Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Scandinavia

Sorry for my lack in posting lately.  I have no valid excuses except that I justs sometimes don't know what to write about.  I worry that just telling what I've done is kind of boring and I want to make this blog enjoyable to read.  Hence why I post a lot of pictures as well.
I have been in the Scandinavian countries this past week.  Sweden, Finland, and Norway.  Each place has been geat and unique.
Traveling alone has been hard, as I feel lonely a lot of the time.  Luckily in Sweden and Norway I was able to meet up with a friend who I could explore the city with.  I worked with her at the MTC in Provo.  In Finland I was staying at the temple, so kinda alone, but kinda not.  I felt at home because of how I feel when I'm surrounded my members, but also alone when I went out to explore the city of Helsinki.
However, blessings come when we go to the temple!  I know that God knows how I've been feeling.  The second day of going to the temple I met a girl who was also from Utah.  She had served her mission in Finland and was doing an internship.  We planned to meet up the next day and she'd show me around Helsinki some more.  It was such a small thing, meeting up with someone, but made the biggest difference and made the experience that much better!  Being able to talk and laugh with someone was a nice change from walking around being silent, occassionaly talking briefly to strangers. :)
Because of this, I've been missing home a lot.  I miss being able to see a friend or family member everyday that I can talk and laugh with (FaceTime is great and all, but it's still not the same as being with them).  I miss being in a place where I understand the language and can get around easily without having to figure out everything before hand on just wifi in random places.  But it's still been good.  I'm learning a lot about myself.
Anyways, enough of that ranting of feelings.  Heres some pictues of some stuff I've done :)

SWEDEN
Hanging out in a row boat on a lake in the backyard of where I was staying.  It is SO pretty with all the pine trees!  And such beautiful weather.  I'm missing my yearly and most favorite family reunion right now, and so being here in nature on a lake made it feel a little bit like I was at my reunion. :)
Stockholm skyline
Old town Stockholm - Galma Stan
Stockholm Temple
The Royal Palace
Stockholm City Hall

Pier with a cool view
Klara Church

FINLAND

Helsinki Temple.  I served in St. Petersburg Russia on my mission.  Everyone in that mission would normally come to this temple for temple trips.  So I've always wanted to come here because of that!  It was beautiful :)
Sibelius Monument
Senate Square, Cathedral
National Library of Finland
Uspenski Cathedral
Suomenlinna Sveaborg (Sea Fortress).  This place was SO cool.  I could've spent all day here!  Besides visiting temples in different countries, I think visiting castles and fortresses are my favorite thing!
Did I even go to Finland if I didn't get some ice cream?

NORWAY
A super duper nice family let me and my friend stay with them.  My first day here I went to the beach all day with the mom and her friend and her friend's daughters.  I somehow didn't get terribly burned!  Just some splotches here and there on my back where I couldn`t reach.  We went to an island to go to the beach.  Cool.
The view from their deck was incredible.
We also went on a sunset hike at Mintsberget.  OH. MY. GOSH.  I died.  Thee most beautiful sunset I have ever seen.
The next day my friend from Sweden came to Norway and we explored Oslo together.
Akershus Fortress - I LOVED this place!  SO cool!
Parliament
The Royal Palace and Gardens
The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet House.  After exploring here, we climbed on the roof into some shade, ate some snacks, and then layed down in the inclined roof.  We fell asleep for an hour! haha
It's been a great time here in these countries!  I'm off to the Czech Republic next!!

1 comment:

  1. There is NO way your adventures could be boring! I want to hear more! What a grand adventure!

    ReplyDelete