Sweden in town

Me, Mum, Sis, and Theo burning the Bird in Harpers Ferry

Busy city/office life swept me away since my return from island time Puerto Rico, but most importantly I got visit from my mum, my sister Karin and her 6 month old, Theo, all the way from Sweden for a week over Thanksgiving.

Enjoying the last fall colors in end of November, Druid Hill Park

Just a few days before their arrival Baltimore was still dressed in fall colors and I was pretty happy that they would get a well needed break from the Swedish Winter. The very day of their arrival all the leaves came down and it got Swedish (very) cold. Fortunately they were well prepared and we had a great week exploring the surroundings and celebrating a big family American Thanksgiving at my colleague Tim's house out on the country side. That was lucky because just about everything else was pretty much like Sweden, including the weather. I had not quite realized how much of a Swedish bubble we have created at home. Our food is a mix of IKEA imports and home made Swedish baking and cooking, even our American roommate Andrew is eating herring for breakfast... Fortunately we were able to satisfy sis and mums need for Cheesecake, muffins, waffels, pancakes and other Americanized sweets at the local coffee shops

WARNING: The rest of the blog have a slight touch of "proud uncle syndrom" so If you don't like baby pictures stop reading now

Theo taking another nap after his first flight ever from far away Sweden
(apparently everything was way to exiting to sleep during the flight)

A cold walk around the neighborhood

Warming up for Thanksgiving football

Touchdown!

Mum making new friends

Chris taking aim at the big bird

Karin in sweet heaven

Yes, I could not move or breath after this dinner. As expected. Still I had another piece of that delicious key lime pie above. 

Hiking Maryland Hight, Harpers Ferry, the following day in a crisp sunny winter day. Good time for a nap.

Coffee break with a view! The Shannendoa and Potomac river meeting up in the background.

Fresh expresso on site.

Hungry little monster after another long sleep in the fresh air

Washington, DC next

Theo charming the president

Karin and President Lincoln

Checking out his view

Parking the Theo fast food truck on Lincoln's stairs

Two exited guys at the Air and Space museum, DC

City sightseeing trip a couple of blocks from Hopkins School of Public Health

The highlight of the trip

Baltimore Harbor

Last night of their trip the "Wonder on 34th Street" in our neighborhood turned their light on. Good timing!

The following day after their departure I attended a conference at the... Swedish Embassy. The Swedish Agency for Water Environment (HaV) had arranged a seminar in "the Economics of the Oceans" to promote blue growth and sustainable use of the seas. There was a great turn out of NOAA folks and many other organizations that reside in DC. Aside of inspiring talks how to move forward with the environmental challenges in Chesapeake bay and the Baltic Sea, I got to connect with my Swedish Colleagues who were surprised to find a Swede working among the NOAA folks.

The Economics of the Ocean Conference, Swedish Embassy

On my way home from the embassy there was a Norwegian Christmas Tree celebration at Union Station serving free Glögg and Ginger bread (and a sit on Santas lap). I got on the train on a glögg induced sugar high and fell asleep while listening to P3 (Swedish NPR) streaming live on my phone. When I woke up an hour later I was quite surprised to find myself in the US