11:35 a.m.

A bit sad, yet relaxing, I´m on my way home again, after
having spent a few days as far to the north as it´s possible
to get in Sweden, the northern frontier.
It´s really a great place, if you like winter sports. In April,
it´s not too cold...plenty of snow, and when it isn´t too
cloudy, you can ski in a T-shirt.
Skiing however, is not what I do best. I messed up pretty
good in the slope (on the first fragging day) and pulled a
ligament in my knee.
Yeah, pretty masculine...pretty much John Wayne...
So now, I won´t be able to ski for a while. Right now, I´m
hardly able to walk.

It´s a long journey from the frontier to Stockholm. About
20 hours by train.
And I just got on it.
I´ve been here before, same route as when I was heading
towards the frontier, but I was too tired to look out the
window.
I´m not too tired now. And the sun is up. The first time I´m
really able to see the scenery.
Snow-clad mountains surrounding me, and the sunlight
reflecting in the whiteness. Mile after mile of snow...like a
giant mirror.

See...this is "my" country...but not as I know it.
I haven´t seen anything like this yet in my life. The stations
I´m passing by have names it takes me 10 seconds to figure
out how to pronounce... And there are no buildings, no
people...
And hardly any trees...this is above the timberline.
Clear blue sky, no clouds to hide the sun.
It is a good day.
And I´m going home.

I think...
And the train goes on, twisting and tossing my letters as I
write them down on this pad.

12:01 a.m.

Abisko, East... Currently 1506 kilometres to go.
And counting...

1:10 p.m.

The trees are coming back, slowly but surely, as I´m getting
closer to Kiruna (the northernmost city in Sweden...and also
the biggest, if you look at the area).
It´s good to see trees again though. The arctic landscape
created without them makes me feel pretty far away from
home.

8:46 p.m.

On another train now, one with bunks...
I just watched "Spice World"... Nah, I don´t like them, but
there´s not much I wouldn´t do to kill some time right now.
It has it´s moments, being pretty funny at times, but I still
wonder whether or not it was wise to spend $6 on it.
I think you´ll have to be a girl to get the most out of that
movie.
Yeah, definitely.
And don´t take life too seriously either.

Well, you forget that as soon as you leave the movie-room.
This isn´t Spice World.
This is my bunk in the coupé.
Six bunks in a seven square-metre-room...a really romantic
way of travelling (though there´s only four persons sleeping
here an they´re all out).
But then again...I´m pretty sure I´m better off than those
poor fellows in the seat compartment...I spent the night
there last time I was on this train, heading the other
direction.
And I didn´t get a lot of sleep.

Though, sleeping on trains is usually easy, as long as you
are able to lie down and stretch out...
Shaking and rumbling, it kind of rocks you to sleep.
Very comfortable, but as I said, nothing for
claustrophobics.
And nothing more annoying than lying an entire night,
turning, twisting, unable to fall asleep.
But that won´t be the case tonight.
As yesterday evening was the "last night with the boys",
we didn´t get many hours of sleep.
Now I´m due to arrive in Stockholm in nine hours...
I´ll see if I can get some.

(And finally, aren´t Swedes (in general) just a bit too polite
sometimes. Or maybe too keen on avoiding other Swedes
they don´t know.
Until they get drunk.
Or is it just me?)

Goodnight.

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