Photos: Illustrating Scandinavia

A million people on this planet speak Estonian. When visiting Estonia, I’m inspired by a distinct and proud culture that somehow has survived living between Russia and Germany over the centuries. The language is unrelated to most European languages — and so are many of the deep-seated customs. For instance, Estonians bury their loved ones in forests so that they ultimately “live” with the trees.
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For years I’ve flown over Stockholm’s famed archipelago, or glided by it on a big cruise ship heading for Helsinki. Eighty miles of scenic islands stretch out from downtown Stockholm. (Locals love to brag that there are 34,000 islands — but that must count mossy little rocks, so I ignore that figure.) A hundred of them are served by ferries, providing Stockholmers with the ideal island escape. This year, finally, I did good research on the archipelago. It’s covered in our upcoming Scandinavia guidebook, and we had a gloriously sunny day that allowed us to include it in our upcoming Stockholm TV show.
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Ice bars must be good moneymakers — $25 entry includes one vodka drink not “on the rocks” but “in a rock” — because they are popping up all over Europe. While they’re environmentally stupid, if it ever felt right to be in an ice bar, it would be in Stockholm. Apart from an actual ice hotel (in north Sweden’s Lapland), this ice bar is the original — with ice actually shipped down from Lapland.
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All over Europe, stupid torture exhibits are cleverly marketed. They make lots of money by appealing to the lowest desires of dumbed-down travelers. Nearly every major city has a “torture museum.” None have any real artifacts. I think there must be a catalog somewhere allowing people to equip a building with the scary and gory gear needed to open up a torture museum. The catalogue must promise that there will be an endless stream of bored tourists willing to pay $15 to ponder creative ways people have maimed and mutilated other people through the ages.
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Even in notoriously expensive Scandinavia there are cheap ways to enjoy the good life. In Stockholm — the least expensive of the Scandinavian capitals — the old town is filled with feisty and competitive restaurants offering lunch specials for $10 (hot plate, salad, bread, and a drink). I can’t get that in my home town of Edmonds.
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Those darn Scandinavians are so socialistic. Here some pinko dad is enjoying paid paternity leave with his new baby. Can you believe that each Swedish couple gets to split 16 months of parental leave? What ever happened to family values? And who’s paying for that? They probably have to raise their families with some single-payer health care system too. Incredible.
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Berlin must be one of Europe’s cheapest and liveliest capitals. And when you want to eat cheap and lively, find the neighborhood Currywurst shop and munch with the locals.
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The remains of your Currywurst plate might stoke the appetite of an abstract artist.
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Comments

16 Replies to “Photos: Illustrating Scandinavia”

  1. Rick….Glad you are back on the blog. I was wondering as you said you were home in the last entry if that was it for the summer traveling ….it seemed early and it’s good to see you back in Europe again and telling us all about your travel adventures……very interested in the countries you are now visiting…have a fresh European beer for us on your travels….all the best

  2. Hate to sound bitter here but you have posted tons of pictures from Norway but not one single picture from Finland. Helsinki has changed a lot since you did you last show there. I think you could have had at least one shot from there and written at least a paragraph.

  3. What a pleasant surprise! I thought you had finished up your blog since you returned home. I just happened to click on this blog by accident as I was going to check up on your Travel as a Political Act blog!

  4. Rick, I just started reading your blog and have enjoyed it very much – thanks for your well-read and thoughtful opinions on a variety of topics! I also just got the chance in the last couple of days to catch your Iran special on TV. It was wonderful for me to see the beauty of a country that I will probably never get to see firsthand. As a member of the Baha’i Faith (which you correctly mentioned during the show is not able to practice the religion freely there) I would not be welcomed by the government. Regardless of this, I feel a strong tie to this country as it is the birthplace of our beliefs. Thanks for providing this view into a beautiful culture!

  5. Great photos, Tony, especially the one with the comments on American idiots who are so completely stupid that they can’t understand why we should be just like Europe! I’m really looking forward to the No Reservations episodes on Scandinavia. And keep that witty political commentary coming, Mr. Bourdain! What this world needs is much more snarkiness, no matter what the cost or end result!

  6. Actually, Jon.. Bourdain’s already been to Iceland and Sweden. He pretty much Hated them for being homogeneously white.. They definitely don’t have enough Muslims and Chinese for Bourdain’s Taste. Just like Ireland doesn’t have enough Chinese and Muslims, the US doesn’t have enough Mexicans, England doesn’t have enough Pakistanis, and Germany doesn’t have enough Turks. In fact he felt the need to re-edit his Iceland show to make sure we knew how much it sucked. Bourdain is an annoying Monoculture wank. I also still don’t understand why people get their panties in a twist that Rick has an Opinion of his own..

  7. When I buy a travel book I don’t expect to be exposed to the political ideas of the writer. Rick’s books have always offered suggestions that are perfect for my taste in travel.

  8. My husband & I recently returned from an incredible 3 weeks in Sweden, Finland, Norway & Copenhagen. Half of trip with friends & family, other half on our own with Rick’s book in hand: stayed in private homes, did walking tours etc. Scenery amazing but people’s perspective most interesting: big is not necessarily better, care of environment is essential, paying 50% taxes is acceptable for what they get in return – education & medical benefits for all. Family with serious medical problems getting excellent care under “socialized” medicine in Sweden. Better outcomes than far more costly healthcare system in US.

  9. While I do respect Rick’s legal right to his opinion, I suspect that he is better able to provide travel tips than political direction to “stupid Americans” who have more reasoned positions on cultural and healthcare issues. The Family Medical Leave Act provides substantial benefits for employees who need to attend to personal and family medical issues. Paternity leave is up to individual companies. Gosh, Rick, does ETBD offer paternity leave? What other benefits does ETBD offer? Paid vacation, sick leave, medical, dental, vision, life insurance? Are those benefits free to your employees? As for healthcare in Europe, I observed many older people there with obvious health problems that clearly needed attention. If care is so plentiful there why do old women in Ireland struggle to walk with swollen ankles and edema likely related to cardiac problems? One of the biggest problems with healthcare in the US has to do with the pharmaceutical companies that spend millions on marketing and lobbyists, all the while claiming that they are in dire need of research and development funds. If those same companies stopped providing breakfast, lunch and breaks goodies to all staff members of physicians and stopped direct marketing to potential patients on TV, in print, and on the internet–just think of how many doses of those medications could be made available to patients who need them! By the way, we do have a single payer healthcare system in this country called Medicare. Why not create a paralell system for those in need and let them pay for it like Medicare receipients do? Rick, I loved your travel advice but I am deeply disappointed in your tendency to pontificate when it comes to the culture and lifestyle in the US. Just as the pharmaceuticals are cranking out “me, too” drugs to treat ED and acid reflux; there are lots of travel writers with outstanding advice…. As for me, I suspect it is time to shop around.

  10. It never ceases to amaze me that so many people are so opinionated even when they lack the facts and full disclosure. But protected by anonymity and secure in our convictions (follow the money) we write or talk the way we drive: aggressively; speeding; tailgating and “honking loudly.” There has been no national dialogue on health care because we simply won’t inform ourselves. Rare is balance, objectivity, honesty and integrity. Even Rick Steves seems a TINY bit biased from time to time though he must know that one sided opinions are the last refuge of scoundrels (-: Take a look at a thoughtful insightful point of view published in the Sept. 2009 edition of ATLANTIC magazine written by David Goldhill and titled “HOW AMERICAN HEALTH CARE KILLED MY FATHER”

  11. Hi Rick, I just wanted to say how nice it was to see photos of your recent trip to Norway and Eastern Europe. Keep up the good work. We have your new Europe through the back door book, a backpack and other travel books, all very well done. I have travelled extensively through the UK and parts of Europe. Looking forward to your next adventure. Take care.

  12. Someone asked about Rick’s policies at ETBD. I don’t work there but I thought I read that Rick only gives employees 2 weeks of vacation a year. Any other time off for personal reasons, travel, etc are taken unpaid. However, I believe he gives employees bonuses of up to 20 or 30 percent of their salary at the end of the year. I could be way off there and if so, my comment can be deleted. However, I thought I read this on Rick’s website somewhere.

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