My time in Stockholm has come to an end. I am now waiting for my co-op to begin! The past semester has been a wonderful 4 months that I will never forget. 

I gathered a few tips and tricks for people planning to study abroad! I couldn’t find lots of information specific to Stockholm when I was searching for info, so I thought this could help future students. 

Hope you enjoyed my TMI posts, and thank you again for reading/glancing/trying to read them until Tumblr told you to create an account! 

The following notes are solely subjective to me so take them as suggestions, not facts!

Basics of Sweden

People: 

Very reserved but nice when you ask something 

Almost everyone speaks English 

Places: 

Everyone is entitled to their freedom to roam around - basically, you can go anywhere except for private property 

Culture: 

Fika = a break with coffee and pastry

Sweden seriously recycles! Make sure you follow all the rules and throw away the right stuff at the right place 

Through the pant system, you can get money back from empty cans/bottles. ICA usually has the pant machines so make use of them and get your money back! 

Transportation: 

Information on Google Maps is accurate

People are generally silent in public places, including the streets 

Public transportation (run by SL) is well-distributed and punctual in Stockholm

Metro comes every 5 minutes or so. It runs until late at night around 12 am or 2 am 

High-speed trains are mostly free but if you go past a certain point you need to pay an extra fee, so ask the representative in the stations OR check the map OR check the SL app 

Buses

Night buses run every day and are free with the SL card that DIS gives you 

Trams 

Ferries 

To and from Arlanda airport: 

Arlanda Express - high-speed train

18 mins + alpha to/from your house

Fastest to T-Centralen but a little expensive 

Does not run throughout the night 

~$16 one way 

~$32 roundtrip 

Flygbussarna - bus 

40-50 mins total 

Bus stations are distributed throughout Stockholm so you can get on and off at desired stops 

Runs all throughout the night 

~$15 one way (to/from Hornstull)

~$27 roundtrip (to/from Hornstull)

Money: 

10 SEK is a little less than $1

Swedish crowns = Kroner = SEK

Almost all the stores are cashless - wireless tap or cards are the norms 

ICA, The System (national alcohol stores), and flea markets are some of the only places that take cash 

DIS program

Gives unlimited public transportation card, three 200 SEK worth of ICA gift cards for groceries 

Attend the DIS-hosted events if you can! They offer diverse programs for free. The following are some examples: 

Sip & Paint - fika while you paint! 

Bowling night 

Ice skating

Billiards/arcade night 

Ticket to dance performances 

Picnic

Yoga session 

Visits to museums 

Guided tour to castles like Gripsholm 

DIS Festival is the last event of the semester that lasts about 2 hours where you can present your learnings, enjoy stations like a photo booth, eat catered food, and hope to win the raffle  

Suggestions 

Start learning the basics of Swedish through apps in advance! Duolingo was mainly how I learned Swedish 

Hi = hej (hey)

Bye = hey då (hey do)

Thank you = tack (tac)

Thank you so much = tack så mycket (tac-so-micket)

Sorry = förlåt (fur-lat)

Excuse me = ursäkta (ooh-shak-ta)

Go out and explore the city whenever you can! Get that vitamin D

Traveling: 

Main airlines: 

Ryanair: cheapest flights that are good for weekend trips with a backpack. It can be strict with the backpack size so ensure that your bag fits the size requirements. You need to buy every little thing you can think of, even water  

I heard Easyjet is similar to Ryanair

SAS youth: high-quality service with a cheaper price if you are between 12-25 years old. The seats run out very quickly so book in advance!

If flights get delayed for 3+ hours, SAS provides monetary compensation (a lot more than you think) so check it out if your flight gets delayed or canceled 

Norwegian: I personally didn’t fly Norwegian but I heard good things about it 

KLM: usually expensive 

If traveling with friends, an app called Tricount is very useful to sort out all the money stuff. You can enter who paid how much for every single occasion and at the end of the trip, it gives you a suggestion on who should pay how much to whom 

What To Bring: 

Bring a wide range of clothing - you will experience all four seasons during your one semester in Stockholm!

Winter suits: thick jackets, gloves, scarfs, hats

Swimsuits: Don’t forget to bring swimsuits for sauna/polar plunging in Stockholm and beaches during your academic/personal travels!

Fanny pack: it was very useful when I was traveling to places known for pickpocketing (London, Barcelona, Italy, etc.)  

Travel-size bottles! 

Many Airbnbs and hostels did not have shampoo/conditioner, so I always carried around shampoo and conditioner in mini-containers (under 100 mL). They are useful for skin care products too!

International Travel Adapter 

Plug types are all different in Sweden, United Kingdom, Malta, Italy, France

Check before you travel! 

Hygiene product information for girls 

The tampons that they sell here are very small 

I didn’t see any stores selling big pads, so I’d bring enough for an entire semester

What Not To Bring: 

Toiletries were surprisingly very cheap in Stockholm: cotton pads, toothbrushes, floss, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, etc. No need to bring them if you don’t have enough room! 

Normal was my go-to store for these products 

Where To Study: 

Espresso House - the most popular chain in Stockholm imo

Wifi, charging stations

Good smoothies (mango chia is my fav) and pastries (cheesecakes, croissants, Kanelbulle) 

Wayne's - similar chain

Wifi, more charging stations

A lot of people chatting or studying 

Illy - chain with chill studying vibes 

Wifi can be a little goofy sometimes 

Good studying atmosphere - everyone is working on a laptop 

Avocado sandwich is good 

Where To Go: 

For grocery shopping/basic goods: 

ICA: $600 gift card that DIS gave me lasted me the whole semester! I cooked and bought groceries with my roommate, so we technically had $1200 together for one semester

BUT I ate out a couple of times each month and traveled a lot so if this is not the case you might run out quickly! 

Normal: they sell a lot of basic goods ranging from toiletries to stationery to snacks. It is not too expensive either so if you want something small but don’t know where to go, I’d check out Normal after ICA! 

IKEA: We went just for fun and sometimes for food. Cheap Swedish meatballs and 70-cent vanilla ice cream make the visit worth it! 

Go thrifting - there are lots of options! Many thrift stores are located side-by-side in Slussen, T-Centralen, and Mariatorget. Keep in mind that there are some vintage stores, but they are generally expensive (average $40). Read the descriptions of each store below if you are interested. This list of thrift stores is in ascending order by price: 

Myrona & Humana: both are chains that sell clothes on the cheaper side. I loved to look around the wide selection even if I had nothing to buy in mind 

Artikel2: the one I went to was huge - there were lots of jean products 

Stockholm Stadsmission: a chain with reasonable price and quality. You can find lots of gems when you spend time digging! 

Arkivet: a higher-end second-hand store with abundant high-quality clothes such as Tommy Hilfiger, COACH, BOSS, COS, etc. The one in T-Centralen is my personal favorite! I suggest this store if you’re looking for durable clothes like trench coats, jackets, etc. The expensive clothes are much cheaper than the original price, but the clothes that are usually cheap (ZARA/H&M) are a bit overpriced 

Check out museums - the following list is in descending order of preference: 

Paradox Museum: plenty of photo spots! I’d suggest going with someone else so that you can take photos of each other 

Tekniska Museet: a lot of science and technology stuff, but it’s not boring - it is a multistory building with innumerable interactive activities. Don’t forget to check out the video game rooms on the top floor!

Banksy (pop-up): Banksy’s artwork illustrates the political and historical issues through Banksy’s perspective 

Fotografiska: exhibitions switch every few months: I loved Rinko Kawauchi’s photo collection! 

Skansen: open-air museum with reindeer and historical housings! It is hugeeee so spare some time if planning on going here

Vasa Museum: museum with a well-preserved 17th-century ship that got salvaged 

ABBA Museum: The museum is smaller than I expected, especially when it is on the more expensive side. However, there were a few interactive activities (dancing stage, karaoke stations, silent headphone dancing spot, etc.) and numerous photo spots!

For people who love nightlife - check out the following list: 

Cafe Opera: nightclub 

Secret Garden: gay bar in Gamla Stan

Liffey: Irish pub in Gamla Stan that has live music and karaoke 

RoQ: bar with arcade games 

Beer and play: casual drinking bar - a lot of DIS students went on Tuesdays to drink beer and socialize 

Avoid Time bar: the $15 cocktails are good but there are too many old men who approach young girls :((  

Wander around in… 

Gamla Stan: I can’t emphasize my love for Gamla Stan enough; as the old town, they have a lot of historical buildings and museums in addition to rows of souvenir stores and cafes. There are a myriad of small paths (+ the narrowest street in Sweden) you could take - I loved getting lost in Gamla Stan! 

Fika and Wine - good authentic Swedish food: meatballs are very good 

PANEM - my absolute favorite dessert cafe! The mango mousse cake is one of the best desserts I’ve ever tasted 

Monteliusvägen: This is a perfect spot in Mariatorget to enjoy a view of the city while you take a leisurely walk. I went there multiple times with friends and on my own. It's the perfect place to have your sunlight intake!

Rosendals Trädgård (Garden): Although it’s a bit far away from the center of Stockholm (on an island that also has Skansen and Grona Lund amusement park), it is a place you need to visit in the spring. Little stores sell postcards (I was about to buy 5 but I realized I’m broke and only bought 1; however, I am regretting my choice right now. If I could go back I would buy all of the ones I picked out), keyrings (I bought four acorn keyrings for my family), vases, etc. There are greenhouse-looking cafes where you can eat food and desserts. And don’t forget to smell and take pictures at the flower gardens!

Kungsträdgården: ice skating in winter and cherry blossom festival in spring!

More places to visit in Sweden: 

City hall 

Stockholm Public Library 

Gröna Lund = amusement park

Westfield Scandinavia = mall 

Stockholm Observatory 

Archipelago 

Östermalms Saluhall = food hall 

Day trip to Uppsala 

What To Eat: 

Burger

MAX - Swedish burger chain 

More popular than McDonalds! 

There are a ton of vegan/vegetarian options - and I heard they are good 

Sweet potato fries are gas 

Brödernas - Hamburger restaurant 

Right next to the DIS Stockholm building

Outdoor sitting is a must in spring! 

Top sweet potato fries 

Pasta

Florentine - Italian pasta/pizza place

The pasta here is sooooo good 

Cocktails are fabulous too: Florentine on the Beach is my favorite 

Carls Deli - Italian restaurant 

After eating their pasta I agreed with the 4.8-star rating on Google Maps

In a food hall in T-Centralen 

Very busy all the time! 

Japanese: 

Noburu - best sushi for reasonable prices 

Near DIS Building (about 10 minute walk)

DELICIOUS food and AESTHETIC plating

Dry ice for decor 0_0

IPIN - cheap and good Japanese food

Near Hornstull 

Everything was around $10 

Ramen, sushi, and donburi were all good!

Sushi Yama - a chain where you can select nigiri types

Nigiris are small but delicious 

You can choose quantity and type of nigiri - I recommend grilled salmon; it literally melts in your mouth 

Matchaya - ramen and bubble tea

Close to DIS (about 15 minute walk)

Good ramen (I suggest the miso base)

Love their fruit bubble tea

TooGoodToGo - you can get leftover food that would’ve gone to waste at the end of the day for cheap prices! 

Happy Sweet Potato - bubble tea

I got 3 different bubble teas on top of a cup full of coconut jellies + pudding for less than $8

It sells out rapidly so I’d set a timer and snatch the deal when it opens 

ICA - groceries OR fruits and veggies OR bread

I only ordered bread here but I’ve noticed that the other options run out fast 

Got a bag for less than $5 if I remember correctly

Good for students who need sandwich bread + want pastries like croissants and vanilla/chocolate bread

Bakery Hornstull - bread OR cake

I love the owner couple… They’re so sweet and kind

I got 4 paper bags filled with all sorts of bread - there were a lot of big bread/sandwich bread though  

When I bought a cake for approximately $7, she let me choose between two cakes (we usually don’t get to pick)  

Eataly - pizza

My friends did it here and got three pieces of pizza for $3 

I missed my chance but you could do it! 

Desserts 

PANEM - pastries (!!! Mango mousse cake !!!)

PLEASE try the mango mousse cake if you like not TOO sweet fruity desserts

Alcohol 

You can only purchase alcohol from The System, which is owned by the government - US ID like driver’s license works sometimes 

Briska pear cider is extremely popular for a reason 

All the ciders I tasted in Sweden were good but I especially liked Somersby ciders 

This is all I can think of! 

The four months in Stockholm reminded me what life really is, what I enjoy, what I am comfortable with, what I need to work on, and how I want to live my life. 

I am so grateful for all the opportunities and support I have received. Now, it is time for me to move on and enter a new stage in life. I’ll be looking back on these precious memories whenever I need a refresher :) 

I genuinely loved studying abroad, especially in Stockholm. I hope you had fun reading these weekly posts as well! 

Thank you and goodbye, 

Jiwoo Kim

Chemical Engineering

This 4-day Italy trip was the most hectic trip I’ve ever had. So many unlucky events occurred over and over but we pushed them through.

5/4 Sat: DELAY

My original plan was to arrive at Milan Airport around 4 pm, look around the city, eat dinner with my high school friends, and have a good night’s sleep for a long day. 

The first problem occurred in the Oslo Airport. I boarded the flight and departed as normal. I fell asleep and after a while thought I heard something but disregarded it. After landing, I took a look at the way out and noticed the weird resemblance between Oslo Airport and Milan Airport. The clothing stores and convenience stores were oddly similar; I could only think that they might be similar since they are both European countries. However, when I saw the phrase “Welcome to Oslo,” I realized that something was very wrong. 

Asking people gave me the context of this situation: the plane discovered an issue during the middle of the flight and decided to come back to Oslo to fix the issue. The flight was delayed a couple of hours, to 5 pm departure. 

While waiting for the delayed flight, I filled out the SAS compensation form since my arrival time got delayed by more than 3 hours. I was half doubting I’d get anything back but I figured it was worth a try. 

The second flight was thankfully uneventful and I arrived in Milan at night. I didn’t want to waste any more time, so I went on a walk around Sforzesco Castle. All the lights on the castle were turned on, illuminating the night sky. The flowers on the trees were giving off their fragrance on the side as well! 

Pic - If I had lived here I would have taken a walk here every night 

I walked a bit more to look around Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Duomo Di Milano. 

Pic - Night at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II 

At a nearby gelato store, I met up with my high-school friends. Of course, we didn’t miss out on the opportunity of getting an authentic Italian gelato.  

The BEST mango and strawberry gelato I’ve ever had!!!

5/5 Sun: Florence Tour

We woke up early to take the morning train to Florence. It was only a two-hour train ride and there wasn't enough time for us to yap. Two hours flew by and we were in Florence! 

We put our bags into Bounce and started a grand walking tour: Baptistery of St. John, Odeon Library and Cinema, Vecchio Bridge, Santa Trinita Bridge, Fountain of Neptune, Replica of Statue of David, Piazza Santa Croce, Scuola del Cuoio. 

At Scuola del Cuoio (Leather School), we each bought a leather charm for our bags. I got a cherry one and I could NOT stop myself from talking about how cute it is for the rest of the trip. 

For dinner, we went to Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sunset. We each bought a sandwich and a bottle of white wine from a 5.0-star store. 

The sunset was worth the wait. I wanted to look at the night view as well but we all didn’t have any batteries left :( 

The last pictures that I took before I turned on airplane mode

Although we were on the last strand of the portable's battery, we safely made it back to our safe Airbnb. 

We started planning for the next day and discovered that NOTHING is open on Mondays. All the entrance tickets for the cathedrals were sold out and Boboli Garden was closed. 

We were all bummed and looking for something else to do when my friend half-jokingly said what if we went to Pisa. My eyes widened and said what if we did that. And just like that, we decided to go to Pisa the next day ( 0_0 )

5/6 Mon: Leaning Tower of Pisa

Before heading to Pisa, we stopped by the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella to smell the scent of Florence that the Queen of France asked to recreate. It was more like a museum than a regular perfume shop!

All the rooms had different styles and scents - my favorites out of all (yes, we smelled ALL) were Fresia and Angeli di Firenze

Our next big stop was Pisa!! Although it was an abrupt decision, it felt like the main event of the trip. After an hour, we arrived at Pisa!!! Since the central train station was close to Keith Haring’s mural, that was naturally our first destination. 

I didn’t think I’d see his work with my own eyes, but there it was, right in front of me

We spotted THE leaning tower after walking a bit. We took a billion photos together and enjoyed an aperitivo moment afterwards. The combination of bruschetta, tiramisu, and Spritz was perfect :) 

We lifted the leaning tower and saved the world

5/7 Tue: The Kiss

In the morning we came back by train again. 

At first, we went to Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan. The museum was filled with Renaissance pieces. 

This is the most famous painting, The Kiss! 

Before our flight back to reality, we looked around the city center one more time. We didn’t forget to grab gelato for ourselves too :) 

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in the day

At the end of my trip to Italy, I got an email from SAS saying that they’d give me full compensation for the delayed flight. 

My Italy trip ended on a good note :)) 

5/8 Wed: DIS Festival

On the last day of school, DIS prepared a variety of events for students to enjoy. There were presentations, catered food, and a photo booth! 

Last photo with my friends and my core-course professor :(

5/9-10 Thu-Fri: Last Few Days 

I had so much fun in Europe and now the time has run out. 

The last few days were hectic, writing essays and taking final exams. 

I went to Gamla Stan and ICA with my friends for the last time on Friday, buying last-minute souvenirs. 

Cleaning up and packing everything in my room was bittersweet. I still can’t believe my studying abroad semester is over… It was busier than I thought, but I had so much joy during my studying abroad. I wouldn’t trade anything for this! 

My next post will be a summary of all the tips and tricks for studying abroad.

This will be the most helpful post so don’t forget to check it out!

Ciao, 

Jiwoo Kim

Chemical Engineering

It was my second to last week in Stockholm. I can’t believe that it’s time for me to go back to the US already.  It feels like I’ve been here for two months now… I still have so much more to try and enjoy ;-;

The weather is beautiful now: it ranges from the high 40s to the low 70s but the sun makes it feel like mid 70s! 

4/30 Tue: Cherry Blossoms in Kungsträdgården 

On Tuesday, I had a group presentation for Crime Fiction. We presented a rewrite of the book that we read, The Legacy, for 20 minutes. 

After class, I went to ICA nearby and bought ice cream as a small treat for myself :))

Coca-cola popsicle❤️

Ranting about the cherry blossoms for a few days did bore fruit: we went to see the cherry blossoms in Kungsträdgården.         

Walking on a street full of cherry blossoms was on my bucket list for the longest time – being able to check it off the list in Stockholm was a wonderful experience. They were fully bloomed and the streets were fully packed too. 

I could see happiness  

On top of the cherry blossoms, I got to go out on a nice dinner for my friend’s birthday. We went to Florentine, a popular Italian restaurant in Stockholm.

Their signature drink Florentine on the Beach was fire🔥

The walk back to my house was a new experience due to the sight of hundreds of people wearing the same white marine hat. Apparently, it is a high school graduation tradition where all the graduating seniors where the hat and celebrate after school. Even the way back home was interesting! 

I also spotted wildflowers on the streets on the way back home (I swear they weren’t there before).

Small things make me smile :) 

Tuesday was a day packed with joy! 

5/1 Wed: Food Trial

My friends and I checked out this Korean fried chicken place! We made a reservation for 5 people but had to wait an hour until the food came out… The taste wasn’t what I expected either🥲 Wouldn’t necessarily recommend but they did try their chicken well! 

Monster chicken 

5/2 Thu: TATE MCRAE 

The big day has come – I completely forgot about the Tate McRae concert until a couple of days ago and I got extremely excited since then.ᐟ.ᐟ.ᐟ 

But before the concert: I woke up early (10 am) to do my laundry and saw this beautiful scenery outside the window. 

Our garden is the best no cap < 3

I dressed up both for my final poster presentation for the Engineering Sustainable Environments in Scandinavia core course AND the concert because I had no time to change. 

I was originally planning to miss the last class dinner, but (1) the class ended early and (2) I was convinced by free food. The burger place we went to was the building right next to DIS, so it didn’t consume much time either. 

The burger with sweet potato fries (it was gas) on top of Briska pear cider (I love that thing) was the best combination I could think of. 

Group pic!

I sprinted out of the restaurant not too late after my friends (already at the concert) asked me where I was.  

I made it in time to Avicii Arena: I stood in the line for a good amount of time and went through security relatively quickly.

Once I went inside, I moved upstairs and my friends followed my lead. We had a better view! 

The concert started with Charlieonafriday, who performed for about thirty minutes. He was a very good singer and a rapper! Low key a fan now. 

The intermission after the opening was 45 minutes, and we were doubting if Tate McRae was lost or something. Thankfully, she came out and we enjoyed a full hour of her performance. 

My personal favorites were greedy, exes, and you broke me first. And wow she could dance for real. 

I did not want it to end :((

5/3 Fri

On Friday, I perfected my oral exam script for Swedish. My partner and I pulled together and memorized a 5-minute speech in Swedish with good pronunciation :)  

We were constantly getting 5 minutes and 30 seconds on practices, but when we actually did the exam it somehow got shortened to 5 minutes. 

Nevertheless, it was a success! 

After our exam, we could leave early, so I went thrifting as a treat for myself. I was on a mission to find a brown leather jacket, but it did not happen :(  I do not think it’s happening anytime soon either… 

I almost bought the rabbit version but I stopped myself 

I took a little detour to a park next to our apartment. Cherry blossoms and wildflowers prompted everyone (AND PUPPIES) to come out! 

Spring is making me an outdoorsy person :)

The views from the garden in front of our apartment! I relaxed and absorbed the sunlight for a bit. 

The next post will be devoted to my time in Italy. 

I’ll see you later!

Hey då,

Jiwoo Kim 

Chemical Engineering

My time in Europe is running out and I am trying to make the most of it. 

Welcome to Jiwoo’s blog. This week’s main attraction is Vienna (or Wien), Austria! 

However, before leaving for Austria, I enjoyed a new experience in Stockholm.  

4/24 Wed: The ABBA Museum

Our Glued to the Screen: TV Film course voted on the location of our field study  last week. The winner was the ABBA museum! 

Did you know that ABBA, who sang hits like Dancing Queen, was a Swedish  supergroup? To be honest, I did not know until I came to Sweden. Surprisingly many companies and groups are Swedish and I had no clue! Top examples I can think of right now are Spotify, IKEA, H&M, ABBA, Roxette, and Ace of Base. 

I knew the museum was popular but it was on the more expensive side so I never visited before. This was a perfect excursion for me! 

There were various interactive activities and photo spots such as karaoke rooms, dance stages with ABBA members, and places with phone stands for selfies (very convenient)! 

I was the fifth member of ABBA for an hour   

The ABBA museum is in Djurgården, an island that is rather far from everywhere. Since I was there already, I made it a whole trip by checking out Rosendals garden as well! 

It has been on my places-to-visit list for a while due to its flower gardens and cafes. 

I saw a wide variety of beautiful flowers, which momentarily healed my soul. I strongly encourage the gift shops too! 

I wanted to live here

On the way to a meeting, I saw the cherry blossoms that were starting to bloom now. I’m planning on visiting them when I return from Austria! 

There weren’t in full bloom yet but I think they are now! 

My partner and I met at illycaffe to practice our Swedish oral exam. The cafe had a relaxing, studious atmosphere but the wifi was a bit janky so we had to move around in the cafe.     

4/26 Fri: First Day in Austria!

Finally, the day of our flight to Austria. As soon as I finished my last class of the day, I headed to the airport. 

After flying for two hours, we arrived in Vienna! The first view of Vienna from the airport was unexpectedly so green, which made me helplessly fall in love with Vienna. 

The sun was going down when we arrived; soon, darkness covered the sky.  

Airbnb was our first destination, then the city center for dinner and touristy things. We devoured dim sum for dinner at this really good Chinese restaurant called Hao Han. After we got satiated, we walked around the innere stadt. Even at night, the palaces and statues were beautiful. We walked around quite a bit until our legs failed us.

You can find a few stars in the photo too!

4/27 Sat: Schönbrunn Palace

We started the morning early by leaving at 9 am since we did not want to waste any time that could be used to travel. 

My roommate started her day extra early by leaving for Prague at 4 am. My friend and I, who stayed in Vienna, went to a flea market. I didn’t buy any clothes or accessories there, but I bought a small digital camera that I have been craving for a few months now! 

After a small pastry and lunch break, we traveled to The Schönbrunn Palace. The place was HUGE. My friend and I decided not to go into the palace due to time constraints; we were glad of this choice because just walking around the free gardens, fountains, and viewpoints took us over three hours. 

The parks were free to enter yet extremely well managed and decorated -- we talked about how we would come here every single day to stroll around or read a book under the sun if we had studied abroad here. 

We went thrifting for an hour after our excursion, but couldn’t find anything that caught our eye. Stockholm has better thrift stores in my opinion! 

We called it a day after getting dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant. Our legs were about to fall off and we had work to do :( 

Unlike our original plan of going back to Airbnb and working on our projects and presentations right away, we took a nap for an hour before getting everything started.

4/28 Sun: Prater Amusement Park, Albertina Museum, Austrian National Library, St. Peter’s Church 

I couldn’t pass by a hotdog stand in Vienna, so I got a classical Vienna hotdog for breakfast. The sausage came wrapped in a carved baguette! The bread was softer than I thought it’d be and the sausage was better than I expected :)  

Since we ate breakfast, it was time for dessert. We met up with my roomie at Cafe Demel, a popular cafe known for authentic Austrian desserts.

After lining up for thirty minutes, we got in and ordered sachertorte (a dark chocolate cake with apricot jam and icing, served with whipped cream) and kaiserschmarrn (bite-sized caramelized scrambled pancake with powdered sugar served with sour apple sauce).

It was such a good combi, a rich dark chocolate cake paired with savory pancakes and sour apple jam.

The souvenir store downstairs was also cute but pricey. 

For lunch, I went to Prater amusement park to meet my high school friend who is currently studying abroad in Vienna. It was so funny because I am going to meet her again next week on a trip to Italy. We are meeting more often in Europe than in the United States, and that was funny to us. 

As risk-taking adults, we invested some money into claw machines. And the best part: WE ACTUALLY GOT ONE! High risk high return  ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧ 

Talented pookies right here

And with that adrenaline, we decided to go on a ride with five loopy loops. Why? I’m not sure because the moment we got on the line we were shivering with fear. 

FIVE WHOLE 360s

As proper grown-ups, we came out in one whole piece without crying. With our jittery legs and spinning vision, we somehow managed to walk towards the archery game stop and popped some balloons too (I popped one out of five balloons!!!). I had to say goodbye to my friend after that because the museums closed early, but it was definitely a core memory. 

I was a busy gal that day! I speed-walked to the train station to go to the Albertina Museum. I was debating between the Belvedere museum (has Klimt’s Kiss), but decided that I wanted to see more of Monet’s paintings. I found other pieces of artwork that I cherished on top of Monet’s artworks. I call that a win! 

I discovered during my study abroad that I love impressionism and still art!!! My favorite is Monet so far if you couldn't tell 

The souvenir shop had an assorted collection of goods made out of popular artworks -- I ended up purchasing several coasters and postcards :) 

Buildings right outside the museum

Without delay, I moved on to State Hall in the Austrian National Library.

Unlike other libraries, it had an entrance fee of 7.50 euros (student price). However, it was worth it. It was a mix of museum and cathedral with a hint of palace. In short, it was stunning and breathtaking.

People for scale

There isn’t any place to study because there are no tables, but other parts of the library might have had study spots. 

The ceiling was the final blow for me -- I was awestruck

At last, we went to a famous restaurant with authentic Austrian food. We got there without reservation but they were kind enough to provide a table for us. We got Pork Schnitzel (~thin katsu), Beef Goulash (~beef stew), and potato salad. The combination of those three dishes was amazing - the potatoes surprisingly went well with both main dishes, allowing us to eat every little piece on the plates. 

Our final destination in Vienna was a string concert at St. Peter’s church. For a little over an hour, we heard a true harmony of Classic Ensemble Vienna playing a series of songs by Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart. 

The concert sparked my desire to play the violin again!

Overall, my trip to Vienna was wonderful! The weather was perfect, the food was amazing, and the attractions were gorgeous. I would 10/10 recommend a weekend trip to Vienna for studying abroad students! 

Next week is when my Milan and Florence trip begins. Come back to see what I am up to in Italy! 

Danke, 

Jiwoo Kim

Chemical Engineering

Our core spent nearly an entire week exploring Iceland in diverse ways!

We arrived in Iceland on Sunday and started the first full day on Monday. 

4/15 Mon: I ate FERMENTED shark (as if eating a shark was not eccentric enough)

It was a relatively late morning, schedule starting at 10 am. We went down to eat breakfast at the hotel around 9 am. All the food was high quality, which was something unexpected. I exploited the buffet and ended up with 5 plates to return. 

It was time for our first academic visit, The Iceland Ocean Cluster. It was a collaboration center for start-up companies using byproducts of fish. A lot of products are made from parts such as fish skin and liver, previously thrown away without use. Some examples were Omega 3, hand cream, fish-skin wallet, and energy drinks. 

Group picture taken by DIS!

Our second academic visit of the day was an informational lecture at the City of Reykjavik - we got to listen to how the city of Reykjavik is working with environmental protection, urban planning, waste management, and climate action.

The paper bag drama

Right after the presentation, we spontaneously entered a thrift store across the street, and wow. Everything they had was in good condition and high quality. There were so many good shoes in particular - my friend found Dr Martin for $40 like what??? I also got Nike sneakers and Vagabond sandals for less than $60, which is a deal. They were as good as new! 

For dinner, DIS scheduled a Reykjavik Food Walking Tour. A fun local guide told us Icelandic myths, history, and backgrounds of the foods that we ate that day! Some things that we ate were: lamb and salmon tartar, lamb hotdog, lamb stew, Icelandic sauces and jams, fermented shark, and blueberry yogurt cheesecake dessert. 

Celebrities from all over the world comes to that specific hotdog stand to try!

We got to feed the birds and swans on the lake with leftover bread that was given along with the stew. We were surrounded by all of them, unable to escape.

The seagulls were lowkey mean to the other birds, snatching the food away

The guide mentally and physically prepared us for the shark, teaching us when and how to breathe before eating the shark. It didn’t taste too bad (a little fishy?) to my surprise but maybe because they let us drink a shot afterward. 

Face with mixed feelings of fear, excitement, and curiosity

The tour took around 4 hours but it was a cool experience! I mean, where else would I be able to casually eat a fermented shark?

This is going off on a tangent but I wanted to share this: they have 10-11 instead of 7-11  ( ˙◞˙ )

4/16 Tue: Glacier Hiking !0!

The grand activity of the study tour, the South Coast and Glacier Hiking!!! 

It was around two-hours of bus ride, but the scenery on the way there was magnificent. Windows background photos were moving in front of my eyes!

Spectacular views

Everyone was so excited to hike on Iceland’s fourth-largest glacier. The local guide who led the way was super friendly and attentive  :)  

Class photo!

I could not believe that I was hiking on the glaciers, and sometimes I think that it was a daydream. What a surreal experience (for free too)!

Credit of last two pictures to DIS!

On the way back, we stopped at two waterfalls. I can vividly picture the first waterfall, Skógafoss, in my mind. It was just stunning. My friend and I ran towards it and ended up getting soaked up ヽ(´▽`)ﾉ 

Everything was fun at the moment 

Even better, a double rainbow popped up as soon as the sun came out. I haven’t seen such a vibrant rainbow in a while - pure happiness rushed to me. 

I don’t exactly know why but I love this place with all my heart 

I should live close to some kind of waterfall when I get older. The joy nature brings me is beyond belief. 

We had another group dinner near our hotel. The hotel we stayed at was in the city center; all the stores and restaurants were nearby! From the prices on the menu, we concluded that Iceland is very pricey. 

4/17 Wed: Geothermal Greenhouse 

Wednesday's main visit in my opinion was going to Friðheimar Geothermal Greenhouse. We learned about their ways of growing tomatoes in their greenhouse. They also had hives of bumblebees! It was good to see a lot of bees since we don’t see them as often anymore. 

All I wanted to do was to pick the tomatoes... But as a grown-up, I restricted myself

For lunch, they served a whole cuisine: grilled tomatoes and meat/vegetable skewers, tomato soup with huge loaves of cheese/olive bread, and cheesecake with tomato jam (better than it sounds)! If I hadn’t eaten so much for breakfast, I would’ve devoured more bread and soup :( 

The cheesecake was served in a pot! Isn't that so cute

With our full tummies, we headed to the Geothermal Exhibition. Iceland produces 100% of its electricity from renewable energy from hydro and geothermal power from the volcanoes. We got to closely look around the power plant and get descriptions from one of the employees. 

Sci-fi movies could film here

The rest of the afternoon and evening were on our own, so we went on a souvenir-shop tour around our neighborhood. I bought a cute Viking shot glass as a present for my younger brother. I tried one of the 70% dark chocolate too and it was AMAZING. It was so rich in flavor ( ˶ˆ⤙ˆ˵ )   

For dinner, my friend and I went to the first ramen place in Iceland and oh my gosh it was the best ramen I’ve ever had in Europe. 

I took a bite before taking the picture

4/18 Thu: Golden Circle Tour: Secret Lagoon, Geysir, Gullfoss, Thingvellir National Park

In the Iceland itinerary, a highlighted note read “Please bring your swimming clothes!” We got to swim in the Secret Lagoon, the oldest swimming pool in Iceland! It was filled with warm water from the hot (100+ degrees Celsius) springs nearby. 

Certain parts of the pool were full of algae, offering an oddly pleasant texture. It reminded me of the polar plunging + sauna experience in Umeå. Basking in the warmth of the pool was a relaxing experience. 

I want to jump in right now

After the rejuvenating swim, we headed to Geysir. There were multiple active geysers, one of which shot water 30 meters up into the air. 

This is a small geyser - doesn’t it look like a tiny water fountain? 

The next stop was Gullfoss, which was the most famous waterfall in Iceland. It is known as the “golden waterfall,” featuring a cascade of waterfalls one after another.  

The picture didn't do a good job capturing the magnitude of the waterfalls

The last official stop of the study tour was the Thingvellir National Park, which is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Typical bathroom views

The park had multiple attractions such as the site of Iceland’s first parliament. A group of us headed towards the valley separating North America and Eurasia. The water we encountered was exceptionally clear like a reflection from a mirror. 

Iceland = nature.

To celebrate the successful end of the study tour and a friend’s 21st birthday, DIS arranged an hour of karaoke for our class. We had so much fun that we ended up extending by an hour  ᖗ( ᐛ )ᖘ  The Mickey sparkly special glitter something shot (apparently their signature shot) was truly delightful. 

4/19-22 Fri-Mon: Facing My Consequences 

We met at the hotel lobby at 4:15 am to catch our 7 am flight… Let me just say that I passed out on the plane (sleepwise). However, it was nice to arrive in Stockholm in the early afternoon; I had an unbelievable amount of work to do. 

All I did on the weekend was sleep, eat, and study for the exam for my online Reactions course. When my brain got fried, I did other work for DIS courses and blogs. Assignments and group projects and presentations and essays and exams are flooding in until the end of the semester! 

In the next few weeks, you will see me balancing between traveling and school work. I will try my best not to get too overwhelmed with school! 

Thank you for reading ♡

Vertu blessaður, 

Jiwoo Kim

Chemical Engineering

I had my full week of school after Malta -- I deeply considered going to Amsterdam, but I knew that I’d get more stressed about the work I would have to do before and after the trip than living my time in Amsterdam. Also, I need to leave a couple of reasons (Amsterdam’s tulip festival, Portugal’s egg tarts, Greece’s scenery in Santorini) to come back to Europe someday ;) 

4/8 Mon: 

I fell asleep while writing the blog last night. As soon as I woke up, I got ready to start another day. 

Although we did not have classes as it was the last day of Easter break, I still met up with my teammates at DIS for group work for the Engineering Sustainable Environment course. 

Afterward, I did homework for my online course and went to a virtual office hour to ask questions. Then, I finished reading The Wolf and the Watchman for class tomorrow.

It is important to keep track of your assignments during the study abroad semester because it is easy to lose a couple of assignments when you’re balancing life and traveling with school!  

4/9 Tue: Restaurant 

Great way to wake up: leave your wallet with all the transportation + student ID + credit cards in your house! 

As soon as I realized that I left my wallet on the desk, I ran back to my room and ran to the metro station again. 

During class while we were talking about food (daily conversational topic), my friend and I  spontaneously chose to eat out. It was very sunny outside, so we “decided” (she convinced me) to walk for 20 minutes instead of taking the bus for 15 minutes.

On the way to the restaurant, she took me to a bakery called Mr. Cake and introduced me to the red velvet croissant. It had a cream cheese filling with red velvet chocolate on top. 

I took a bite and understood the hype – so good.ᐟ.ᐟ.ᐟ 

The ramen was good but it could've been more spicy in my opinion.

I recently fell in love with being horizontal in my bed without doing anything. And that’s what I did for three hours after lunch (I blame the food coma). But as a good student, I finished what I had to do before going to bed. 

4/10 Wed: Field Study 

We had a field study about the book we are reading for class (The Wolf and the Watchman) in Gamla Stan. It was extremely windy, especially because we were right next to the water. 

I couldn’t go home without poking all the second-hand stores. Slussen was my destination for the day as it had rows of thrift stores and regular clothing stores. To start off, I got a denim jacket and jean shorts in thrift stores. Due to my forgetfulness, I didn’t bring any shorts to Stockholm – thus, I didn’t have an option other than buying the LEE shorts in perfect condition. 

With mango strawberry smoothie

Later, the sale stickers enticed me to go into stores like Monkl and Bik Bok. Monkl was on their ultimate sale before their closing in late April. This sale with an additional student discount of 11% made everything even cheaper than thrift stores. I got a pair of sunglasses in each store :) 

This is one of them

At night, we had a game night in our room. It became a chit-chat night rather than a game night, but it was fun nonetheless. 

My new favorite non-alcoholic drink!

4/11 Thu: 

Eating out two days in a row! 

I need to stop talking about food with my friends because that’s exactly what led us to get sushi for lunch. 

Noburu sushi was packed as always - we almost didn't get to sit down!

I took a short walk around our neighborhood before going home. The hill nearby has a good walking path that I should take more advantage of. 

Sprouts are sprouting 🌱

Hours passed doing homework. When I mindlessly glanced over the windows, I saw a spectacular view. I lost track of time watching outside and feeling the wind.  

I love our room – it has the best views 

4/12 Fri:

In our crime fiction class, we watched the last episode of the Netflix series The Chestnut Man. Although the end wasn’t quite how I imagined, it was still a great series. 

To satisfy my craving for bubble tea I did TooGoodToGo from Happy Sweet Potato. I was afraid that I wouldn’t get anything that I liked, but I didn’t need to worry — I got three different types of drinks, in addition to a whole cup full of coconut jelly and pudding. I gave brown sugar bubble tea to my friend, drank the fruit tea myself, and saved the last one in the refrigerator. 

I definitely will buy from here again! 

For dinner, I used up mushrooms, onions, cabbage, and one last egg to clean out the fridge before leaving for a long vacation.

Am I getting better at plating too?

4/13 Sat:

I finished upcoming assignments so that I wouldn’t have to worry about them during the long study tour. 

Packing for Iceland didn’t take long as I just had to stuff my carry-on with layers and long sleeves. I thought I was done with 30-degree weather but no :( 

4/14 Sun:  

I took the free route to the airport for the first time. DIS only provides single-way transport reimbursement and I figured I would want to take the easy way back to Stockholm after a long trip. 

It wasn’t as complicated as expected! 

We flew in through Icelandair and got a group dinner as the very first activity. Although DIS covered our dinner, I couldn’t stop getting shocked at the price. The cheapest beer was $12! Nonetheless, I got a Raspberry Sour beer and it was one of the best beers I’ve had. Not too sweet but not too sour! It refreshed my mouth and reignited my appetite :)  The best of the best was the dessert, Icelandic raspberry cheesecake. It was more like cream pie since the density wasn’t as thick as a cheesecake. I scraped every last bit of the cake off the plate. 

Iceland is an expert in desserts  

8 pm in Iceland was still bright.

A couple of us strolled around the neighborhood to see the sunset. The lake 3-minutes away from our hotel absorbed and reflected all the colors from the sunset – the silent scenery of the swimming swans and scattering sunlight was a piece of art. 

We almost discarded our original plan to see the sunset just to stay and watch the view for the rest of the night 

The sky was too cloudy to see the sunset but we still went to the viewpoint near the water.

Reflection of the cloudy sunset

We got through the wind and took some pictures before going to sleep. 

Embracing the wind <3

The first full day in Iceland will be the next post! 

Come back to check it out :) 

Thank you, 

Jiwoo Kim

Chemical Engineering

I started my April in Malta. It greeted me with perfect spring weather!

4/1 Mon: Valletta! 

I landed at the Malta Airport at midnight. The Airbnb I booked had the self-check-in option, so all I had to do after getting there by Bolt was go in and sleep tight to prepare for my first full day in Malta. 

I wanted to enjoy every moment in Malta, so I left early in the morning to look around Valletta, the small but bustling capital. 

Small and friendly neighborhood

The alleys were crowded with people, full of tourists and locals. The streets were very hilly – if you’re planning on going, I suggest bringing walking shoes because you’ll be walking A LOT (my average steps was around 20,000 steps every day. 

It was even sunnier than Barcelona, the average temperature being high 60s and 70s. The first thing I did was to buy a pair of sunglasses (it was only 5€!) to protect my eyes from the piercing sunlight. 

I searched “attractions'' on Google Maps and walked to every single one of them. My tour was as follows: Triton Fountain - Valletta (+Valletta open market) - Lower Barrakka Gardens - Wuestenwinds beach - Upper Barrakka - Valletta Waterfront. I made sure to get gelato at Dolci Peccati, a popular (and cheap!) pastries store in the center of the town.   

Triton Fountain and streets in the center of Valletta

Lower Barrakka

Signs of spring

Eventually, I had to go back to my Airbnb and take a rest because my phone’s and portable’s battery ran out. 

I took a fat nap and decided to go watch the sunset. 

Everything was so nice and relaxing until the bus didn’t come. In hindsight, I should’ve taken this as a warning about the public transportation system in Malta, but since I already paid for the transportation card for the stay, I was going to make the most out of it. 

I clearly remember how the bus came 15 minutes late and how I helplessly watched the sunset on the bus. The clouds weren’t helping either :(

Although I didn’t end up going to the sunset spot I wanted to go to, I got off at a random spot called Mellieha and discovered a sanctuary.

Everywhere in Malta is so pretty

I walked around a bit and waited extra forty minutes for the bus back. 

I didn’t have time for dinner so instead of going home, I went to a Korean restaurant called Doma. The fried chicken there was so good!! 

4/2 Tue: Popeye Village, Paradise Bay, Sunset  

The night before, I scheduled a meticulous plan with the exact times of when I should leave to go to where I wanted to go. I was so ready to follow the plan until everything went wrong. The problem? Bus. Again. 

Everything was good when I got to the LOVE monument and enjoyed the weather outside.

BTS was here too!

However, the bus (that was late again) malfunctioned and dropped everyone off in the middle of nowhere. I waited for almost forty minutes for the next bus. Consequently, I had to change my destination to a closer beach, which turned out to be Mellieha Bay.

I only dipped my feet cause the water was too cold to go in. 

I read a couple of chapters before leaving for the infamous Popeye Village! 

Popeye Village is a popular filming site due to its beauty; it is known for the exotic view of the Blue Lagoon as well. I didn’t go into the village, but I went to the Popeye Cliffs and was able to get a whole view of the village and the water. It was breathtaking: I couldn’t and didn’t leave the cliffs until I absolutely had to. 

Just like a movie (quite literally)

My next stop was Paradise Bay. It was perfect because the sunset viewpoint, the official final location of the day, was right next to the beach. When I got there, I could immediately understand why they named it Paradise Beach. It was paradise on earth.    

I took a billion pictures to capture the moment 

This time, I successfully arrived at the sunset point before the actual sunset. I carefully scheduled my trips so that the time worked out. 

Watching the sun’s gradual disappearance over the horizon was a sight I’d never forget. 

For dinner, I picked up a seafood fettuccini from a restaurant. It was a great meal to end the day :)

4/3 Wed: Comino and Gozo

Malta comprises three small islands: the mainland is Malta, another island is Gozo and a teeny tiny island in between them is Comino Island.  

When I asked for recommendations from the people in my hostel, they all recommended Camino Beach. Plus, the transportation ticket that I got included a free fast ferry trip to and back from Gozo. It was clear that I had to have a trip to Gozo and then Camino. 

So, I woke up at 6:30 am, packed EVERYTHING for check-out, ate breakfast, and left the Student’s House (Airbnb) at 8 am. 

I made it on time for the 10 am ferry. As soon as I arrived at Mgarr Harbour in Gozo, I took another ferry to go to Comino Island. 

As marketed, Comino Island was full of beauty. Comino Beach was small but the view was majestic. 

Comino Beach! Instead of staying at the beach, I hiked to Ghemieri Window which is on the other end of the island. I didn’t have much time to waste, so I walked and walked and walked under the scorching sunlight. In the end, it was all worth it. I discovered multiple ethereal places that made me wonder if I am in an animation right now. I encountered a tranquil beach, a field full of flowers, a pond with a church in the background, and rocks that formed caves. 

These are only a few of my favorite places. 

When I returned to the entrance of the island, I got a Mango Peach cocktail in a pineapple and sat down to have time to blank out on the stunning scenery in front of me. 

Delicious

At 12:15 pm, the ferry to Gozo came. I was in a rush because I needed to catch this particular ferry -- the noon one included a tour of the caves on the way back! I absolutely enjoyed every single part of the boat tour: the striking view of the caves, the refreshing wind cooling me down while a perfect amount of sunlight warming me up simultaneously. 

I finally had some time to look around Gozo. I had an hour or two before returning to Malta, so, of course, I went to the Open Air Market in the center of the island.

The stores and the streets were similar to the ones in Malta :)  As soon as I returned to Malta, I took Bolt back to my Airbnb to pick up my carry-on luggage. I had a brief farewell moment before heading to the airport. 

4/4 - 4/7 (dead)

The first thing I saw in Stockholm was ice. ICE. In April! I instantly missed Malta… 

I arrived at my house around 2 am and fell asleep quickly. 

The next few days were winding down days, catching up on all the work and having time with my friends again. 

This marks the end of the week-long Barcelona-Malta trip! 

I hope you enjoyed the posts as much as I did. 

I will come back soon with what I did in Stockholm before leaving for Iceland.

Vi ses, 

Jiwoo Kim

Chemical Engineering

Barcelona post is finally here!

Let's get started right away, starting with my flight to Barcelona.

3/27 Wed: Park Güell.ᐟ.ᐟ.ᐟ 

It was my second 6 am flight and I knew the drills. Night bus, Flygbussarna, airport. 

We safely landed in Barcelona and arrived at our hotel to store our luggage before the check-in. 

Our neighborhood was so cute 

The first event I scheduled was the guided tour at Park Güell. 

On the way up the steep hills, I stopped to get the first gelato in Spain. He let me taste three different flavors before choosing - my pick was Strawberry 🍓

I didn’t know I signed up for hiking—walking up all those stairs made me go out of breath. However, the view from the top of the hill was magnificent. 

Birds were greeting us when we finally arrived at the entrance. They were so cute < 3

The guide explained the meanings and purpose behind the structures and architecture. Gaudi’s use of geography and geometry was intricate to the point that it was unreal.  

I walked around for another hour or so to capture everything before I leave 

The guide told us that there is no official documentation of Gaudi, just assumptions formulated around his work. Therefore, the tour gave me a sneak peek into Gaudi’s alleged thoughts and life. 

While we waited for our two other friends to arrive in Barcelona, we walked around La Rambla at night. I couldn’t capture it but it was so alive and attractive. I stopped by multiple shops and got postcards for 1 euro each! 

After walking to the end of the road, we stopped by the port. 

It would’ve been a cute fountain if a stream of water came out from its mouth

All four of us united for dinner at 10 pm. The paella we ordered was huge -- we were glad that we didn’t order two since it would've taken us hours to finish it.

Delicious chicken paella! 

3/28 Thu: Casa Batlló, Picasso Museum, Shôko 

In the morning, we all met up outside of Casa Batlló. As tourists, we didn’t forget to take a billion photos. 

The building looked like it was flowing because of the shapes that were used  

We moved on to Sagrada Familia, where my two friends had a tour scheduled. I had my guided tour booked for Saturday, so I stayed outside and took more pictures in front of Sagrada Familia. 

It’s scheduled to finish construction by 2034, but that’s if EVERYTHING goes well

While my two friends were busy doing the tour, we went to the beach area and rested there for a bit before heading to try our first menu del dia at the restaurant called Granja Los Amigos. Menu del dia is a cheap Spanish course lunch where you typically get a first meal, a second meal, and a dessert of your choice with drinks on the side. The flan at this place was so good that I scraped the dish after I ate all of it -- and I don’t even like flan/puddings! 

This was 12 euros for me! 

Picasso Museum was our next destination. We got in for 7 euros per person (youth price!) and it was totally worth it. Observing thousands of Picasso’s authentic artworks was an experience. 

I did not know but Picasso had a lot of connections with Barcelona: he studied here and met many Spanish artists during his stay. Picasso continuously donated his works to Barcelona!

Afterward, we walked around the vicinity (terrace and cathedrals everywhere) and ate nonstop. Tacos at Rosa Negra (highly recommend), authentic churros, concluding with a drink at night club Shoko. Shoko was located right next to the beach, so we didn’t miss the chance for a walk on the beach too! 

I spy… Jiwoo edition

3/29 Fri: Barcelona Beach + Sunset at Carmel Bunkers, Razzmatazz

Friday morning started with a restaurant failing us for the first time -- Quimet & Quimet was a tapas place I really wanted to go to, but it was closed when we got there. I fully trusted Google Maps but Google did not know that they were closed during the Easter weekend :(

So we went straight to the beach and ate brunch there. The vibes and the food were both great! 

There was a flea market going on along the beach. As a raven that likes shiny things, I could not pass without buying a bracelet and a ring :) 

We sat on the beach for a while and proceeded to get drinks to relax even more.

Yum yum

Even though it was a bit chilly with the wind in late March, Playa de la Barceloneta was packed with people.

We could stare at the beach for hours and hours if it wasn’t for the wind trying to freeze us 

After absorbing all the sunlight we couldn’t get in Stockholm, we moved on to Bunkers del Carmel. It is a popular spot for sunset and night views of Barcelona. Watching the graceful sunset and gradual illumination by the city lights was something I didn’t know I needed. We were so sad that we couldn’t stay past 7:30 pm (the police kicked everyone out), but we got a glimpse of Barcelona at night as we walked downhill. 

Bunkers del Carmel is a must-visit place in Barcelona!!! Don’t forget to bring a jacket though! It gets cold at night 

The last event of the night was visiting Razzmatazz, but it wasn’t as good as we thought it would be. But the tickets included a free drink, so we took advantage of that :) 

It was so big that we got lost a couple of times - we could go into any room in the two three-story buildings 

3/30 Sat: Boqueria Market and Sagrada Familia 

And the morning of the highlight of my Barcelona trip has come. 

For brunch, we visited Mercado de la Boqueria. They mainly sold fresh fruits, seafood, jamón, and snacks. I tried fresh mango, chocolate-covered strawberries, pastry, empanadas, and octopus (this was the best).

I can say for certain that you’ll find at least one thing you like in that market. 

I had a guided tour of La Sagrada Familia at 1 pm, so I ran (took the metro) to get there on time. The guide explained everything in and out, from the meaning of the colors to the sculptures. All I can say is that Gaudi was a talented genius who even worked hard for his passions. 

Please please please do the guided tours if you’re visiting La Sagrada Familia! It was definitely worth the price for me

After the tour, I stayed for an hour or so more in the church. I walked around and sat down in the church, constantly getting fascinated by its beauty. 

We sat at the beach (again) until we got hungry. We walked around, got some snacks, and stopped by their Airbnb to charge our phones. 

For dinner, we went to a restaurant called El Tros de la Rambla. We got two seafood paellas and GOSH it was the BEST meal I’ve had SINCE I CAME TO EUROPE. It was beyond delicious -- they must’ve done something to that cause I would eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if possible. I loved it so much that I decided to leave a review on Google Maps, but Google declined my review because it thought I got incentivized to write a fake review(...) 

It was that good! 

Following our successful meal, the last gelato in Spain was successful as well. We arrived at Gianduia, the 4.9-star gelato place, 10 minutes before the closing time but the worker was so nice (•̥̥̥ᴗ•̥̥̥)

Objectively best gelato place in Spain -- strawberry and yogurt mwah 

We sat on the steps of the cathedral, listening to people singing in the alleys, eating our gelato, and taking our time to feel the festive atmosphere of Spain. 

3/31 Sun: Barcelona to Malta~~~

I was writing this blog in Stockholm Airport, waiting to get on the plane to Malta. 

I woke up early this morning to pack everything and go to the airport. If you’re using Uber in Spain, there is a mandatory 15-minute waiting time before getting assigned to a driver so beware if you’re in a hurry!  

Instead of Uber, I used an app called Freenow (usually cheaper than Uber) to travel from and to the airport. 

We got through the security check quite quickly: I realized that not having a line for passport checks extremely cuts down the waiting time. 

For breakfast, I ate a Caesar salad with a Mango passion fruit chia smoothie at the airport. I didn’t expect them to be good but they were scrumptious! 

After the 3.5-hour flight, I arrived at ARN airport in Stockholm. I booked an evening/night flight to Malta, so I just had to wait in the airport for a couple of hours. This was why I brought a backpack and a carry-on. Although my friends made fun of me for bringing so many clothes, I knew I was going to thank myself later in Malta. 

I enjoyed Barcelona and speaking rusty Spanish from high school. In the airport, I could sense that I was going to fall in love with Malta as well. 

Check out ups and downs of my solo travel in Malta in my next post! 

Gracias, 

Jiwoo Kim

Chemical Engineering