Swedish Randomness

Did you know

(These may or may not be 100% accurate, but hey, I don't get paid to look sh*t up for verification)

• Dogs, not just or only-seeing eye dogs, are allowed on the subway (certain cars).
• It is normal to have smoked salmon (cold of course) for breakfast. It's pretty good actually.
• You can pick up your mailed packages from the local 7-eleven - which are EVERYWHERE.
• Getting into nightclubs in Stockholm is almost as tough as getting through New York airport security.
• This is the most messed up thing I've seen yet (Swedish elevator sticker)...OUCH!
• If you want to purchase the 'good' beer / wine / spirits, you need to go to the government owned liquor stores.
• You need to purchase your own little grocery bag when you shop (paper or plastic)
• Swedish Rap Music isn't all together that bad.
• A dessert called Sorbet of Sea Buckthorn (it's a berry) isn't too bad either.
• There are some 'interesting' little bars / restaurants tucked away in some of the subway stations.
• The trendy thing is to hang out in Hotel Bars / Restaurants. (After 2 months of living in a hotel, it will be LONG time before I consider hanging out here fun...)

• You get assigned seating at the movie theater.
• Swedes drive on the right side of the road and most actually stop for pedestrians
• Most US TV programs have Swedish subtitles...that's one way to learn the language I guess.
• Depending on where you are in the city, everything shuts down about 8pm.
• Depending on where you are in the city, everything opens about 8pm.
• At the winter solstice in late December, the day lasts about only six hours, whereas at the summer solstice in late June, Stockholm's daylight period extends beyond 18 hours.
• Tipping is around 10% or less of the bill.
• Swedes seem to like to run to catch the subway train even though one will follow in about 1.5 minutes. I haven't figured that one out yet.
• Swedes walk VERY VERY VERY fast. I get passed by people all the time - even the elderly. Sad sad sad.
• Everyone on the subway is either reading a free metro-news paper, listening to their i-pods, or is on the phone. I feel like I'm on a nature safari or at the zoo because I don't do any of those - I just watch people.
• Pippi Longstocking (Pippi Långstrump) is very popular.

That's all I've got for now. I might add summore later.