Stockholm
If, as already mentioned, Helsinki is a very ugly city, Stockholm pulls a different air.
larger, better organized, more alive. And full of young people. From these channels
understand the meaning of life weather Northern Europe. Here in Italy, we always complain, rain, sun, moist heat, wind, snow. In short, whatever the weather. In Sweden, only speaks of the winter, as a sort of inevitable long tunnel to be addressed each year. The fear and respect of this season so hostile and dark is great, especially among young people, who got to know different climates, the best in their travels. From small things you can see the exorcism the winter darkness, such as the ubiquitous halogen lights that dot libraries, bedrooms, kitchens. The Swedish house is lit by many lights, the 'accent lighting is everywhere, not just to shed some light, but for comfort with his presence in every corner of the home. IKEA also offers us the Mediterranean pitted his shelves with all sorts of spotlights, light wood and airy design. Not knowing that the Italian mobile prefers the hard, dark and, above all, energy conservation, as we prefer to install ceiling lights in our homes.
The museum Skansen, a park where homes are rebuilt typical Swedish confirms the impression already mentioned: the living space Swedish is essential, intimate atmosphere of noble woods, poor large furniture, rich furnishings. Sweden appears to be composed of the houses of the crib, at least when viewed from the interior. There is the recollection of the mountain retreat, simplicity as the absolute and concrete. There are girls in traditional costume who welcome visitors of these tiny homes. We enter one of these. For at least half an hour a girl was sitting inside, waiting for the guests. He looks at us, smiles and looks down. The door closed behind us. Not a soul was around. I imagine the same scene in any Italian city: no girl would accept a job like this, if not for a hundred euro per day and a pistol ... Stockholm, a city must be very quiet.
The guide will show you the Swedish welfare state, boasting the convenience for retirement, health care, schools. We have tried and it did not work so great, which is why today we have a welfare state mixed public-private partnerships. I realize this only after consulting the long list of incentives, conventions, gratuity to which the Swedish citizen is entitled. I wonder if the Italian has slumped due to climatic reasons, or maybe religious, ethical, historical, geographic, or whatever. Why can not happen in Rome a part of what happens in Stockholm? Perhaps the long winter causes Swedes deal of public affairs, since so much else to do there? They are efficient, we have fun? They seem trivial
the same conclusions that many come after a trip to Scandinavia. Yet the contrast is striking, not the joy Mediterranean Swedish seems to prevail over common sense.
The sky free of clouds, the wind remains tight and wet, the channels taking a blinding light but almost horizontal.
One day is too little to understand Stockholm. This is a solemn promise to return, even in winter. To understand, compare, get angry.
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