The Sweden vacation was so beautiful I could barely believe my senses.
My good friend Felice and I decided to take a trip to Scandinavia, and spend a week paddling down a river, camping wherever there was place.
I knew it would be nice, but I did not expect for the water, the skies and the nature around me to leave such an impact.
We'd cook our meals on fire made of logs we'd find laying around and feed our souls with the constantly breathtaking views.
It rained almost every day, which made our trip less easy, so to say, but I loved even that. Because of the rain, I learned to appreciate every moment the sun would break through the clouds, and treasure every opportunity to dry our soaked clothes.
I also learned a few useful tricks to build a fire or make better knots, and we bathed in the icy water every day.
To my surprise we didn't see or hear much of the wildlife; beside the spooky call of the loon, the forest was mostly silent.
And just like the world around us, we too became quieter over the days. We'd spend hours listening only to the water against our canoe and paddles as they sunk into the darkness and came back to the surface.
I fell in love especially with the water lilies, which were everywhere, and looked like miracles in the muddy surroundings. Felice, sitting in the back and mostly in charge of directing the canoe, would take detours to let me see them from up close and I'd melt inside at every sight of the white petals and their dark green plates, floating peacefully on the water.
I deeply regret not having taken photos of them.
We came back smelling like seven days of smoky fire pits, cleansed from the river, and eager to use a real kitchen and bathroom again!
Sweden made me understand where fairytales come from, brought me closer to myself, and fed me many, many blueberries.
It felt like a place away from everything; majestic, old and full of stories.
