Fredag Mars 21, 2008
You know those moments in life that are truly breathtaking, literally? You have to remind yourself to keep breathing so that you will live to take it in for just a while longer. These moments make me want to life forever. Then again, if there was no beat in heart I could pass on and feel satisfied with the life that I lived. I am such a blessed person to have these moments in my life and fortunate enough to live to tell about them.
I am back in Sweden now and a bit happy about it. I got very sick during part of my trip so I was thankful to get back. I saw nurse and it seems I have managed to crack a rib from my bronchitis. Who would have thought? Of course it’s painful but nothing like breaking my arms. There’s nothing I can really do but take it easy.
From the point of leaving Liverpool, England it took me 20 hours to finally reach Sundsvall. What a long exhausting day…. I am not sure why, but for some reason the last days of holiday are always the worst for me. This started about 15 years ago when I went to the Lookout Mountains with my Aunt Hazel. I seem to always get in an ill mood and I of course I do not like this about myself.
I really try to prepare myself mentally nowadays for such strenuous days. It all really started as I was going to the airport. This man Ray, who is the father of a friend, drove me to John Lennon airport. Traffic was a bit congested so of course it took a good bit to get there. We where just talking and he ran a yellow/red light and the police just so happen to be right behind us so after that I made it to the airport just in time. Unfortunately, the check-in lines where each about 20 people long. It took ages to get up there, but finally I did and was not pleased by how rude the lady was and of course saddened to know it would cost me 86 Sterling ($180) to get my overweight luggage back to Sweden. This is when I let out a very large shriek. Apparently, I accumulated about 20 lbs of stuff during my duration. I will be sure to never ever let that happen again. I just made my way to the trash can and began to throw my life away. I’ve had to do that several times so I am getting used to it by now. I ended up having to pay only $60 extra so I was not completely devastated.
I arrived outside of Stockholm city at midnight and had to wait more or less 2 hours to get a bus into the city. There were complications with the carrier so instead of having a couple of buses for the people there was only one. This meant waiting on the curb to be the first to get on and the queue started right away. It was freezing, but I got on that bus! It was so insane to watch the people combating for a seat, but it was a bit crucial at this point. It almost seemed that we were on a sinking ship with a very limited amount of life rafts. I finally arrived in Stockholm and the city terminal was closed and I suspected it would be. I basically wondered around for a couple of hours. The streets of Stockholm where filled with drunks leaving the clubs trying to find a bite to eat. Creep after creep approached me trying to wisk me away to keep me company. I know there are times I do things or put myself in situations that are unsafe but I do have a level head and I make sure I am not in a secluded area. I also prepare myself to scream, kick shins, and run. I was okay though! The terminal opened early so thankfully I had a warm place to stay and wait. Again, people were crowding the doors trying to be the first ones in. I tell you, getting through the revolving doors was a challenge in its own. So many people stepped in that the doors would actually stop moving and when they began again managed to carry people with it. It really was a very long 5 hours to wait for me. I made myself drink enough coke to stay awake that I did not sleep when I got back home.
Once stepping on the bus I felt home free. I just knew it would be long 6 ½ hours. The sea was a deep blue with a cotton candy sky just above it. The islands and trees where dusted with snow, it was just beautiful.
While on my trip I tried to keep entries about each city I traveled.
