Actually, my first meeting with Sweden was in colourful dreams - I knew exactly that I was in Stockholm: there was magnificent blue sky and yellow houses like those nearby the Royal Palace. I was walking down the embankment and the numerous glares of water blinded me. I woke up as if I fell in love...
Autumn 2006 was the time I booked the trip to Scandinavian countries from St. Petersburg. There were Finland, Sweden, Norway, Danmark in the programme, but when my father asked me "So where are you going to travel?" I exclaimed "To Sweden!!!"
Several days in Finland were the period of anticiation. There was an early morning when Cinderella ferry entered the Swedish harbour and we went along the coridor towards exit. On putting steps on the land, I was embraced by the tight fog, and the air was so pure and humid so I would compare it with the spring water after the long trip to heaven. It seemed that the nature was still sleeping and its beauty was unspeakable.
We took our bus and went towards Stockholm. I saw dark-green firtrees coming from the fog like Scandinavian ancient spirits. Our guide was talking about something, but I even didn't listen to him attentively... just looked at the northern forest and big stones like those from historical books.
Then we arrived Stockholm, it sluggishly uncovered himself from the mantle of fog. I was standing near the City Hall and in my heart an acute question arose "Oh, Sweden, where are you?", but then the shy sun rays pierced the shroud, and I could see the same streets, houses and the embarkment from my first meeting once at night. However, I thought that it was going to rain, but then the sun came and the deep blue sky painted a familiar picture...
Despite the fact that the major part of our travelling we spent in Norway, where I could take pleasure from the western fjords, I'll never forget the Southern Sweden. Actually, Autumn is the best time to learn how towns and villages look like in thir golden garment, when rains are quite far for the present, and the summer hot is already away...
