On the Viking Trail

In Stockholm for the first time, a remarkable place with an archipelago of islands joined together by bridges. The Vikings were the remarkable race that marauded Scotland but also named the icy country as Greenland and the evergreen one as Iceland.  They also made there way to Newfoundland, what we now call America.  

Sweden was the kingdom formed from three warming tribes and the 'Swedes' won, hence the name of the country.  The country ranked 2nd in 2013 as best reputation in the world.   Here is my summary of the place:

- a naturally beautiful country, rugged with either too mostly little sunshine 

- physically beautiful people that match the countryside (striking blondes everywhere) 

- chiselled model metro sexual males on the street that belong on the GQ mag or a runway 

- expensive yes, a byproduct of the high standard of living they enjoy

- high taxes 

- note that the richness can be traced back to their neutrality during WWW2 and they were the supplier to rebuild Europe. 

- Sweden was never invaded by the Romans or Germans (too cold?)

- they have an eye for home furnishings and design (reason - indoors as too cold outside?)

- 25% tax on Alcohol (same reasoning they drink a lot as its too cold to go outside)

- Sweden lives the principle of equality of sexes and don't just talk about the idea. (There are more females than men in parliament)

- A byproduct of equality is that the most attractive blonde (woman) construction worker I've ever seen walked past us with her hard hat in hand. 

This is the country that punches above its weight in terms of Fortune 2000 companies : which includes Volvo, Astra Zeneca, H&M, ABB, Skype, Spotify, Electrolux, Ericsson, IKEA etc With all this the population is only 9 million people !

For such a macho country, forged by Vikings the Swedish are well dressed, well groomed and live in well designed houses.  It has been said that if Apple was a country it would be Sweden - it's all about design. 

Cool, Sleak and White (Blonde)

I guess it all makes sense, if the alcohol is sooo expensive, the weather is usually snowy that you have a long time indoors to think about how best to design and redesign your space.