My dear Gérard,

As usual, since I last wrote to you, a lot has happened.  If you remember, I was due to land at Malmö and actually I posted my letter there to you on my arrival.   That afternoon (Monday the 10th) I spent looking round the town.  It was only late afternoon before I finally decided to 'hit' the road.  At 5 pm a car (Chevrolet) with occupants - driver and 2 ladies - pulled up and via the east coast drove me 105 miles to Kristianstad and dropped me at the door of the Vandrarhem (YH); they told me to call at their hotel the next morning at 10 am and they would take me all the way to Kalmar (120 miles).  Well, that's exactly what happened.  We stopped for a dip in the Baltic followed by a sun-bathe (these Swedes are a terror for getting a tan).  Then the most terrific Swedish lunch (I'll try to be as brief as possible):  I began with 2 glasses of milk, 3 separate platefuls of smörregås - first with different sorts of meat, then with different sorts of sea delicacies, and thirdly with different kinds of cheese.  After having acquitted myself well, I was shocked to find that the main meal was yet to arrive - fried strömming (special Baltic herring) with vegetables and potatoes.  During this repast we swilled down first Pilsener and then red vinbare 'snapps'.  Finally, black coffee - and I certainly needed it to wash down everything.   That night they put me down at the Kalmar STF and after they had given me their address in Stockholm - the gentleman is a Sport's Shop owner - I said goodbye.

Wednesday morning I spent looking round the castle and in the afternoon, without event, covered the 120 miles to Jönköping.  Thursday 12 noon a young Swede drove me all the way to Örebro, invited me to lunch on the way (roast pork), put me down at the Örebro STF where I booked in, and then drove me to his parents' country home 30 km away on Lake Hjälmaren, where I was treated as if I had been a friend of the family for years - plenty of food and drink.

Next morning I met my first bit of bad luck, and a good thing too - it had been much too easy so far.  Suffice it to say, it took me 2 days to get to Stockholm.   I immediately paid my respects to the shopowner, who promptly invited me over for the weekend to his country home just outside Stockholm, situated amongst hundreds of islands.  (Most well-to-do Swedes have this double establishment, 9 months in the city and 3 months, usually summer, in the country.)

Those 2 days were really unforgettable, especially trips in the family motorboat.  Monday I was driven back to the city, where after some trouble I got a place in the famous ship av Chapman owned by the YH there.  After 2 days in Stockholm, I definitely preferred Copenhagen and still do.

On Tuesday travelled to old University town of Uppsala, followed in the evening by long lift to Bollnäs, a total of 175 miles.  I was too late, however, for the STF (closes at 10 pm), so I spent the night on the station - nothing like Bath (in England): even though it's so out of the way, it has a centrally-heated waiting room.  Next day (Wednesday) was the worst so far in Sweden.  Only in the late evening did I obtain a lift of 110 miles to Säter.  That particular day will go down in my diary as "Cursing Day".  Yesterday, I purposely stopped at Örebro to renew acquaintances with my Swedish benefactor.  After lunch with him and his younger brother, I did only 2 hours hitching (80 miles) to Karlstad.  Tomorrow, I hope to make Oslo - the only thing is that nearby all the hitch-hikers here seem to be doing the same thing.  Well, let's hope my lucky star is still shining brightly.

24 August 1953:
[Back in Sweden.]  On Saturday obtained through lift to Oslo in a car occupied by 3 Norwegian brothers.  Stopped for very good lunch on the way.  All the time I was in Oslo, it poured with rain, so I didn't feel inclined to go about much.   However, managed Kon-Tiki and Fram ships, the ultra-modern Town Hall and the Sculpture Park.  Went round with 2 Dutch boys (both 21) most of the time.  This morning, had a series of short lorry lifts in very bad weather.  However, completed 150 km.  Due to eating expense in Sweden, run out of money; will have to find work tomorrow for 2 days before continuing on to Goteborg.  That's all for now.

Yours ever,

Azim

POST CARD from Baden-Baden
17 September 1953

Dear Gérard,

I know I haven't written to you since Sweden.  However, after spending 4 days in Frankfurt, I'm making for Strasbourg and, of course, Lyon.  Should be there for the weekend.  On my way back to Germany I spent another 5 days in Copenhagen, all very delightful.  Joachim sends you his regards from Hamburg.

Be seeing you,

Azim