lunch we broke up into smaller groups and explored more of the old town including the large town square and some of the shops. As per suggestion, we made our way to the supermarket to stock up on food and drink to bring on the boat. Prices onboard would be much more.
After getting a good tour of the town it was time to head back to the boat. I think we all were impressed by Tallinn. Benefiting from the weather, we all got the best possible impression of this historic city. Before heading back to the boat I exchanged Canadian dollars for Russian Roubles, one last thing to worry about when arriving in Saint Petersburg the next morning.
 After getting 80 photos, 4 postcards, a box of cereal, and 2000 roubles, it was time to leave Estonia. 

Finishing my first course

When I decided to created a blog I intended a much more journal/diary format.  In reality I just have not been able to keep up! As such, I have not written to much about student life, school and other aspects of life in Sweden.  I hope to compensate for that a little with a reflection on my first course: Sweden Politics.
I’ve just finished my first course. Yes, that’s right - Only a month in and I have a 'half-year' credit. Swedish post secondary is focused on a more on independent study and academic readings. Students take one course at a time. That being said, the course still had a written component and 2 seminars.  The former was a 5 page paper on an aspect of the Swedish Political System, in comparison to one’s home country.  I wrote about Swedish Political Parties vis-à-vis Canadian ones.
The first seminar was based on about 6 discussion questions. We went through them as a group. Focus was placed on discussion and not so much on individual comprehension. A lot of time was spent comparing Swedish aspects to our respective systems.
The second seminar gave us a chance to briefly summarize our paper. It turned into a sort of awkward narrative of each paragraph – at least for me. Regardless, it was a more detailed and interesting comparative of political phenomenon and practices.
To culminate the course most of us took the opportunity to jump on a train and get a tour of the Swedish Riksdag in Stockholm. A very informative guide led us around while discussing various aspects of Swedish politics.   Much of the Riksdag is in a modernly renovated building - the former Bank of Sweden.  I have to admit I missed the historical touches of Canada’s HoC. The other building however offered a little more grandeur and history. Still in tact are the dual chambers existing from the Sweden’s time as a bicameral legislature. These rooms are now at the disposal of the two largest parties.  As such, they are still arranged as they always were, with the added benefit of microphones and a projection screen.
The tour was a nice way to end the course. It also reminded me I had never taken an official tour of the Canadian Parliament (despite having the amazing opportunity to “work” in the house of commons for a 3 day model/mock parliament). So, as I checked the Riksdag tour off my list I added the canadian parliament. 
This week I will be starting my next course Gender & Politics.  However, with a week long cruise to Estonia, Russia and Finland departing Saturday, academics aren't exactly on my radar (for now). 
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A few political differences between Sweden and Canada:
Swedish politicians sit according to constituency, not party
Seats are arranged in a semi circle
No senate in Sweden
Proportional Representation in sweden
Female MPs: Sweden: 45% Canada: 25%
Voter Turn Out: Sweden 85% - Canada 61%

Stockholm Part 2

We bought a combination entrance ticket that would get us into all 4 attractions: The Royal Apartments, The Treasury, The Tre Kronor Museum & Museum of Antiquities.
 It was only 70krs for a student ticket, and is usable for 30 days.
Inside the treasury we saw coronation robs, crowns and swords. They were displayed in glass display cases all in a dark dungeon. No cameras were allowed and a rather intimidating security guard kept careful watch.
Upstairs in the Royal Apartments it was more relaxed.  We could take photos (without flash) and were free to walk around without a guide.  We did have to avoid a few large and crowded groups of tours but got a good look around the rooms.
On display was the Royal Guest Suite where distinguished guests stay while in Stockholm.  I thought about all the Kings and Queens who, over the years, used this room. It was interesting to walk around such a historically decorated room that still held a modern function.  The same can be said for a large room in the family apartments where foreign affairs meetings and consultations take place annually. It gave the impression of a working museum.
The portion referred to as the State Apartments/Rooms were closed.  A page on the door notified that the rooms were closed due to engagements by HM the King.  While it was too bad we did not see these rooms, it added a touch of authenticity to the experience.  I would later read that there was a large State dinner that night, attended by the King, Queen, Crown Princess and many distinguished guests.  My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail.
We left the old town towards the city square.  It was filled with people and food vendors, each vendor representing a different country.  The selection of food and products was impressive.  Seeing everything reminded us how hungry we had become.  We tried some samples before deciding we needed much more than cheese and jam samples.
A coffee shop with a large window facing a promenade offered a good place to people watch and eat.  I avoided the large desert section for something of more sustenance. 
After watching countless people walk by, we continued toward the train station. Stopping in some shops a long the way, I couldn’t help but notice what looked like 3 H&M stores within a 200-meter radius. I guess this was Stockholm.   
After minor confusion and asking for direction, we found ourselves back in the train station.  The day in Stockholm had come to an end.  

Stockholm Part 1

We left a rainy Uppsala around 9am.  From the Central Station we were to take a train to Stockholm Central.  For 49kr each way it was an affordable and only 30 minute ride. 
The rain had stopped when we got out in Stockholm.  I had been wearing my sunglasses on my head with an optimistic outlook on the weather.
A guy on the train had laughed and told us we picked a bad day.  I disagreed and I was right.
While back in Uppsala the rain had continued and gotten worse, Stockholm only had a few dark clouds.
We left the station in direction of the Riksdag.  Crossing the bridge we were afforded good views of both the Riksdag and the Tower from City hall on the other side. 
As far as main objectives I wanted to see the old town, the palace and a museum or two.
If you have been to Stockholm you know this is not hard to do.  We were hoping not to spend too much money but were otherwise open minded.

We started by just walking around the Riksdag and towards the Palace. We checked out the gift shop in the Royal Palace. 
Since we just arrived I avoided buying any postcards.  This was a good choice since only steps away were countless other stores. They were filled with similar gifts and souvenirs for nearly half the price.
After buying a few cards we walked the narrow stone streets of Gamla Stan.  Every turn has another narrow ally or road and most were filled with pedestrians.
We found a place to stop for lunch. It was a nice coffee shop with an amazing selection of desserts - A perfect place for Fika.  Coffee cups were spread across a table with a copper urn in the middle.  Free refills.  They also had a small menu mainly of different sandwiches and salads.     Old paintings and photos of the royal family filled the walls. 
After filling up we decided to head back towards to water. We agreed that our first stop would be the National Museum.
The  first section we toured was applied art and Swedish design.  It was full of seemingly regular objects that were innovated by Swedish design. I could not help but relate some of the displays to those in IKEA. It was interesting to see some historical pieces but I was not too interested in a chair or a cup that happened to be of Swedish design.
Other rooms held an impressive collection of paintings and sculptures.  An exhibit called the four seasons gave a nice look into the Swedish landscape. Many of the photos of winter reminded me of Canada - particularly one of children tobogganing.
Another room held some names that even I knew: Renoir, Monet and a Rembrandt in the adjoining room.  In full disclosure there was quite a collection of Cezanne, but the name didn’t hold much meaning to me. I was later enlightened of his significance.
After leaving the museum we were not sure what to do next.  I knew I wanted to go inside the Palace but was unsure if the others did too.  We flipped through a guidebook until I finally gave my suggestion. Although this meant walking back the way we came, we did not have much choice... 

Culture Day in Reykjavik - Part 2

As it got later more and more people started to fill the streets and parks. I was surprised to see so many people.  Most of them gathered along the Marathon route.  There was a band playing cover songs on the waterfront beside the route. They were playing in the back of what looked like an old Mercedes transport.  The trailer, where they were playing, was still attached to the truck.  It seemed like the fun was starting and I was amazed at how perfect the weather was.
I made it back to the hostel shortly after 3pm and finally checked in.  I spent my remaining kronor on the night’s stay, rented linen, and a Hostel International membership card.
My room was shared accommodation with 5 bunk beds.  If the beds were assigned, it appeared mine was taken.  I just moved my stuff to the top bunk of another bed. The latter was thin and made of steel. There was not much to hold onto, and not much room to step.  It became obvious why the bottom bunks were the first to be taken.
I said hello to the 3 other people in the room   but everyone seemed pretty quiet.  The couple that were at my assigned bunk talked really quietly in Italian as if they didn’t want to disturb anyone.  I asked the girl where she was from and she asked me.  I could tell her English was not very strong and didn’t attempt to carry on a conversation.
I walked around as the streets began to really fill up and performers played music outside of nearly every bar or restaurant.  I had read online of an organic fish and chip place by the water. I thought I should try that.  I double-checked the price to avoid what happened at breakfast.  It was very busy so I opted to ‘take out’.  I ordered from under the ‘recommended meal’ section.   Meals were made by order a fish and a side.  I got the ling fish with potatoes and tartar sauce.  I sat on a concrete block by the water and ate there.  It was about 7pm and it was starting to get colder by the water, I stayed anyway.
The food was delicious and enjoyed the thicker, more textured tartar sauce compared to the stuff back home. The fish had great flavour and was covered in a crisp but thin breading.
I noticed a lot of people with the same take out coffee cup.  I took this as a sign of what was good and popular amongst locals.  I remembered seeing the store earlier but couldn’t find it. I settled for another coffee shop that was serving outside in the street. The man greeted me in Icelandic, I smiled and replied ‘one coffee please’. He apologized and said he did not know I spoke English. I told him he shouldn’t apologize and thanked him for the coffee. A woman beside him took my money.  She only gave me back a few coins.  I wasn’t sure how much I was supposed to get back right away. I looked at the value of the coins.  She then said ‘o you gave me a thousand…. I’m sorry…and handed me a bill I hadn’t seen before, 500 Kronor.
The streets were packed and it took me a long time to walk back to the center of town and where the main stage was being set up.  From up on a hill everyone faced the stage and the harbour.  A large statue was at the top of the hill and as the fields filled up, more and more kids climbed the statue for a better view.
Background music played as a band set up to perform.  The main singer was bald with a long beard.  They played rock music and were very entertaining.  He sang a few songs in English before switching to Icelandic lyrics.  The crowd was enjoying it and so was I, despite not understanding a word he was saying.
As that band finished up I thought I’d head to the hostel and bed for the night.  It was getting cold by now and I was exhausted from walking around all day.  I went back to the room and uploaded some photos and got ready to sleep.  I could not get into the washroom in our shared room because someone was obviously in the shower.  I waited and waited and noticed another guy and a girl appear to be losing their patients.  I decided to go to the main reception desk and use the washroom there. When I got down there a guy at the computer desk asked if I was going to the fireworks.  In the interest of waking up early I decided to give up on the fireworks earlier in the day.  But something about him asking me, and the fact they were in only 10 minutes made me reconsider.  So I used the washroom downstairs and went up stairs to re dress and grab my camera.
I made it to the harbour before there was any sign of fireworks, but people had gathered along the path and fence line facing the water.  It wasn’t long before they started into an impressive show.  There was nothing blocking the fireworks as they lit up the nights sky.  I took the odd picture but tried to enjoy it without the camera. When I sensed the finale, I started taking a video. It was worth staying up for. 
I went back to my bed and put my phone/alarm right beside my head.  In hopes to hear it and wake up early before it would bother everyone else.  I fell asleep almost instantly.

Culture Day in Reykjavik - Part 1

I arrived in Iceland around 9am. When I grabbed my new suitcase I could not extend the handle.  It was jammed in the closed position.  Fortunately it had for wheels and could easily be rolled around. I thought this might be a bad start to my trip, the $120 suitcase was brand new.
 From the terminal we all boarded a shuttle bus to take us to the airport/check in.    Our passports were checked and stamped.
For 1200ISK I got a bus to the Hostel in downtown Reykjavik.   The large bus took us as far as the bus station where we were sorted in to smaller Mercedes vans. 
The bus drivers were friendly and helpful with luggage.
The driver of the Mercedes told us it was Culture Night after we spotted 100s of people running.  It was the Reykjavik Marathon.  It is the first event of the Culture day/night.  He told us there were over 5,000 participates in the race.  Impressive considering the entire population of Iceland is around 300,000. 
He let a couple and I know that some streets would be closed off, but that he could get us close, and show us from there. 
He said that it was a good day to come to Iceland. 
He told me I would only be a short walk to the Harbour, where there would be a firework show at night. He also mentioned the ‘new building’ with a certain amount of pride.   The building is a new and impressive conference and performing arts center right on the water.  That day was to be the first day they lit up the entire for everyone outside to see.
I knew I was a bit early to check in but was still surprised when I was told I had to wait until 230pm.   With the time change it was barely 10am but felt like 5am, and I barely slept on the plane.  They were helpful and friendly, storing my large suitcase and giving me the wifi password.  Before I left the receptionist offered me advice on where to go. She, too, mentioned there was a lot going on and that it was a great time to be in Reykjavik.  I told her I’d rather just discover for myself.
I went on my laptop to update those at home I had made it safe and sound. 
The weather was great. It was still early so a bit cool but great for walking around.
I enjoyed walking around the town, which seemed pretty quiet. Along the harbour was the race-route it was lined with cheering onlookers and many runners. 
I, too, cheered for the odd group of runners. Particularly when I spotted a women running in Canadian colours with a large maple leaf on her back. 
I enjoyed eavesdropping on the Icelandic groups as I walked along the harbour. It was a nice and slightly abrupt sounding language - like a microphone cutting in and out.
I took photos of the boats docked. There were smaller boats and larger ones for whale watching and tourists. The largest boat looked like a warship and read EU Fisheries.  I found this a bit confusing since Iceland was not a full fledged member of the EU, particularly because they did not want to share there 200km of coastal waters, and all the fish caught there.  Especially since that territory had sparked the ‘cod wars’ with England a few decades ago. A tour guide the next day outlined the particular pride and independence regarding the issue of fishing and the importance of it on the economy.  40% of all exports were fish or fish related.
Along a main street many people were gathered as it was the final stretch/finish line.  This street had many old buildings and was very nice.  Everything, for that matter, appeared clean and well kept.  As I grew tired I went back to Hostel twice to check the time and take a break. I was enjoying myself but on 1 or 2 hours sleep I wanted to relax.  I decided to find an ATM and buy breakfast and , more importantly, some coffee. A lady at an information store gave me directions to the closest atm.  When I eventually found one I used my debt card to take out 10,000ISK.  As I looked at my withdraw options I realized I had little to no idea the value of Icelandic kronor or its conversion into CDN.  This was a mistake.  I did feel some satisfaction at receiving 10,000. Although, I knew it was not worth much, but it was my first time trading currency into one of lesser value.
I walked around looking for somewhere to eat.  I found a small house near the main strip with two tables outside.  I went inside and asked for a coffee, then asked for ‘a sandwich or something’.  I had clearly confused her with my indecision.  After a moment she said ‘we have a breakfast’ and I agreed. I gave her bills and got some coins in return.  I found my self a seat in a small room with no one in it but a few table and a view of the now busy street.
I started to get the impression that this was a nice place, and had no idea what I was about to get.  She brought out my coffee and a wine glass of ‘juice’.   I overheard earlier that they had a lot of juices, which were freshly made/blended.  Mine, which I did not order, was bright green.  It was the best juice I had ever had.  It made booster juice taste sweetened like crushed ice.  The coffee was what I expected in ‘europe’ or at least what I had read about.   It was black and looked thick. I assumed it was espresso with some hot water, what would be called Café Americano back home.  It, too, was good. 
My food arrived on a rectangular plate.  Two large pieces of bread filled with berries and raisons, a cube of cheese, some rolled pieces of cheese, rolled pieces of meat, two sauces (a jam and a pesto), a few large crackers, and a big bowl of what looked like oatmeal. It was a cold runny yogurt with oats, raises and berries. I checked to see if anyone could see me before I took my camera out and took a picture of it. It was pretty impressive to look at but did not appear filling.  I was wrong.  As I worked over my plate I was surprised at how full I was, without even finishing.
As I finished up I started worrying about a tip. Unlike any other sit down meal, I did not order off a menu and I already paid.  Still, the food was excellent and they were friendly.  I looked at the coins I had been given and decided I’d leave two coins – 100 Kronor each.
On my way out I saw a large framed poster.  It read that the governor of Iceland lived in this house during his temporary time as leader. I realized I was eating at a historic site and almost failed to notice.  I was clued off while eating and seeing a tour guide point to the house, but I had not heard what he said.
After breakfast I walked back to the hostel. I google-searched a currency convertor and typed in  5,000 ISK.  It converted to about $40 Canadian.  I counted what I had in my wallet and did the math. 
Breakfast cost me a little over 5,000Kronor. 
I could do nothing, but laugh. I just treated myself to the most expensive breakfast of my life.  At least I took a picture of it. 

Preflight

Today will be my first international flight.  I will depart Toronto around 2100 stopping in Iceland around 0630 local time. The flight was schedule to stop in Iceland anyway, so I took the opportunity to schedule a layover with IcelandAir. Their website makes planning layovers very easy. I imagine 1-3 day stays are big business for the island country.
 I will stay at two different hostels:  Hostel International’s Downtown Hostel and Hostel International’s City Hostel.  For less than $70CDN I got two nights and a morning’s breakfast.  I booked in late May and was surprised to find many spots were already taken.  To avoid moving to a more expensive room I booked my second night at the other location.

 I received an email from HI the other day notifying me that my stay coincided with Reykjavik Culture Night 2011. They attached a 4-page schedule. There looks to be quite a lot to see and do, with many tours taking place in English.

 Weather forecasts for Reykjavik look good for Saturday with sun, blue skies and 13C.  Unfortunately, Sunday has forecasted rain and cloud for most of the day.

 Monday morning I will be catching the second leg of my flight to Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport. Uppsala has coordinated a reception/welcome desk for arriving international students. From there we have the option of train or bus back to Uppsala.  By then I might be able to settle down.

First Go,

I’m setting up this page to record some of my adventures to those back home. It may also be of interest to those looking forward to spending a year abroad or, more generally, those interested in travel. 

As a Canadian University Student I will be taking part in a bilateral exchange between Queen’s University & Uppsala University. I will be spending one semester (August to January) in Sweden. During this time I will be taking a full course load through Uppsala U.  

I am working towards a B.A in Political Studies with a Minor in Global Development.  I have already enrolled in the following courses (taught in English) to take while on exchange:

• Swedish Politics
• Gender and Politics
• Comparative Welfare States
• Development and Armed Conflict

In addition to these, Uppsala University offers a free Basic Swedish course. At this point, I hope to take advantage of that opportunity. 

I leave Canada August 19th.