Corinne's 29th and Kevin's Departure!

This will not be the most refined of posts; it is 11:15 (23:15 according to CHW and everyone here) and I am leaving for Arlanda and destinations beyond at 630 tomorrow morning.  First, an account of Corinne's 29th birthday weekend.

Birthday with friends in Stockholm:

Friday night we enjoyed ice skating in a city square before drinks and some games at a place something like Block E - none of our scenes, but a really fun birthday night and a place Corinne enjoyed.  Some photos:

Kungstragarden, near the center of Stockholm.  And the center of cuteness.  

Me almost losing my balance - not being salacious.  

Nelson and spouse, Mel, who joined him in Stockholm the day before - she and I are the lonely wives club.  

Beers and tater wedges waaayyyy into the cellar of a pub I can't remember (me, CHW, Mel and Nel)

Sala: 

For the birthday weekend, we looked at a number of locations within Sweden (Corinne and I have both felt somewhat fatigued by the city, her much moreso than I, having had to deal with much more of it) and settled on a tiny town because of its B&B, Salbohedgarden.  It was reasonably priced (160 or so for a room for 2), in a fairly secluded location (15 minutes by car away from Sala, which is a small town but on the rail line).  We arrived late morning, walked through town (lovely park, church, all the way to the old silver mine), got picked up at 5 or so for the B&B where we enjoyed a lovely dinner in a woodfire heated Officer's Mess from the 1800s, and walked around that night for the stars and the next day for the views.  So, without much adornment, here are some photos of Sala, followed by Salbohed.

Lovely park in Sala, timer function figured out.  

For Christina - a hat on a statue!  

Why?  Cause it's 1215 and these are our shadows.  

Tour guide w torch - he would speak gibberish then walk with us and fill us in.  He also wore a tunic and knickers while we froze in our winter clothes.  Great guide - totally unresponsive Swedes.  When it came time to sing in a giant cave, it was he, Corinne and I rocking twinkle, twinkle and the ABCs (same tune!!!).  

An area of the mine.  

While there aren't photos, we wandered into a church in Sala and were greeted by a friendly gentlemen who invited us to have a moment and light a candle for our loved ones who were 'gone.'  Corinne invited me to remember my grandmother 'Mean Maire' and we enjoyed a lovely moment.

--  sidebar --

Because I could not attend the wake and funeral, I asked my good friends Nick and Josh to attend the wake in my stead, which they did admirably.  They even Skpyed me in for a hello with my mother who was quite touched by the gesture - as was I.  Thank you fellas, it meant the world to me - you make my farewells.

--  sidebar over --

Salbohed: 

SO - then on to the B&B.  It was a fairly large property - Officer's Mess (20 or so rooms, where we ate and stayed) and several out-buildings.  Dinner, the place, the hospitality, everything was lovely.  Our sincere thanks to Wilma and Jonas for hosting us so well - I'd recommend it to anyone - affordable, easy to get to, and a wonderful escape from the city.

Birthday dessert!  With a local beer - each bottle had its own stamped number!  Delicious!

Morning sun, Officer's Mess

Morning walk (we had walked out there the night before and it was dark as sh1t - TONS of stars and a few scares!  

Frosty!  Much of the ground was frosted the entire time.  

Libya Update: 

One final note - and I know this will break my parents' hearts - Libya is not looking very good.  I got a few quotes for what I'm hoping to do and the price tag is around 2000$ for 7 or 8 days.  That's all inclusive, but still.  So I'll have to get my terrorist state jollies someplace else.

Imminent Departure:

I leave tomorrow (today almost) for Morocco.  I am comfortably packed, Corinne and I have the morning planned out, I mostly know how I'm getting from the airport to the hostel (Sam?) and I have most of the afternoon to get there; I'm ready.  I am also nervous.  This is kind of it for me, this is the beginning.  Sweden isn't MN, but it is pretty damn close - English, safe water, familiar weather, lots of public transport, and a lovely lady-friend and co for hosts.  Not so in Morocco.  I've been thinking about this moment, in one way or another, since February.  I am nervous about getting on the wrong bus, wrong train - being hassled, followed, or making cultural blunders - all of which are almost guaranteed.  I'm excited for the adventure, amazing sights and sounds and taste, many new and wonderful people in hostels, on buses and all over - and maybe most of all the narrowed focus of travel.  Like camping, I will be spending most of my energy on that bottom rung of the needs hierarchy - food, safety, sleep, and in my case, taking my drugs (or scripts as I will call them from now on).  New currency in almost every country - new places to stay, things to see, and mistakes to make, charming and otherwise.  It is an exciting and life-filled step to take, and to have you with me on it, reader, means a great deal.

Thank you again Stockholm for your hospitality - thanks especially to Nelson, Kyle, Alicia, Hanna, Helen, Piotr, Christian and John for welcoming me and for being such great friends to Corinne - I know this journey of hers would not be nearly as fun without you in it.  This time tomorrow I hope to have something up, a 'Hey I made it!' kind of thing, pending wi-fi or internet at the international youth hostel in Casablanca.  If no news - no worries, I will be on here soon enough.  If time is short, maybe a Facebook update will have to do.  Until then!