CELEBRATING 80!
Our friend Josh, a Welshman, came to Sweden more than 50 years ago after studying at Oxford University. He became a professor at Uppsala University and never left. Josh and the Chief Penguin collaborated on battery research projects over the years. In honor of his 80th birthday and his long and fruitful career, colleagues and others organized the celebration we attended. We enjoyed an elaborate dinner with plenty of toasts and stories about Josh one night.
The next day was an all-day scientific symposium of talks by his friends and former students from England, Scotland, The Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, and the U.S. It took place at the Angstrom Laboratory on the university campus. The talks were enlivened with anecdotes and photos fleshing out Josh’s big personality, his warmth and kindness, and his dedication to having fun together as well as doing science. One Japanese scientist, a lone female in her research group at home, came to work with Josh in the1990’s, bringing her three young children with her. Josh located a preschool for the kids, and he and his wife hosted them at their home at Christmastime.
I sat in on the symposium, and in addition to hearing much more about beta alumina and sodium ion batteries, more fully appreciated Josh’s formative impact on his PhD students and their careers. It was also an opportunity for me to re-connect with French, British, and Swedish scientists I had met or hosted in our Swarthmore home decades ago.
ON TO STOCKHOLM
Uppsala’s train station is modern and a model of efficiency. Our hotel was just across the street so we were able to easily drag our luggage over, buy our tickets at the convenience store, and board the 10:44 train. The train left at precisely 10:44, made one stop, and arrived in the Stockholm central station 35 minutes later—the fast and expensive train, not really, just slightly more than the commuter one!
We got a taxi to our hotel, Villa Dagmar, and had just learned that even though it was before noon, our room was ready! At that point, the transaction halted as the hotel’s fire alarm went off. The desk staff proceeded to investigate the security panel; an announcement came over the loudspeaker; several people, not many, exited the front door; and eventually the alarm stopped. A man looking to be kitchen staff and wearing an apron appeared briefly. Had he or someone else burned the toast?
EXPLORING & DINING
The hotel is very comfortable and quiet. After lunch in the adjacent food hall, we explored the neighboring streets, noted the many boats in the inlet, and wandered in a small park. For dinner, we opted for The Garden restaurant in the courtyard.
Our tasty meal was to the tune of blaring loud music midst a crowd of attractive young Swedes enjoying their Friday evening out. Thankfully, our room above has triple pane windows and nary a sound or note was heard when we retired.
Breakfast is included with the room, and we presented ourselves at the dining room at 7:30, the weekend opening time. A buffet of fruits, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, meats and cheeses, and the like was on offer along with a printed menu of cooked dishes. We made ourselves plates from the buffet and looked around and looked around, but we could see no bread or rolls, staples of Swedish cuisine.
I inquired if there was bread, only to be told that there is a bakery on the floor below, and the bread was stuck in the lift! The staff expected the issue to be resolved in about 15 minutes; did we want a hot dish in the meantime? The Chief Penguin ordered and enjoyed a lovely ham and cheese omelette.
Eventually, someone delivered me a piece of toast. And then, some delectable croissants and dainty cinnamon rolls appeared on the buffet. Problem solved. In the meantime, at least three different staff checked on us, asking if everything was alright and did we want anything else. An adventure at breakfast with excellent pastries and omelette and brewed tea (no tea bags!). I think we’ll stay for another day or two!
Note: All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)
Stop all the chit chat of the baker delights is driving me crazy here in Spain.
However, the best croissant I ever had was in a cafe opposite a sort of Japanese hotel I stayed in many years ago in San Fran. Just reading your blog puts kilos on my waist!