Summertime has come at last! The contrast between summer and winter in Sweden always surprises me. From weeks of snow and ice to weeks of sun and heat. There’s no better way to celebrate this weather, and to celebrate the ending of your final year of university, than getting together some friends and taking a day trip to the archipelago.
Archipelago, an unusual word, means a collection of islands. And just outside of the city of Stockholm is an archipelago of around 30,000 islands. After reading about Claire’s adventures in the Archipelago, I had to check it out for myself.
These islands are a getaway for many of Stockholmers, a place to go to take a break from the busyness of the city. Many have summer houses out on the islands, but for us students, a day trip was just the cure. We took a bus for about 30 minutes, and then a boat the rest of the way out to a beautiful island called Sandhamn. Sandhamn is right at the eastern edge of the archipelago, the last stop on the way to Estonia.
It was an incredible relief to relax and enjoy ourselves for a whole day. Especially when recently the only social activities we have had has been getting together to study! After a year of hard work, it felt like an adequate reward for all those long hours and late nights.
The weather was amazing and we got to wander around and explore the island too. Although it’s not far from the city, it’s such a different world out on the islands. There is a different geography and a different living situation for the locals. It feels like being somewhere tropical, especially on such a hot day.
After a day of swimming, sunbathing, eating and relaxing, we took a sunset boat ride back into the city at around 10pm. It’s the very best way to enter the city of Stockholm. After such a great trip, I know it won’t be long before I’ll be back out to the islands again.
~ Declan