In response to societal discussions, many have probably heard someone make a comment, that, "in Sweden things are better." They say that the grass is always greener on the other side, and in my own personal opinion, I have found the other side.

I had the pleasure of being sent to film in Sweden in March of 2008 for a Rockumentary I was working on. While there I meet some amazing people that I became good friends with. This year I went to visit these friends, as well as focus on photography. I flew into the Stockholm Arlanda Airport. It was both, super easy and quick, to catch the Arlanda Express Train into the City Center Train Station. If spending some time in the city, I recommend getting a public transportation pass card. It was about $40 for a week of unlimited bus and subway travel. On a side note, most people speak English and are very willing to help out. I had a complete stranger not only help me find the right bus I needed but rode with me to show me the correct stop to change at. With this being a photography trip for me I spent the majority of the days wandering around the historic Gamla Stan (Old Town).

I was able to wander for over 7 hours through-out the ancient architecture and snaking cobblestone streets just wide enough for one car and a few pedestrians. Along the careening walkways were myriad wonderful shops with some of the most wonderful crafts and locally made merchandise. On one street there were several tourist shops that retailed typical postcards and t-shirts but with the exception of those few businesses, the majority of shoppes remained true to locally produced items by artists and crafters in Sweden.

There are a plethora of Historic landmarks around Gamla Stan. Most notably out of the many landmarks I visited: Stockholm Palace; (Royal Palace), the Opera House, City Hall, and several of the many baroque churches. In addition, Stockholm is populated with many art/culture centers and history museums. One that I enjoyed very much was the Fotografiska (the photography academy and museum). I was introduced to the work of Jacob Fellånder, a Swedish photographer that modified a film camera to allow him to use multiple exposures to capture the world in one image. Over the course of one week, he flew to the most populated cities in the world, and created a series of photos that capture them all in one image.

I stopped by the Systembolget (state controlled alcohol store) to get some wine for dinner when I stumbled upon Albert & Jacks, a bakery, which rivals the quality of the patisseries Paris. So naturally, I bought several loaves of bread and a large block of cheese.

After my week in Stockholm I hopped on a train to meet up with another friend. Within the beautiful countryside of Sweden is the small town of Vimmerby. The town is most famous for the fact that Astrid Lindgren, the children's author most known for Pippi Longstocking, was born and raised there. There is a wonderful museum next to her childhood home, which still is inhabited by her relatives. 

Astrid Lindgren's Childhood home

I also got to see the oldest oak tree in Sweden, as well as one of the most majestic lakes in the area.

If you happen to be in the area outside of Vimmerby, there is a great candlemaker, Vaxboa, which crafts the most interesting candles I've yet seen.

While I was visiting, there was a Moped Rally that traveled right past the farm I was staying at.

Next, we made our way down to the southern tip of Sweden, to the city of Malmö. While the architecture of Malmo is not nearly as impressive as Stockholm, I very much enjoyed the thriving art and music scene in the city. The majority of my photography from this city documented the vast street art scene. There are several legal walls within the city that the artists are allowed to use, which is one of the reasons that artists from all over Europe flock to Malmö.

The city is home to many cultural centers, including the Malmö Opera and several theatres as well as rock clubs and dancehalls. I hungout at the club Debaser on several nights. They have music (either live or a dj) every night of the week. We got in free before 10pm, (afterward they have a cover charge about $10.) 

Debaser's Deck

One of my favorite stops was the Brygghuset. It was an old Chocolate factory that was converted into a brewery and restaurant. 

In conclusion, while Sweden may not be among your first thoughts for a vacation destination, I urge that it should be strongly considered. The culture and people make this country a wonderful welcoming peregrination.