Posted on 11/13/2006 5:22:29 PM PST by WesternCulture
America ten percent cheaper since January
The strength of the Swedish krona against the dollar means that America is ten percent cheaper now for people earning in Sweden than it was at the beginning of the year.
Successive interest rate rises in Sweden, while making life more expensive for people with mortgages, have led the krona to rise significantly since January.
A dollar now costs 7 kronor, 11 percent down on the beginning of the year. Many other currencies have also weakened against the krona. These include the Japanese yen, the Chinese yuan, the Hong Kong dollar and the Indian rupee. All these have fallen by 9-10 percent.
Countries that have now become markedly cheaper for Swedish travellers include Turkey, where the value of the currency has fallen by 16 percent against the krona.
The Swedish currency has strengthened against the South African rand by 20 percent since the beginning of 2006. It has also strengthened somewhat against the Australian and New Zealand dollars.
Changes against other currencies have been less marked. The krona strengthened 3 percent against the euro, and was almost unchanged against the pound.
TT/The Local
On the other hand, a lot of us Europeans love going to the US for holiday, not at least people from Scandinavia.
I've asked friends, workmates and other persons here in Europe that've been to the US what they enjoy the most about the country.
A surprising amount of them have answered that they find US Americans extremely friendly and utmost hospitable. Furthermore, they respond that they enjoy the food, the nature, the architecture and the overall American "lifestyle".
Let's talk food.
Many Europeans associate American eating habits with junk food. However, Europeans are in fact becoming more and more aware of the fact that the US have some of the most interesting gourmet scenes of the world. One example is that the eating out flora of Chicago as well as New York City have sparked up a great deal of interest in many European magazines/papers. Speaking of Sweden (my native country), Leading Swedish culinary magazine Gourmet has run major articles on these aspects of both NYC and Chicago during the last years.
Another thing that appeal to many Europeans is of course American architecture. Personally, I feel I have to once in my lifetime walk around a place like Manhattan for several days, listening to Gershwin on my MP3 and admire all of the buildings, Just like some years ago, I wandered all over Vienna, Austria, while listening to Mozart (that was one EXPERIENCE, believe me!).
2008 I've more or less decided I'll revisit the US (went to Fla. in the early 1990's), but 2007 will be a "Europe" year (like this year was, went to the Loire Valley, France, this spring). I'm visiting Northern Spain (it'll be my first visit to Spain in fact!) during Easter of 2007 and probably my beloved Italy in the autumn.
They are more then welcome to come here and spend there money :). Come on over and bring your wallet and were leave the light on for ya!
"They are more then welcome to come here and spend there money :). Come on over and bring your wallet and were leave the light on for ya!"
Thank you, I promise I won't forget my wallet :-)
"If I am ever in Sweden I will do the same :) (gotta get me some crepes)."
You are very welcome indeed.
Travelling the world, meeting with other people and other cultures is a wonderful thing and as a Swede, I'm pretty confident anyone coming here will have a great time.
If visiting Scandinavia in Summer, you'll find out why things like Scandinavian midsummers are considered mythical. If you arrive here in winter, Viking hospitality is bound to warm your heart.
"I will gladly host the Swedish Girls bikini team....gladly"
You don't say..
Swedish girls wearing bikinis is something every man ought to experience. Especially in summertime, I live in Paradise.
Concerning Swedish women, I've found out that men of three particular nationalities especially appeal to them, these are:
- Americans
- Britons
- Italians
I have always wanted to visit Sweden as it is one of my ancestral homelands. I almost went one time when I was stationed in Germany and got a 4 day pass, but alas me and my friends decided Amsterdam was the place to go for young men.
You will love it. And the food there is incredible.
My first trip to NY caused me a neck strain from looking
around so much.
/Salute
MaxMax.
Here's a proposition: Swedes can send their tourists to American resorts, and Americans can send their children to Swedish schools. Everyone will come out ahead.
"I have always wanted to visit Sweden as it is one of my ancestral homelands. I almost went one time when I was stationed in Germany and got a 4 day pass, but alas me and my friends decided Amsterdam was the place to go for young men."
Hope you enjoyed spending time in Europe, just like I enjoyed visiting the US.
If you are interested in visiting Sweden, this is a great source of information:
http://www.visitsweden.com/
If you decide to come here, please let me know through a private reply. In my family, we have a great tradition of hosting visitors to Sweden from all over the world, The UK, India, Germany, you name it! We find it SO rewarding.
Feel free to contact me.
"I have always wanted to visit Sweden as it is one of my ancestral homelands. I almost went one time when I was stationed in Germany and got a 4 day pass, but alas me and my friends decided Amsterdam was the place to go for young men."
Hope you enjoyed spending time in Europe, just like I enjoyed visiting the US.
If you are interested in visiting Sweden, this is a great source of information:
http://www.visitsweden.com/
If you decide to come here, please let me know through a private reply. In my family, we have a great tradition of hosting visitors to Sweden from all over the world, The UK, India, Germany, you name it! We find it SO rewarding.
Feel free to contact me.
Cheaper for you to visit here, more expensive for us to visit there. :) I may try for Sweden next year, early summer. I'm starting my trip in Amsterdam, but haven't decided where to go from there.
Sigh. I guess the krona got revalued even more because of Swedish interest rates, but the dollar is down almost 8% against the Euro over the last twelve months. Not good for my business.
On the other hand, if I can ever afford a vacation again, I'd love to take one to Sweden :-p
"I feel I have to once in my lifetime walk around a place like Manhattan
for several days,
You will love it. And the food there is incredible.
My first trip to NY caused me a neck strain from looking
around so much.
/Salute
MaxMax."
Salutations to you too, MaxMax!
I'm convinced I'll suffer from the same strains to the neck as you did, fellow FReeper.
On the other hand, I'm very aware that a city like NYC is a completely different thing from the American Heartland. I wish to experience that too.
Places like London, Tokyo and NYC (out of these cities, the only one I've been to is London, a very fast paced, but all the same fascinating city) are interesting in the way they "set" conditions for all of mankind. But so does a "continent" like the above mentioned "American Heartland" - people going to work, going to church, proud of raising families in a stern belief of Christian values.
This I view as a splendid cultural achievement by the West.
True Europeans love true Americans.
And "Abba" doesn't count!
"Cheaper for you to visit here, more expensive for us to visit there. :) I may try for Sweden next year, early summer. I'm starting my trip in Amsterdam, but haven't decided where to go from there."
So much to experience in Europe. Amsterdam is great but Italy, especially Tuscany, I would say beats every other country/region in this respect. This is my personal belief however.
Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia is great, but I advice you to do your homework before coming. Search wikipedia.com and other useful sources of informations on the internet.
Whatever your decision and whatever your inclinations as a visitor to Europe, You are Welcome!
Because we have that strange accent? Heh J/K.
I've lived all over this beautiful Continent from Seattle
to now Virginia Beach. There is nothing more exhilarating then to experience
culture and appreciate it.
But no matter where you go, you must visit NY once in your life.
NY isn't just a visit, it's an experience.
/Salute
MaxMax.
"OK, what do I download into my iPod when I want to walk around Stockholm?
And "Abba" doesn't count!"
I'll try and hook you up with further info (please contact me if I fail to live up to this promise). In the meanwhile, Search Bit Torrent and likewise places for Bellman, Evert Taube and Fred Åkerström.
Get the basic info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evert_Taube
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Michael_Bellman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelius_Vreeswijk
Enjoy!
"True Europeans love true Americans.
Because we have that strange accent? Heh J/K.
I've lived all over this beautiful Continent from Seattle
to now Virginia Beach. There is nothing more exhilarating then to experience
culture and appreciate it.
But no matter where you go, you must visit NY once in your life.
NY isn't just a visit, it's an experience.
/Salute
MaxMax."
As said, I believe that to be very, very true.
All the same, I'd really like to experience what I have understood to be "The American Heartland".
So much to see 'round the Globe before you die, isn't there.
With Love from Europe to America!
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