Stockholm Syndrome

Today is our last day in Stockholm, and then we're heading off to Malmö, Sweden. I can't believe how quickly this trip is going by, and how much there has been to do and see here. The last few days have been incredibly fun-filled- class picnics, the Fotografiska Museet (which featured an exhibit of Annie Leibovitz's work), a visits to a waste water treatment/ biogas plant, Architecture and Modern Art museums, a trip to Kaknas Communications tower (the tallest building in Scandinavia), a guest lecture by the manager of the Waste Management program, and a look at the early stages of the new ecovillage The Royal Seaport.

One of my personal favorite adventures was at the Stadshuset (City Hall). We climbed up the tower and overlooked the City, and then took a tour of the grounds. The art inside was a mix of Classical and modern design, and truly amazing. There was a giant mosaic made of 23.5 carat gold foil that incorporated key figures of Swedish history. A woman sat in the middle as a symbol of Sweden. The artist intentionally did not make her beautiful looking, instead suggesting that her value came from her power and cleverness. I thought it was a good indicator of Sweden's fairly egalitarian societal norms. The Stadshuset also has conference rooms and meeting halls, and interestingly enough, is the official site of the Nobel Prize banquet.

This is all for now; I've gotta grab some lunch before we have class and present our Read the City projects. Here's to a fun afternoon and a great evening!