When visiting friends abroad, I am always fascinated by learning about the neighborhood they live in because often times it is off the beaten track or overlooked by guidebooks or top ten places to see.  I thought I would introduce you to my neighborhood today, Nacka, as by the end of the month I will have a new place to call home, Sundbyberg.  I live in the kommun (municipality) of Nacka, which is located on the south side of Stockholm.  My actual location is Finntorp, which is about a ten minute bus ride into the city.  For those of you who have been to Stockholm, I am quite close to Sicka.  Sickla is a newer part of Nacka that boasts a large shopping center, many offices, and quite new apartment buildings with many new buildings under construction now.

One of the best parts about living here is the nature!  I love that in five minutes I can be in Järlasjön (Järla lake).  It's perfect in the summertime to go lay out on the docks and get some sun and being able to cool off in the lake.  In the winter you are able to ice skate and ski on it as well.  I spent many wonderful summer days laying out lazily reading books, studying Swedish and falling asleep to the sounds of the lake.  If I walk a little further, I will end up in Nackareservatet (Nacka Nature Reserve) where there are many trails where you can go for a hike or a nice long walk.  Throughout the reserve you can find many small lakes perfect for taking a break from hiking or enjoying a picnic with friends.  There is even a nine hole golf course within it! 

During the winter you will naturally find people cross-country skiing and skating on the lakes.  From my place, it is about a ten minute walk to the Saltsjöbanen, a suburban rail system that takes you out to Saltsjöbaden (The Salt Sea Baths).  Within twenty-five minutes you are transported to the sea!  Most beaches near the sea in Stockholm are unfortunately not sandy, but are instead rocky and cliff-like.  Saltsjöbaden has a little bit of everything, a big grassy field with a small sandy area near the water, but it is mostly made up of rocks.  So the secret for a great day at the beach is to find yourself an empty rock and set up camp for the day.  From the rocks you can just jump/dive in anytime you like.  It is a very different experience than lying out on the sand but yet it is one of the most relaxing moments I have had here in Sweden!  I highly recommend it!  This makes me look forward to summer even more!

Talia is the Sweden Editor for Wandering Educators