Stockholm, Sweden – Winter Is Coming

This morning when we woke up the world outside our window was white. Some lazy snow flakes were falling towards the ground. It was the first morning in a long time that the ground was white. Many people think of Sweden as a cold country. Of course it’s true for some parts of the country, but where we live winter usually starts quite late and most years a white Christmas only remains a wish.

For me personally, the first snow is when winter starts. Winter is definitely not my favorite seasons, but it has some advantages. I’m not going to mention cozy blankets and cups of hot tea again. But this is the perfect time for delicious Slovak garlic soup to keep you warm. However, I think that winter is a time for rest and self-reflection. You don’t have much of an option when it starts getting dark before 4 p.m.

“Snow falling soundlessly in the middle of the night will always fill my heart with sweet clarity”
― Novala Takemoto, Missin’ (Novel)

Snow In Stockholm: Our First Winter Walk F/W 2016

Winter is also the perfect time for long walks in the brisk – and crisp – air. We really love walking and have noticed that time outside is a good remedy for the winter blues. I must confess that one of the things I appreciate most about Sweden is the proximity to nature and the possibility to go outside whenever one feels like it.

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

Today our walk took us to the Igelbäcken Nature Reserve.  A week ago we published a post about enjoying an autumn walk there – how quickly things change! Yes, I believe that we will go there a lot this winter, to keep up our energy levels and to find some silence in a busy world.