Stockholm after-work series: the Twilight Zone

 

Stockholm after-work series: still daylight

Because daylights hours were so long and my office was situated nicely in the city, I decided to use my time after work to paint around the city.

July

Molins fontän, Kungsträdgården

Gotlandsgatan

view from the ground of Sofia Kyrka

Strandvägen (a couple actually took picture of me sketching and airdropped them to me...that was a pleasant encounter)

Dramaten

August

Gustav Vasa Church, Odenplan

Östermalms Saluhall

Brunkekergstunneln

September

Stefanskyrkan

 

Swedish Midsummer...in the city!

Almost immediately after my arrival, the very special holiday of Swedish Midsummer was there! (also my only time, since I left Sweden before midsummer next year) To be honest, it felt super exotic, because I haven't really had a purely season based holiday before...and it felt like a Northern specialty!

Stockholm itself was very empty during the holiday because most city dwellers were out somewhere nicer. For me, Stockholm was plenty nice enough! (Although I do remember staying in doors during normal daylight hours because it was broiling hot outside, and watching Midsommar with a friend to catch up on some basic festival etiquette...)

Waldermarsudde (Midsummer Eve 2021)

Pålsundsparken

 

First Week in Stockholm!

Looking back, there was nothing that could quite describe my experiencing Stockholm for the first time. And as a first time resident, not a first time visitor. Especially as this was right after leaving Texas...the difference couldn't be greater. And also while most part of the world were still under some kind of covid restrictions and Sweden being the outlier. 

I landed on June 13, 2021, a Sunday. Throughout the trip I was holding my work permit paperwork. It was entirely in Swedish, so the United check-in agent at SFO couldn't read it and just took it at face value as legitimate reason of entering Sweden. The EU border agent at Frankfurt also couldn't read it because they were Germans. And finally the Swedish border agent also declined to read it because the visa is electronic so they can already see it from their system...so the paperwork kind of functioned like a good luck charm. I just waved it and people let me through.

Monday - moved into my apartment in Södermalm with the housing agent. I remember almost shedding some tears as the housing agent also took off his shoes when entering the apartment. Then he introduced me to the fascinating laundry reservation board, told me where the closest grocery store was, then left me to soak in the fact that I am actually going to live in Stockholm from now on. 

Tuesday - Jakobsgatan/St Jacobs Kyrka - I haven't seen so many interesting things to draw in a long time!

Wednesday - Stockholm Skyline (Gamla Stan + Södermalm)

Thursday - Drottningholms slott (finally got my bike and immediately took it out for a spin)

Friday - Slussen! Construction equipment + old buildings = my favourite combination

Saturday - not sure what I did that day oooops

Sunday - Ferry terminal + Gröna Lund (sunset at 9pm)

-my first official work week immediately followed

 

Missing a flight at SFO, definitely not intentionally, I swear

After running out of excuses of not going to Austin for work, I willed myself to prepare for a 2 week trip. At this point I haven't been on a plane for nearly 1.5 year (ever since coming back from NZ trip early 2020) So I thought I left adequate time to get to SFO, but a traffic accident on 101 added an extra 20 mins. I ended up deciding to bring my suitcase directly as carry-on. I looked calm, but I was definitely panicking. All these years in-and-out of SFO, I've never missed a flight! 

Anyway, as I arrived at the gate, there was noone, and I was definitely in a lot of trouble. Colleagues, hotel, rental car all need to be informed. The worst is being suspected that this is part of my tactics of not wanting to go to Austin. Thankfully the travel agent re-booked me onto an early morning Alaskan airline flight the next day without fuss (and I chose SJC to be safe) On hindsight I should have chosen SJC from the get go, but I was after United points...

To effectively spend my now wasted trip to SFO, I decided to take a day off in the post security area and leisurely paint some planes

Help, My Car is Stuck in the Snow - Truckee

 Joined a few local artists/sketchers on a trip to Truckee. I decided to use acrylic (or was it casein??) instead of my usual watercolour this time. Oh and yes, I did get my car stuck in a 4x4 trail because google maps told me it will be 5 mins faster than the normal road. Anyway, I had to abandon my car on the trail overnight because there was no cell signal there and the tow company had some more urgent task for the night. And so I arranged a meet up with the tow truck using landline from the AirBnB. The ladies of the sketch group dropped me at the start of the 4x4 trail, then I rode with the tow truck to where I left my car the other night. Thankfully it was still there, in the middle of the road, stuck between mud and snow. After pulling my car out, the tow truck also got stuck and had to pull itself out. Then the driver took my credit card details and said they will charge me later because there was no cell service of course. All ended well, the AirBnB host even kindly offered us one extra night for free because my mishap disrupted the group's original sketching activities on the first day. I eagerly took the offer.

The fabulous view from the porch of the gigantic house

Another view of the lodge/house

The back of the lodge and my poor car after getting rescued

And finally some snow scenes!

Through rain and shine, Vancouver

October usually isn't the time of year I would recommend family and friends to visit Vancouver, since it is when the weather swings from dry to wet and daylight hours shorten to a point where there is no doubt summer is officially over. However, it just so happens that my best childhood friend was able to take time off during this period and fly over the Pacific Ocean. I repeatedly warned her of the relentless rain that is typical of this season, so as to lower the expectation and not to ruin her first impression of my adopted beautiful hometown. I myself packed many warm clothes and was ready to leave the Californian sun for a few days.

What a pleasant surprise! I couldn't believe my eyes when I woke up basked in sunlight the next day in Vancouver. Oh wait, maybe not so soon...A light drizzle started falling on us as we were in Richmond doing some grocery shopping. As my friend was busy with some personal errands, I strolled along the new walkway along Fraser River and was captivated by how the low-hanging clouds melted into the mountains. Such a different scene from California! I quickly pulled out my (new) sketchbook and worked under the slight drizzle (you could see a few droplets made into the painting :D)

Thankfully the rain stopped just as I finished my first piece. As I walked along river bank, I noticed a bustling construction site with bright colors and imposing cranes. A few years after I left Vancouver for college, a construction boom has swept the city and vicinities. Societal impacts aside, I find that the colorful cranes and machineries really break up the sea of monotonous glass condo buildings in Richmond. It happened to be the Friday before the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend, so I sketched while eavesdropping on the workers' excited conversation about the weekend ahead...and boy did they leave work early that day (before 4pm!)

Later that day we ended up having dinner downtown. It was a beautiful evening...but also torture on my soul as I sat drooling over the colors unfolding outside but had to focus on the food and dinner conversation (granted, dinner was really good!) Finally, as dinner concluded the host suggested a viewing at a nearby special effects theatre. Remembering that I get motion sick easily, I quickly excused myself and was able to get the last 20 mins of sunlight all to myself. This is the view looking at Vancouver Convention Centre from the ferry terminal. The dark clouds against the bright sunset in the background was stunning. 

I was busy the next few days escorting my friend around town, but managed to squeeze in this quick one under the drizzle, again, as I wait for the group to finish lunch at Granville Island. I really liked the way downtown West End melted into the distant hills. I had to put in the finishing touches after getting back to the food court, because the drizzle kept melting away any details I put in haha.

 The last one was done in Air Canada Lounge in Vancouver airport as I wait for my flight back to San Jose...while munching on some cookies. I can't help feeling melancholy whenever I had to sit through sunset in the airport and take off in complete darkness...thankfully more sunshine awaits in California. See you next time, Vancouver!