Fall is Here

The leaves are changing color.

The air is crisp and cool.

It is my favorite time of year!

Happy Birthday Linnea!

Today was a beautiful fall day and also happens to be Linneas birthday. 

In order to celebrate Linnea, Amy and I went Cafe Linné for lunch and then to the Linné Museum and Garden.

Lax Salad

Absolutely amazing!

 No birthday celebration is complete without dessert!

Blueberry Princess Torta

Layers of Fluffy White Cake, Blueberry Jam, Vanilla Custard and Blueberry Whipped Cream covered in a layer of Marzipan.

Beautiful view from our table outside.

 Happy Birthday Linnea! 

I am so glad I got to share this special day with you. I will remember it forever!

House Hunting

Last Sunday our CIEE group of 8 students went on an excursion to Stockholm to take a 3 hour boat tour of the archipelagos.

Walking to the boat we past some beautiful sites:

The Orange Church

After sprinting around they bay trying to find our boat we arrived with just seconds to spear before it pulled out of the harbor. Initially we were a little disappointed upon entering the boat. A beautiful spread of smoked salmon, fresh bread, potatoes and other brunch specialties were laid out on a buffet table. We were on a brunch cruise, but the brunch ticket had to be purchased in advanced (something we were unaware of). Not only were we not allowed to eat from the beautiful spread, we had no place to sit. Since we were the last to arrive all the seats had been taken so it was standing room only. This would not have been so bad if it wasn't gray and drizzling outside.

The Boat

Luckily it wasn't long before the clouds parted and we were able to stand outside. I love that wind blown feel you get from riding in the front of a boat especially when the fall weather is upon us.

Amy and Linnea.

Linnea and I.

Kelsey and I.

Soon the house hunting began. There were so many adorable Swedish homes all along the shore line. I wanted to buy them all! 

This could be the one!

 

Islands...

Islands...

Islands...

and more Islands!

The sites as we entered back in to Stockholm:

A old age home that is often mistaken of a Royal Palace.

The buildings are so colorful, it looks like Lego land.

What a beautiful city.

We each received an open ended return train ticket which allowed for us to spend as much or as little time in Stockholm as we wanted after the tour. Linnea and I decided to go back to the old city to window shop and eat ice cream (an excursion would not be complete without ice cream). 

As we were walking we stumbled upon the cutest shops one right after the other.

The first:

A Scandinavian Design Store with the CUTEST hone decor!

And Second:

A Chocolate Shop

But not just any old chocolate shop. This was the most amazing chocolate store I have every been in, floor to ceiling shelves of freshly made chocolate goodies. And the best part was that none of it was behind glass. It was all right there in front of you to be smelled and ogled at.

Heaven.

Pure Chocolate Heaven.

Too many choices.

But I decided on this. Marzipan base topped with a coffee marshmallow dipped in deep, dark chocolate. A fluffy bite of coffee and chocolate heaven. mmmmm

Another lovely day in Sweden well spent.

A Package!

A lovely package from Germany arrived today full of delicious goodies! 

Thanks Gaby, this package made my day! 

Everything is delicious and I will  definitely be having coffee and Dinkel Waffeln's for Fika tomorrow! :)

Gasque

This past Friday night was Västgöta Nations Reccegasque or Welcome Gasque. The festivities began at 3 o'clock with a group picture at the Nation. From there the group marched to the University Building for a Welcome speech by the Headmaster. Around 5 o'clock everyone returned to the Nation and that's when the party began. I skipped the picture and speech and instead went right to the Nation at 5:15. 

Upon arrival we recieved a glass of Champagne and mingled for about 45 mins.

The Dining Room

At the stroke of 6 the V-G Nation second in command bashed a large staff against the floor signaling to us that it was now time to enter the dining room.  

Seats are strategically assigned boy-girl-boy-girl. 

At each spot along with various drinking glasses and a place setting, there was a V-G Nation Song Book which was used numerous times throughout the evening.

The song books are also sort-of like a year book. You pass your book to the people sitting around you and they write a little message which you then cannot read until the next morning.
It's such a fun tradition. 

Appetizer- Tomato Quiche in Puff Pastry Dough served with a bottle of beer.

After taking our seats we chatted with the folks around us and ate our appetizer. I was sitting next to a guy from Stockholm on my right and a German guy on my left. Across the table was a Swiss fellow, a girl from California and a Girl from Sweden. We had quite a cultural mix.

Axel (the German) and I

Dinner was interrupted many times throughout the evening each time by the bang of a gong. The first time we were interrupted was to be introduced to our song leader, a tall blond with a snobby attitude (which was just part of her character). After her introduction we proceeded to sing. Each song is in Swedish to a familiar tune and often involved fist banging (the part I could actually do). After each song you toast to your neighbors. You raise your glass, look to the left, then to the right and then across the table (if you are a lady), say "Skål" and take a drink.

Other interruptions throughout the evening included the following: 

A skit put on by the V-G theater group

A speech by the first in command of V-G

Men's and Women's Choir

And then Dinner came:

Vegetarian- Pasta filled with Mushroom topped with a delicious tomato sauce and a side of snap peas. Very excellent. Served along with a glass of red wine and snaps.

The Meat- Some sort of meat (I jokingly asked the Swede next to me if it was reindeer meat) with Potato croquettes and snap peas.

The singing continued...

and continued...

And continued. Remember each song means yet another toast.

After a short pause to stretch our legs, it was time for dessert. 

A huge disappointment. Some nasty congealed butterscotch/caramel base topped with a hard crumble which tasted like it has pecans and pineapple in it. I just ate the ice cream which was very delicious.

Dessert was then interrupted by:

The Men's Choir.

They had really lovely voices.

V-G band/ comedy group. Very funny!

And of course more singing! 

Standing on our chairs while singing...

...can be lots of fun!