Stockholm 2

Saturday, August 07: So far in Stockholm, the only police officers we have seen were escorting the Royal Guards as they paraded on horseback from the palace to the Armory. In Ireland, we also did not see police officers, but we saw Garda (police) stations in every town, including tiny ones. Here, we have not seen a single police station. We have no idea where Stockholm hides them! I have heard police—or fire—sirens a couple of nights, but that is the extent of their presence here. In the US, of course, there are police everywhere, and we, by all reports, are less safe.

I have been made aware, on other European trips, that European people handle strangers very differently than Americans, British, Irish, or Australians. Here, no one meets the eye of anyone they don’t know. It is a trick—a policing, so to speak, of the eyes—that I do not know how to do yet. I am used to glancing at and smiling at all I pass, and I know that this behavior is defined as part of the friendly American/Australian, etc, character. I remember experiencing this before in Europe, and that it creates tremendous loneliness if you are a stranger. Certainly if you already have family and friends locally, ignoring strangers brings no cost to you. But for those who are new to an area (whether immigrants, tourists, or any other newcomers), the body language suggest a complete lack of interest in getting to know you. What I have also learned in my travels is that most European people are in fact very friendly and helpful once you approach them. I wonder if looking directly at people here is considered American friendliness or rudeness (or both)? At any rate, my spirit rejoices when I see another person whose eyes meet mine and who smiles in reaction to that.

We have taken a sight-seeing boat around the main islands, and today visited the National Museum (art) for a couple of wonderful hours. There was an exhibit, due to close next week, that was Swedish art highlighting domestic interiors. This means that there were numerous examples of Carl Larsson’s paintings, and it was a wonderful exhibit. I also very much enjoyed looking at their collection of miniature portraits. Did you know that miniatures need not be small? But they do need to be painted in with a particular glossy method. Go figure.