Sweden

March 23rd 2006

It was with a heavy heart we left London. It was also the first time I was subjected to a no-frills aircraft. Since from time immemorial the magical airplane ride was always associated with food, comfort and service, the heart became heavier as my stomach got lighter. A little of the disappointment gave way when I glanced outside and watched natures cotton reservoirs floating by. Even though they did not quench my thirst, the clouds continued to play hop scotch with the blue sky and when I looked down below I had to clamp my teeth together for fear my jaws would drop off. From where we were, it looked like broad white snakes were scattered all across the belly of a vibrant city called Stockholm.

By the time we landed it had started to snow. This was what I had dreamed of many moons ago and I was thrilled to witness my first ever snowfall. The feel of fluttering snowflakes against my skin was like a sudden assault on my senses. All along the way to the hotel we were treated to a wintry landscape. The denuded grassy hillsides coated in frost, was indeed a welcome change from the recent spate of bridges and monuments that we were subjected to in London. Gentle hills clothed in snow rolled past one side of the road and on the other there were semi frozen ponds with ducks congregating on small patches of open water. And all along the sprinklers from above were turned on and white sugary powdered dust kept cascading down gently.

Our stay in Stockholm lasted for approximately three days. Time enough to explore the city but not enough to get used to the grandeur of the surroundings called Sheraton. Enveloping us in its engineered comfort from the time we stepped foot in it, we felt like we were born with not just one but a whole cutlery of silver spoons in our mouths. The first night we took a walk to the station, slipped a few times on the smelting (snow melting) sidewalk, got the pounds exchanged for Kroners, and on our way back tried to taste the snow by sticking out our tongues- pretending that all this was normal. In reality, Im sure the look on our touristy faces was a sure give away.

Even shopping here proved to be an adventure since everything was within walking distance. Not that we needed T shirts as proof of our glorious sojourn yet we had to get something for the kids. I got one which read -My mom went to Stockholm and all she got was this lousy T Shirt. I know, I know, pretty lousy souvenir but memories nonetheless. My husband kept reliving his student days when years ago he had come here for a summer job. You see, in summer, the Scandinavians whisk off to Southern Europe, perhaps to bask in the warm beaches and some of the vacancies are filled in by students from East Europe and the Soviet Union. So Shanker, who did his engineering from Moscow, had experienced a month long stay working as a construction labourer, a waiter, a hospital attendant and a newspaper delivery boy. Perhaps this is the reason my husband also believes in the dignity of labour.

The nights we spent walking across the promenades of Kulturhuset, the Culture House, where earlier stood a free library for people to meet, read books or listen to music. Of course, now it housed what else but shopping malls. Earlier, I believe it also used to be the terminus of the underground Railway and was called the T-Central. We kept walking around, with me enjoying the nightlife of trendy bars and clubs of the 'now' and my husband, probably transported to a 'then', secretlyreliving it all.

The days we spent crossing over to Gamla Stan to visit the Churches, Palaces, Museums and whatever else the city had to offer. With a brochure in hand, it did not need much detecting skills to locate them. However, the highlight of our visit to the Swedish Capital was the Stockholms Konserthus- a landmark of neoclassical architecture. The Stockholm Concert Hall was built to house what is now the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. However my interest was all the more aroused when I learnt that since 1926, on the 10th of Dec, every year, it also serves as an arena for hosting the Nobel Prize Ceremony. WOW! What an honour it must be for those Nobel Laureates to receive the prize from the hands of His Majesty, the King of Sweden.

After seeing where the Nobel Prize was received, it was but natural to follow the Nobel Laureates around (in our imagination of course) to where the Nobel Banquet is held. That led us to The Stockholm City Hall, one of Swedens most interesting and impressive buildings, both in terms of architecture and artistic embellishment. Here in the Blue Hall (again in our imagination) we visualized the 1,300 guests in their formal best dine amidst a splendid setting. It was indeed a day with seemingly endless WOWs.

Sadly, everything comes to an end, even the taste of a Scandinavian delight! As one day gives way to a night there is always the assurance of another. So it was that we left the next day, with another promise in our heart. For this time our destination was towards the West. We were headed towards the Gay Paree!

Nargis Natarajan