Hodgepodge

Hodgepodge:  [noun] \'häj-,päj\ -- a confused or heterogenous mixture...such as a collection of pictures involving drinking games, bread, pizza, and playgrounds at night.

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To celebrate the beginning of Easter Break, a few of us headed over to a classmate's apartment in a town called Hudding.  Although it is only a 25 minute train ride from Centralstation in Stockholm, it felt like a totally different place.  While the burgers and fries were in the oven (don't ask me why the hamburgers were being baked), I had the chance to test my luck at a French game that involved sitting on the floor and tossing a bottle cap at your opponents bottle.  After handing it to the Frenchman, and squeaking out a win over an Estonian, the Americans came out on top.

Following a recommendation for "the best bread in Stockholm," I strolled on over to Brunkebergs Bageri (on Regeringsgatan 86) the following morning.  Once the names of all the freshly baked breads were translated into English for me by the friendly artisan bakers, I settled on a loaf of fig & walnut...SO GOOD!

I spotted a spiral staircase heading up to a small seating area (Swedes are in love with spiral staircases), I decided to try a latte and chocolate-vanilla pastry (bulle)...both were excellent.  As the first bakery I have been to in Stockholm, the bread & pastry situation here seems pretty damn good.

I had a hankering for pizza all week, so tonight I took the plunge and went to Vapianos on Sturegatan.  It is a German food chain that I can describe as being "fancy fast-food."  There are stations serving salads, pasta, pizza, coffee drinks & sweets, and booze.  As you walk in your are handed a "chip card" that you charge credit card style and pay for at the end.  I went straight for the pizza stand and added a Bruschetta to my card.

The pizza tasted great, and was big enough for two.  I really enjoyed the meal, partially because it was the first time I had gone out to eat alone.  I have always avoided eating at sit-down restaurants by myself because I thought it would be awkward and boring...but it wasn't.  The great thing about Vapianos is that you have the chance to share tables with other people, so it doesn't have to feel lonely at all.  Although I never spoke to the Swedish couple that I shared a small sit-up bar with, I had the chance to really check out the restaurant.  Shortly after I realized that the plants that were bordering my table were basil and parsley, one of the chefs came out and took one of them back to the kitchen to use it in a dish...very cool.

After I was done I decided to head to the office to do a little work, so I cut through Humlegården--a large park that surrounds the Royal Library in Östermalm (an area of Stockholm).  There was a light dusting of snow on the ground, causing everything to look amazing...it always pays to have your camera in your bag.