Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sverige
Scandinavia's heartland, Sweden is far bigger than Denmark and far flatter
than Norway. This family-friendly land is home to Ikea, Volvo, WikiLeaks,
ABBA, and long summer vacations at red-painted, white-trimmed summer
cottages. Its capital, Stockholm, is Scandinavia's grandest city.
Once the capital of blond, Sweden is now home to a huge immigrant pop-
ulation. Sweden is committed to its peoples' safety and security, and proud
of its success in creating a society with the lowest poverty rate in the world.
Yet Sweden has thrown in its lot with the European Union, and locals debate
whether to open their economy even further.
Swedesareoftenstereotyped assex-crazed, whichcouldnotbefurtherfrom
the truth. Several steamy films and film stars from the 1950s and 1960s stuck
Sweden with the sexpot stereotype, which still reverberates among male tour-
ists. Italians continue to travel up to Sweden looking for those braless, loose,
and lascivious blondes...but the real story is that Sweden simply relaxed film
censorship earlier than other European countries. Like other Scandinavians,
Swedes are frank and open about sexuality. Sex education in schools is routine,
living together before marriage is the norm (and has been common for centur-
ies), and teenagers have easy access to condoms. But Swedes, who are the most
unmarried people in the world, choose their partners carefully.
