Out door sights in Stockholm

We live very close to one of Stockholms ski slopes. There is plenty of snow by now and the ski slope opened last Monday. It is open in the evenings as well as during the weekends. Actually C was there and tried it out one evening last week. The slope is not very long so he said you ski down hill for about two minutes and then you stand in line for five minutes to take the lift up hill and that takes another five minutes. The ski slope was still kind of icy but C had fun. I met several persons the other week on the tram carrying snow boards on their way to the ski slope, that felt kind of exotic. It made me feel like I was in the alps or some where like that. I like the idea anyway that there is a ski slope in the middle of the city practically and that we can almost walk there from where we live now.

Something very very Swedish is what you can see in the picture below. Two Swedes standing still with their eyes closed and facing the sun soaking up the sunlight. You may think that looks very silly and funny and I admit it does but still I completely understand it by now considering that the days are so short here close to the north pole and considering that there are many days that you don´t even get to see the sun at all because the skies are grey. It made me so happy yesterday to see the sun shine. We both got so exited and felt we just HAD to take a walk and take the opportunity to get some of that sunlight.

Sun shine is very important to us Swedes and light in general is very important to us considering that our winter is so long and dark. We run out when the sun comes out and we choose light colors in our homes and for our furniture. We light plenty of candles during winter and love to spend time outside during the summer.

I love that you can both see people skiing in the middle of the city and that you can do it if you like. I love the fact that you can do so many outdoor sports without much effort. You can just step out your own door and the opportunities are almost endless. Here you don´t have to plan too much in advance neither do you have to get yourself and all your equipment into the car and drive somewhere to be able to go skiing or jogging or for a nice walk.

I would say that Swedes are very fitness oriented. You see plenty of people out running or like this man to the right that is out power walking with his walking sticks. No one is afraid of the cold or the snow. I am still so impressed with the level of fitness that I see here everyday. I guess I am still used to life in the deep South where a simple walk is almost considered super healthy. One of my best friends told me yesterday that she is going to ski the famous Wasaloppet that is a ski contest that is 56 miles! I am so impressed. I don´t think I could make it. I am not that Swedish yet to be eager to try it out. I still work out Monday to Friday but training for something like that puts your exercicing on a whole new level. But I do love the out door possibilities and the ease and many opportunities that there are even right in the middle of the city center.