Yes, hello, welcome to my blog about the first two-thirds of October 2025. I went on a Mississippi Dinner Cruise and then I went to two Scandinavian countries.
First, let's start at home. For my grandmother's birthday, my brother and I took her on a cruise on the Mississippi River. I say cruise, but we really just did laps between the bridges. It was still nice through. There was good food and good music. And the bridges are very nicely lit up at night.
Then, after much work and cleaning and preparing, I went to Sweden and Denmark for Fall Break.
I started in Stockholm, and the city was very nice. I stayed with a friend from college and did the usual tourist activities (Old Town Walking Tour, Abba the Museum, etc.). One pleasant surprise was the spa/baths. I wanted to get a Swedish massage because duh, and I was also interested in the Nordic spa culture that I had started learning about in Iceland. So, I booked a massage and a three hour timed entry into a spa with thermal baths, a swimming pool, etc. Honestly, I thought I would get bored, but I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I did the hot baths, I sort of did the cold plunge, I swam. The spa space was beautiful, and the restaurant was quite nice with tasty food (way better and more affordable than the Icelandic spa food). And the massage, though nothing out of the ordinary, was great. Good job, Sweden.
The highlight of Stockholm, of course, was the Lady Gaga concert. It was theatrical and dramatic and amazing. And just like with the Eras tour, I appreciated her commitment to playing her hits from albums past and her commitment to a fully immersive show. The dancers and costuming were especially detailed and awe-inspiring. Good job, Lady Gaga.
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| Old Town |
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| Old Town |
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| Lady Gaga |
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| Abba the Museum |
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| Vasa Museum |
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| Spa |
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The Royal Palace
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After three days in Stockholm, I took the train to Copenhagen. And listen, I fully enjoyed my time in Denmark. I appreciated learning about their commitment to sustainability and their commitment to combating inequality (though they are really not as diverse as they think they are). But I liked Stockholm better. I think it was the combination of knowing someone in Stockholm, plus the concert, plus the spa. Furthermore, although I figured out Copenhagen's public transportation system easily enough, I thought the "must-see" attractions in Stockholm were closer together and easier to navigate.
Still had a great time in Copenhagen, and I loved seeing Rosenborg Castle with the crown jewels. We love the sparkle. We also loved the abundance of Danish pastries (which are actually Austrian or German in origin). Good job, Denmark.
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| Made of recycled metal |
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| Freetown Christiania |
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Freetown Christiania
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Freetown Christiania
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| SHINY |
Also, I should mention that Sweden and Denmark are having a real fall, with the leaves changing colors. And they love a flower shop. I thought these things were very pretty, so I took several pictures.
And the final note of my lovely trip: America really does live rent free in the minds of many citizens of other places. We are not perfect, but we are important. And powerful. And we create culture. And yes, your country is going to handle certain issues more efficiently when you have less people than my state.
Anyway, visit Scandinavia. Very nice, very interesting, much chilly. Pack a coat if you go in the fall.
Also, Taylor Swift released her new album and it's 10/10. Fight me.
Thanks for reading and I hope you have a great week!
