Summer in Stockholm, Sweden - a Short Travel Guide

Summertime in Stockholm, Sweden and my first impressions as a summer exchange student was of a pristinely clean city filled with flowers and parks. Each apartment window downtown had a flowerbox, and the historic buildings gleamed in the light. Gorgeous blond people of all ages bustled through the city on bicycles, rollerblades, or on foot. With a lot of waterfront property, there were boats everywhere. Summer is short and the Swedes take their water sports seriously.

Midsummer Day is celebrated on June 21st. A good place to go for the festivities is Skansen Park. Historic homes from the 16th century are open for visits. Outside of the grass covered buildings, some artisans demonstrated skills such as cobbling horses or forging iron. The park has a zoo with reindeer, elk, and even a polar bear.

The highlight of the Midsummer festivities was the maypole rising. The pole is decorated with flowers. Then with Swedish folk music playing, men in colorful outfits work to raise the pole. Once it is planted, people grab the streamers and begin to dance around it. Outer tiers of folks clasp hands and dance in the opposite direction. Some people are wearing historical garb, most are in T-shirts and shorts. Drinking beer and laughing, Swedes and tourists alike enjoy the celebration of summer and the longest day of the year.

As an exchange student, I was fortunate that my family exposed me to many aspects of Swedish life and culture. Living in the suburb of Stockholm, it was easy to catch the train and head downtown to explore. I remember how safe I felt, with no compunction about heading out on my own for the day. At fifteen, I would not have thought about heading into Philadelphia by myself. The family had me visit a Swedish nursing home/hospital. The mother worked there and felt I should see an aspect of the Swedish healthcare system. The Swedes pay very high taxes, but in turn medical care is guaranteed no matter the age or income.