(trying to) Oslove

Oslo. The nature will always be my favorite thing about the city - and the fact that you can see mountains almost everywhere and always (but that maybe counts as nature, too). It's been good to be back. Oslo finally feels (a little bit) like home, although I'm mostly working and don't know that many people to do fun things with. But

• I deleted the Facebook + Messenger app from my phone, so I'll enjoy walking around (by myself) way more than when checking what's happening at home / what I'm missing out on (even though it never really feels that way, as I love being here);

• I wrote a contact announcement to find friends in Oslo. And yes, I felt both embarrassed and proud, but I got lovely responses;

• I have nice plans for when I come back to Oslo again, which almost makes me wish I wouldn't go home. (Hey, kidding!)

So yes, I'm going home-home first! Home to celebrate Sinterklaas, see my friends, my favorite cities, visit my favorite shops, eat all my favorite food and talk Dutch until I've used all the words I know at least once. Aaaaaaaaah, I can. not. wait.

the southern north, v

Göteborg. Somehow I've been in Göteborg several times, but I've never really seen the city. That's why I made sure to (not just visit the penguins and) actually walk a bit around this time, too. Here's what I enjoyed most:

- the cute little yellow hot dog stand at Mariaplan (which also serves vegetarian burgers!) (and extra strong mustard ♡).
- the variation between big (looking) and cute little streets, especially around Ekelundsgatan / Kunsgatan / Vallgatan.
- Vallgatan, as it has all my favorite Swedish (interior) shops: Lagerhaus, Granit and DesignTorget.
- the old Haga area.
- but absolutely also the more vintage and hip Långgatorna-area.
- fika (tea/coffee + cake) at Two Little Birds.
- the view from Alvborgsbron.
- and did I mention PENGUINS in the public park yet?!?!?!?

the southern north, iv

Göteborg. ♡♡♡ There are penguins in the public park in Göteborg. ♡♡♡ We watched them for a while to then go back home and watch this awesome penguin advert. But oh, imagine living in a city where you can go visit penguins every day. ♡♡♡♡♡

the southern north, iii

Malmö. Sweden's third city isn't the best in cute houses, but gave me this "everything is possible!"-feeling which might just be the best feeling in the world. As if I'd almost be able to just stay, rent an apartment and write a book or two. (!!) Malmö is much more than the Turning Torso, ghetto-like flat areas and (awesome) falafel stores. Despite it not being so pretty, I'd say putting Malmö on your to-visit list is sort of a must. I mean, you can even swim inside in the sea?! And you can

- visit the world's oldest public park, Folkets park.
- go for a (long) walk next to the sea, while looking at both thé Øresund bridge and Copenhagen.
- eat weekend brunch (or cakes or normal lunch) at lovely Chez Madame.
- leave the city center a little bit and walk towards Davidshallsgatan, to find the cutest (vintage) stores.
- buy godis candy at a shop called Gottelisa, with the most sweets in one place I've ever seen.
- actually eat some awesome falafel, f.ex. at Jalla Jalla.
(- try to understand proper Skånska, if you'd like a challenge.)

the southern north, ii

Lund. It took 15 minutes to cross the bridge, leave Denmark and arrive in Sweden and 15 more to arrive Lund, a cute student city. I was lucky to have Linnéa show me around, which made it really easy to fall a little bit in love with Lund. You can easily see the whole city in (half) a day and will find nice places just by walking around yourself as well, but make sure to

- eat a cardamom (!) bun at St: Jakobs Stenugnsbageri ♡
- visit the Arken book shop, right next to the cathedral, if you like (Moomin) postcards.
- check out the (free) art exhibitions, as Lund seems to have a great museum culture! Lunds Konsthall, f.ex.
- go to an actual Hummus restaurant, right in front of the central station.

the southern north, i

Copenhagen. I got my residence permit, which also means I'm finally allowed to leave Norway again (!), which is why I boarded the first plane to the southern North, to Copenhagen. The last time I was there (2009) I absolutely loved it, but this time I was a little disappointed - maybe because everyone loves it that much? To me, it's (too) big and feels (too much) like the Netherlands or basically one big city. I did like the flatness, the bikes and the cute streets, though. And I absolutely recommend:

- walking through Nørrebro, visiting the cute (art) shops and cafés and maybe even picnicing between some graves?
- spending as least time as possible at Nyhavn, but secretly take a quick look nonetheless.
- brunching. (I went to Paludan Bogcafé, which both looked awesome + served an awesome brunch.)
- breakfast (or coffee and cake) at Kompa'9.