The difference was that the wedding was on the family island, 1 hours drive south the city, only accessible by boat. With three brick buildings but no electricity and running water, the family made a smashing effort to make all the UK guests very welcome, staying in already erected tents and bunking up in the buildings.
Everything for the wedding had to be shipped onto the island by boat including a full marquee and sound system (generator included), but the wedding is not the reason for the post. We (my wife and sister-in-law) arrived on Thursday evening and met with the groom for the night to be told we can have a full day in Stockholm on Friday as we cannot get on the island (logistics) until Saturday morning... "Great!" the girls said, planning some sightseeing. "Oh great," I thought, "these two will walk the legs off me seeing everything from Cathedrals to tat shops..."
Anyway, after a very full day, we had all had enough and talk turned to food and drink. On the local tourist guide was a bar that mentioned sports telly... "That will do for me," I thought; so, after a further 10-minute walk, I spotted the sign from 100 yards and upped the pace so they could not stop at another shop. We walked into a small bar covered in pictures, scarves and flags of various football teams; most were foreign but with a big Irish rugby scarf behind the bar. We sat the girls down and walked to the bar to be met the barman.
"A pint of larger and two vodka cokes please".
"You a scouser" said the barman, "Yes" I replied.
"Blue or red", came his response, "Blue" whilst using my right clenched fist to pound my chest, with a huge smile and increased volume he proudly showed me his Nil Satis Nisi Optimum tattoo on the inside of his right arm.
Like long-lost brothers, we chatted and exchanged stories of all things Blue over the next couple of hours whilst we sat and drank and he continued to work. Iain is an Irishman married to a Swede and living and working in Stockholm, getting to as many games as possible over the season. We have exchanged numbers so we can meet for a pint sometime during the season. I can’t tell you how happy I was to be able to speak with a fellow Blue all those miles away.
For the record, Stockholm is a beautiful city built on 14 islands, so with lots of water. I can recommend a weekend in the city will be a full affair but head to the Oold Town (Gamla Stan) and, after a little bit of sightseeing, head to Wirstrom’s Pub (it’s on the tourist free maps) and proudly display your shirts and or tattoos and you to might get the same discount we had the pleasure of... you’ll need it as a pint was approx £6.80!
We said goodbye to Iain and after a really surprising good wedding on the island, the rain held off until the early hours and we only went to bed because the fuel ran out on the generator. The next rainy morning we said our goodbyes to David and Hanna the bride and groom and made our way home to Liverpool — via wheel barrow (luggage to the boat), a boat across the lake, a 1 hour coach trip back into Stockholm, a train to the airport, a flight to Gatwick, and then a six-hour drive via St Albans to drop the groom’s mother and sister off.
A great weekend all round. I can’t wait for the season... COYB.
Reader Comments (5)
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2 Posted 16/07/2012 at 19:13:28
3 Posted 16/07/2012 at 19:21:29
But I digress. My first encounter with Spain in the 70's found me in something called The Apples and Pears Disco Pub, as I recall. Part of the 'entertainment' consisted of them putting on Jerry Marsden warbling a tune from Carousel twice a night while the hired hands came around encouraging you to stand on the furniture and wave your arms in the air. I think their English was good enough to work out where I'd told them to stick it.
5 Posted 16/07/2012 at 21:58:44
Havent been to Stockholm for about 4-5 years now but remember that good old Anders Limpar had a bar there (called the Limpbar...), not sure if its still around though.
6 Posted 17/07/2012 at 11:05:04
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1 Posted 16/07/2012 at 18:46:54
Maybe Michael and Lyndon should have a section dedicated to Blues (abroad) international with recommended bars and "real" friends of Everton.