I travel a lot, but I can't remember my last real vacation. Lesbos 2012, I think. While the kids kept themselves busy, I devoured one book after another on my poolside lounge chair. The all-inclusive package made it all perfect.
So when I got a week’s vacation in Sweden for my birthday, I jumped for joy. The country had been on my list for a long time. I even jokingly said I’d buy a house there, because homes in the countryside are dirt cheap. The idea of being able to work in peace and quiet, surrounded by nature, sounded fantastic.
We flew to Sweden late Thursday night. After midnight, we arrived at our first hotel near the airport, and the next day we took public transportation to our second hotel in Stockholm, where we would stay for a few nights.
I’m not really a city person, but I still enjoyed the view during the bus ride. The beautifully colored trees, lit up by the autumn sun, were breathtaking. By the time we arrived at the second hotel, it was already evening. We joined the buffet, and not long after, night had truly fallen.
It wasn’t until Saturday that we finally had time to explore the city. On the bus ride, I’d seen billboards for Hanna Hirsch-Pauli, a Swedish artist from the Impressionist era. I really wanted to go there!
We walked through the old town to the National Museum. Because we didn’t have much time, we decided to start with Hanna’s exhibition and then explore a few of the other galleries.
We’re living in an era where AI seems to be taking over everything. Everything has to be fast, fleeting, and gone before you even notice it. But here, time stood still for a moment. The sketchbooks were so special. Seeing sketches and finished works side by side was deeply relatable. I recognized her process — and her dilemmas: being both a creative and a mother. It left such an impression, and I secretly wished I could find that same peace and quiet again — to just sit and sketch, instead of always worrying about deadlines and rushing to finish things.
The familiar story of people not liking your work — apparently that’s always been the case. All in all, it was absolutely worth the visit.
On our walk back to the hotel, I admired the art on the buildings, above doors, and in the squares. The smallest details were so meticulously crafted! I almost felt ashamed of our own era, where you can just type a prompt and something instantly rattles out of a machine.
The weather was wonderfully autumnal, the impressions fantastic. I felt inspired again — and this was only day one. I can’t wait to see what the coming days will bring.
