Stockholm, Sweden. In September 2016 Adarsh Mashru and I traveled here to visit some companies that are publicly traded, namely Nordea Bank and Swedbank. We were going to visit Ericsson but they canceled on us. We stayed in a part of town called Djurgarden, on a boat that was docked three hundred yards, give or take from the Abba museum. The old man that owned the dock was a bit of a crank but enjoyable, and the owner of the boat was a venture capital guy.
The boat was wonderful. It was the best sleeping I’d had in awhile with the porthole open and the water quietly lapping on the side.
Djurgarden had several lovely restaurants within walking distance of the boat. They were sort of the farm to table variety. Fresh ingredients fixed in such a way as to entice the diner visually. Food as theater.
On this trip we went to three countries: Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
Swedes are very affable and generally outgoing. They seem to enjoy Americans, unlike the Norwegians. The Finns are altogether different. There language is of an entirely different derivation than the Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes. But they have a beautiful country. Swedes like good food and drink. The Norwegians are runners and bikers and they like art. The Finns like reindeer. Each of these countries seemed to have its own distinct personality.
Djurgarden is sort of a peninsula separated from the main city of
Stockholm. It used to be the King’s hunting grounds. Parts of it are a park and then some of it is residential.
I really enjoyed the Abba museum. Those of you who remember, this group simply couldn’t miss at one point producing hit after hit. Perhaps their music could be described as “kitschy” but I think “Dancing Queen” is a pop masterpiece. And I always will. The museum was a little bit Gatlinburgy, but so what. Swedes regard Abba as their national treasure. And for good reason.
Adarsh is from India, but seven hundred years ago his people came from Persia. The cab drivers in Stockholm tend to be Iranian. When we were headed to the airport our Iranian cab driver, at our prodding, began to recite the kings of Persia such as Jamshid, Cyrus, Xerxes, and Alexander. It was a wonderful history lesson, and seemed a propos in this country that is still referred to as Kingdom of Sweden.