Ship Ahoy

As some may now, but some others may be blissfully unaware of, I live in in the suburbs of Stockholm - the beautiful capital of Sweden. That is Sweden, not Switzerland. I am convinced Switzerland is a lovely place to live, but I have no desire to do so.

Swedes are, at times, a funny nationality. We are very proud of our frog leaping round the May Pole, our sing-songy crayfish parties and our tax funded welfare system but these are not the most Swedish of phenomena - the booze cruising is!


If we live on the east coast we tend to cruise over to Finland, or more importantly Åland. A small island between Finland and Sweden which is one of Europe's few remaining duty free zones. You're allowed to buy booze and fags on the ferries are rock bottom (harumph!) prices.


Strangely enough these cruises seem to bring out the very worst in man. People who would under normal circumstances most certainly be perfectly respectable citizens suddenly turn into moronic chavs who you'd think had never before left the trailer park. Seriously, some of the people you come across on these ferries really make you fear for the human race!


Are these the hope of the new generation and the pride of the old? Do these people actually exist in the real world?


Then again, who am I to judge? I've been making a prat of myself on those boats too. Though in a much more stylish and respectable way - of course!