For our last full day in Stockholm we decided to walk around the city a bit more before heading out the suburbs to see a fotboll match (soccer for the monoglots out there). During our morning walk we passed by the hotel where in 1973 a bank robber held four people captive for six days. When the hostages were finally released, none of them would testify against the robber. In fact, they began raising money for his defense. This bizarre turn of events led to the coining of the phrase “Stockholm Syndrome” to describe the affection that can arise between hostages and captors.

I found this deeply confusing. I’m pretty sure that I’ve been enjoying myself. I mean, it’s been a great trip so far. But have I *really* had fun? Or have I just begun to sympathize with Julie’s plans for me?!

Speaking of captors, as we walked we stumbled on a large demonstration in support of Ukraine and opposing the Russian invasion.

Soon it was time to head to the soccer game!

We had great seats, and the die-hard fans were singing songs that we did the best to mimic without sounding too much like the Swedish chef.

After the the game, we took the train back to our hotel to start packing for the return trip. There had been an outbreak of covid at Lydie’s summer program, with a number of students having to head home. It was time for us to get back to the US.

Evidently, SAS Airlines had other ideas. While we were packing, we were informed that due to the pilot strike, our flight was cancelled. We scrambled trying to get another flight, but couldn’t find anything. I ran to the train station to see if we could get a train to Copenhagen. No luck. Literally all of the trains were sold out. SAS told us that the would keep working on flights for us. Maybe we could get a flight on another airline. With nothing else to do, we headed to dinner. We had to accept that our plans were up in the air in a way that our flight very much was not. (Julie handled the uncertainty better than I did).

We soon found a restaurant by the water and got a couple of beers. Life started to feel a little less topsy-turvey. There are far worse things than being stuck in Stockholm in July.

We knew we wouldn’t be leaving early the morning, so we had some time to kill. We wandered back towards our hotel, swinging through the city hall we saw a couple of days before from the water. This is where a reception is held every year for Nobel laureates.

We went to bed worried, but still happy. It would work out, we just weren’t sure how.

-Will