A big stir was caused in Malmo during our ALMOST uneventful, in a good way, last week in Sweden. Vitamins and supplements until recently were very difficult to purchase in Sweden. Even today the stores are limited and the sales person cannot speak to the products at all, it is forbidden.
Upon our return to Malmo we were staying at a hotel for the first 2 days before returning to our rental apartment. The hotel itself was lovely as was the room. Problem #1 on the first night – our room was above the bar and there was a jazz band playing below. The stand up bass, albeit great, was a deep boom that penetrated until after 12. Parents out there know how precious keeping a child sleeping at night can be. Our concern was the first night was a Thursday and although mild-mannered, on the weekends it is always “Swedes gone Wild”. When we were told there was going to be a DJ the following night and we were close to the Little Square, party central for bars, we opted for a move to another room. But the real trouble did not begin until the next AM…
Problem #2 – Upon waking Rick realized in our haste to abscond to the next chamber he had inadvertently left his vitamins and supplements in the drawer of the last. Calling the front desk we were told that there was nothing listed in the log for the housekeeping and so we must wait until a reasonable hour to contact the current occupants to see if the items remained intact. No such luck, the vitamins were not there, per the current resident of the room. Disappearing pills really? Some were in an unmarked vitamin box so it is speculation that someone thought that they hit the proverbial lottery. Back and forth with housekeeping and a trip by the front desk and Rick to view the room contents, as well as a sheepish, robe covered Swed and his fetching mistress in bed, nothing turned up. Apologies to the loving couple but from the looks of it they were in the afterglow. We credit the staff of the hotel for their insistence with house keeping and perseverance (along with notable perspiration) that the items were returned over an hour later. It was tenuous at best for all parties involved.
If you ever take a trek to Malmo, or Copenhagen for that matter, you would be amiss to not experience the remarkable waterfront architecture including the Turning Torso, the tallest building in Scandinavia which features a 90° twist, unreal, really. The waterfront area is a created beachfront and with a truly nautical feel where Sweds congregate to enjoy the water, get some sun, and socialize. A visit to the area places one into a completely different sensation than the city.
Rick has taught seminars in Malmo for his student Dan Johnson since 1989. My attendance was greatly missed due to the fact that Junior High was in session. It was a difficult time negotiating with parents to let me out after 10:30 let alone cross-continental travel. Nonetheless, Dan is one of Rick’s longest students, a dedicated martial artist and instructor, and a close friend of ours. Plus, a very focused training partner that I enjoy training with because of his focus and concentration on the details of each motion. The difficulty each year is to expose elements of each of the arts, a session for Jun Fan, Muay Thai, Silat, and Kali. The seminar was filled with familiar faces that we enjoy seeing each year and their improvement and dedication makes it an enjoyable place to instruct.
Planning our route ahead we have made the decision to rent a car in Sweden and wonder our way down to our rental in the South of France about the distance from New Jersey to Florida. Three for the road once again!
Living Wherever We Are 