Ion Ciorici

I have never mentioned about one of the most common Swedish words, which actually contributed to the slowdown of the entire economy in Sweden :). The magic word is “Fika” and doesn’t have any correlation to the Russian diplomatic gesture “Фига“.

Fika is both a Swedish verb and noun that roughly means “to drink coffee,” usually accompanied by something sweet. It means having a break, most often a coffee break, with one’s colleagues, friends, date, or family. The word has quite ambiguous connotations and can mean anything from taking a break from work or other activities, to going on a date. This practice of taking a break is especially valid for Volvo and SAAB and therefore the Dutch and Chinese Chaps decided to put some pressure and unplugged the coffee machines some time ago ;).

A really nice place to take a Fika is Sturekatten, which is a hidden oasis in Stockholm: a true old-fashioned café and bake shop housed in a two-story Östermalm apartment building. The décor dates from the turn of the previous century, and the wait staff are clothed in the professional uniform of the time. Classic bake shop goods and a stress-free environment for the customer who wants to chat in peace and quiet or dive into a good book or magazine.

Below is a photo with the most frequent fickers of Sturekatten café: iON the Lion, Tommy, Carolina, Mr. Ghaffari la Ferrari and Mr. Cortes, also known among Forbes members as Pedro:

A lussekatt (in English saffron bun), is a rich yeast dough bun that is flavoured with saffron and cinnamon or nutmeg and contains currants. The buns are baked into many traditional shapes, of which the simplest is a reversed S-shape. They are traditionally eaten during Advent, and especially on Saint Lucy’s Day, December 13th.

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Wanna become a Swedo or a Stockholm Stekare like these squirrels 😉 ?

Easy question, easy answer. Get a GANT pink T-shirt :).

A snapshot with wannabe Swedos and Stekares standing in queue for half a day before the GANT factory sales start:

I don’t know what this CANT brand is all about, but wannabe Swedos & Stekares are definitely crazy about shopping, discounts, standing in the queue for long hours under -12 degrees centigrade in order to get any single crap with CANT logo. Yes, it is all about the logo and not about the country of provenience, quality or other good stuff you may find at the high quality brands like Ionel ©. I saw the Made in Sweden statement only on the IKEA shopping bags, which were used by the wannabe Stekare to buy as much CANT rubbish as possible.

Skogskyrkogården (translated as The Woodland Cemetery) is a cemetery located in Stockholm.
Skogskyrkogården came about following an international competition in 1915 for the design of a new cemetery in Stockholm. The design of the young architects Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz was selected. Work began in 1917 on land that had been old gravel quarries that were overgrown with pine trees and was completed three years later. The architects’ use of the natural landscape created an extraordinary environment of tranquil beauty that had a profound influence on cemetery design throughout the world.

In 1994, Skogskyrkogården was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sandhamn (Swedish for “Sand Harbour”) is a small settlement in the Stockholm Archipelago approximately 50 km east of Stockholm.

Sandhamn is one of the most important natural ports in the archipelago with easy access to the Swedish capital, Sandhamn has been popular for pleasure boating since the late 19th century. It is known for its tavern, its clubhouse, and, not the least, its harbour.

While the settlement only has a hundred permanent inhabitants, the number of residents increases to 2-3,000 during the summer. Sandhamn receives an additional 100,000 visitors annually. Most of the inhabitants are entrepreneurs but many also have regular jobs. For example, two of the major employers on the island, other than the restaurants and bed & breakfasts, are the Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket) and the local police force.

first HDR try

Gärdesloppet – is an important Stockholm event, where a large group of vintage cars dating back almost 100 years compete for a short race through the city and starting at the Prins Bertil Memorial.

1954 Ockelbo car, based on Volvo P1900 parts.

Aston Martin DB2-4 Mark

Mercedes SL

De Tomaso Panthera GR4

Mercedes 600 Pullman

More pictures are available here.