Enjoying Swedish National Pastime Of FIKA!
SITREP
Really! It's a *thing*!
I'm not totally sure if it's on par with English "High Tea", but I DO know it's more established in the Swedish psyche than, say, "Taco Tuesday" here in the U.S. ;)
THE SETUP
I totally enjoyed my quick journey through Frihamnscaféet. Being the consummate tourist, I love looking around in all the nooks & crannies of a new place, especially if they reveal something very cool about the locale.
Frihamnscaféet is set deep within one of the cavernous warehouses of the Stockholm Port where tens of thousands of people are in transit from the airport to the cruise ships - or vice versa.
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/frihamnscaf%C3%A9et-stockholm?select=weCpe0YeuY3GgHWmC3IQQA&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w
This pleasant, almost non-descript cafe gift shop - that gets lost in the background of moving tourists - was a relaxing stop to meditate before the ensuing madness of my next 8 days around the Baltic States was about to begin.
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/frihamnscaf%C3%A9et-stockholm?select=9LrXUY0iDuJPG42mHy9HYg&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w
P.S. Some tourists can be quite grumpy-pants!
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/frihamnscaf%C3%A9et-stockholm?select=qPXcXjA2ZLCn-pmRGeLkcQ&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w
P.S.S. Occasionally, we see Russian defectors here, ferrealz! ;)
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/frihamnscaf%C3%A9et-stockholm?select=rki93Nezb2GzkqHy5RnDZA&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w
FIKA
In this instance, my lovely hostess Melinda gave me the scoop on that the tradition of Fika as a national "break" pastime - usually enjoyed in the early afternoon - and consisting of Swedish coffee and a locally made pastry.
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/frihamnscaf%C3%A9et-stockholm?select=E_DYoT4FiYduglUueBHk5g&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w
In both of these instances, the ones she provided me with were oh-so-good!
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/frihamnscaf%C3%A9et-stockholm?select=P0Cq8PHKG9rqakOi8oYrHQ&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w
THE LOWDOWN
A cool way to chill down the afternoon for a much needed break in the center of the Stockholm Port! read more