I’ve always subscribed to the old adage that luck results when preparation meets opportunity. Until Saturday, when we happened upon The King of Norway fishing, just fifty yards from us. I can’t recall any preparation in my life that provided for that encounter. Helena, our host, was thrilled when she saw the flag flying on a hill about a quarter mile from the road we were on. “Oh, that means The King is here,” she said excitedly as we approached a narrow bridge. “And look, there he is!” We Continue Reading

My goal at the start of this trip was simple. Post a blog on Sweden. Then a few days later, post another one on Norway. Sometimes, plans go astray. A quick flight from Stockholm to Oslo, a train ride, then another train, then a bus ride, and then a half hour car ride, and finally, we ended up in Sandefjord. And as soon as we were given our own Viking helmets, I knew Sandefjord deserved its own post. A beautiful coastal city of 60,000 about ninety minutes south of Oslo, it is the home of Continue Reading

When I ask you to think of products that come from Sweden, what comes to mind? Any of the following? Volvo Cars Absolute Vodka Pacemakers IKEA Bluetooth Technology Dynamite These are just some of their more remarkable contributions. But perhaps my favorite is... ABBA. That’s right, the flashy pop band that burst onto the scene in the 70’s when they won a European music contest. “We can’t expect to win but we can at least be memorable” was their philosophy when they donned their Continue Reading