Fast forward to few days ago and Thess from Sweden, sitting on our couch, is a bit surprised that this Swedish book has been a part of the literature curriculum in Macedonian schools. But so many Swedish things have become part of life all over the world. The couch and armchairs we are sitting on have been bought at IKEA, my jeans are H&M, I (somewhere, hidden very very deeply into a box) own a Roxette cassette and if we had to have a car and could afford any model, Ivica would likely choose a Volvo. Oh and he'd gladly be sent into an IKEA meatball heaven. And ok, I'll admit it: I have sung the Final Countdown (originally by Swedish band Europe) more than once on Play Station's Singstar karaoke game...Enough humiliation though, back to our new friend.

Thess has arrived via Bulgaria from a few week's stay in Turkey where she traveled with her boyfriend, Sven. He had to go back home but Thess had some more free time and could travel the region a bit so she headed our way. Thess is a very experienced couchsurfer with a huge number of great references and it's always nice to meet a true couchsurfer, someone who has been involved in the concept for as long as Thess has. She is also special because she is our first guest from Scandinavia. And while she currently lives in Malmö, she grew up in Söderhamn, which - wow! - just became the northernmost flag on our CS friends map (the record previously held by Tallinn, where Mirjam and Hanna came from some months ago).

Sweden (and this is something I didn't know before) is the third biggest (by area) country in the EU, after Spain and France and Swedes have the longest life expectancy in the EU, a whooping 80.5 years! On the downside though, Thess tells us that - at least in winter - there's a lot of depression among Swedes; a lot of parts of Sweden get only a few hours of light a day in the wintertime. Thess and Sven own a sun lamp which simulates sunlight and they use it extensively during those dark days. I'd probably go crazy. Then on the other hand, I'd probably also go crazy during the summertime when it's hardly ever dark.

Every June and always on a Friday, Sweden celebrates Midsummer, an official holiday dedicated to the summer season. A maypole, a frequently used concept in Germanic cultures' traditions and rituals, is a part of Swedish Midsummer celebrations as is dancing around it. Read more interesting facts about Midsummer (such as the fact that, on this day, girls are encouraged to pick 7 different flowers and put them under their pillows so that they can see their future husbands in their sleep) here.

And to add to this collection of random Sweden facts, let me tell you a bit more about the Icehotel. This hotel in Jukkasjarvi is built from scratch every single year for the last 20 years, and snow and ice is used from the Torne river. The hotel features a number of amenities, including a sauna (hmmm), and (if my math was right), a three night stay for 2 in January 2011 would set us back around EUR 1,500. Right. If this is your kind of travel budget, head here and make sure you send us an ice postcard!