long distance skating

Skating seemed to be the activity of choice for a significant population of Stockholm's outdoorsy type. Already out on the ice I had in mind that my Facebook status update would read that I had strapped on my long blades for the first time in a few years. Several of my FB friends had beat me to it so I got to make comments like "Me too" on their status. Though feeling far from original I eventually posted my outdoor achievement.

The teachers at dagis were also out on the ice this weekend and the morning polite banter revolved around ice skating. Some had skated on Saturday in no wind and beautiful January sunshine and others (like us) braved the wind and overcast skies for a first-time-out-in-ages glide.

It's amusing to consider what a frozen lake signifies in Sweden when compared to a cosmopolitan upbringing in a warning-sign oriented USA. Here people speak lovingly of good ice (smooth and without snow) and prevailing winds for tail-wind journeys of long distance outings, while in the greater Boston area, venturing onto an icecovered lake is on par with the recklessness of running with scissors.

Now that we live walking distance to Stockholm's most popular skating lake, it might be time for an investment in a better pair of skates.