“Travels to a Different Time” : 28June1975: Stockholm, Sweden: Seeing the King of Sweden and the Arguing Gay Boys

Up at 9:30 in my slum which at least has hot water in their showers. On my way to the supermarket to buy some breakfast supplies approached by yet another drunk of which there are many in Stockholm. I bought some bread, cheap meat and a litre of milk. The price was so outrageous I can’t write it down. I ate breakfast sitting on the edge of my bed and then walked into the city encountering a huge mob of people. I waited with the mob and then saw why so many people were there. I saw the King of Sweden. I split and walked around. Lots of small winding streets very narrow and full of expensive shops and restaurants. I checked a few restaurants to query if they had work but only one did and it was a waiter’s job and since I do not speak Swedish forget that! On the way back to my tenement I stopped for a lunch of a Big Mac, milkshake and fries for $3.50. How expensive! I could have the same in Montreal for $1.50. Back at three I washed some clothes and lamented the difficulty of living out of a knapsack. Next door are a couple of gay guys from United States asking each other the most stupid questions. A nasty blow out ensued. They left shortly afterwards. I left at 19:30 and bought some milk, bread and meat. Milk is the cheapest thing to drink at 35 cents a litre. I went to play harmonica along with a guy with a guitar from New Zealand. Off to bed at 21:30.