Where does the sun set at around 10 pm or thereabouts? Why Stockholm in the summer, of course! I’ve just arrived and am already jacked in—blame it on jet lag.
I’ve only seen a tiny, remote region of the city so far, namely the neighborhood surrounding my hotel near the harbor. It’s green and quiet, and incredibly easy to navigate on foot despite all signs being in Swedish only. The train and subway systems are fast, timely, comfortable, and clean. The ride to my hotel was swift and simple.
I didn’t feel much like eating when I arrived. A fifteen hour journey from San Francisco through Munich to Stockholm will do that to you. Airlines must think they need to keep passengers occupied with food at all times so they don’t turn on each other out of boredom and claustrophobia. (Only 8 more hours strapped in a seat made for leprechauns! Will that be chicken or rigatone?).
I really shouldn’t complain though. Lufthansa makes the experience as bearable as they can, even in economy class. There’s something very civilized, for example, about putting the restrooms beneath the passenger seating area. This allows for six (!) bathroom stalls in a plane, plus room for those who are waiting in line. People, you don’t need to bump into flight attendants and wait in a long queue wedged between aisles just to use the WC on a flight! You can just go down the stairs and use any one of the available six (six!) water closets. It’s revolutionary!
As for food, I don’t have much to report yet. I bought a bottle of chocolate milk called Pucko, which seems to be pretty popular. It was, well, chocolate milk—sweet, simple, bringing you back to age ten. Pucko is packaged in a glass bottle with a somewhat retro-looking orange label, indicating that it may actually be marketed to adults. Apparently, pucko is a slang term meaning stupid, but in a nice way.
Off to slough of my jet lag and get some sleep. More food reports tomorrow, if Odin wills it. God natt!
