Update: Still in Sweden 112905

Hello,
Just wanted to give everyone a quick update. I have been working with Claron's friend, Aaron, to come up with a lovely trip for the week after Christmas. I will keep everyone up to date on what we find. Right now, I think we are down to Catalina, Rosarito, or San Felipe (on the Sea of Cortez in Mexico).
I am feeling much better today. No more coughing or fevers. I still have some sort of stomach virus though. I'm thinking positive though. This stomach virus is definitely helps to make me ready for the beach!
Tomorrow, I have to go to the Russian consulate to get my visa for Russia. Hopefully, it will be okay. Having previously dealt with Russian bureaucracy, I am skeptical. Keeping this in mind, I am set to be home (Los Angeles) some time the weekend of 10 December-- barring of course any difficulties with the Russian gov't. I have to fly back to London then to LA. It also looks like there will be some sort of layover with that trip as well. When I get home, I am still not sure where I am scheduled… the joys of consulting!
OK… so, here are more positives and negatives for my Sweden trip.
Positives:
The bathroom floor of my hotel room is heated!
Everyone leaves at 5 p.m. and expects you to do the same.
Everyone is super nice.
They take credit cards everywhere. (And, all over Europe, they bring the credit card machine to your restaurant table!)
They have the coolest coffee machine ever. (Yes, I know I don't drink coffee. I can't even stand the smell, but it is quite interesting to watch this machine. It grinds, then brews and shows you the whole process. It can also make tea and hot chocolate and add foam.)
I have a lovely view of the water and the snow covered inn from my room.
Everything has interesting design.
Bad UK fashion is not here (No tattered Eskimo or rumpled bag lady looks!).
I have yet to see a "faux-hawk".
MTV and Comedy Central are here. I watched Pimp My Ride, South Park and Chappelle Show last night! I also can watch Letterman. No more bad BBC mystery dramas!
Free wireless internet in the hotel. Trust me, this may sound small until you go to a hotel that only has dial up and charges you 15 pounds a day for it.
Super food! It may just be my hotel, but the food has been amazing, especially the bread. (Not that I've been able to eat too much. See above.)
Less smoking than in the UK.
Sweden has very health-minded and environmentally-conscious people.
Negatives:
The sun doesn't rise until 8:15 a.m. and sets at 3 p.m.
Ice!
There are no cash machines anywhere.
I can't figure the phone out at the hotel.
"Ice skating" to work.
The time difference is horrible!
Truths:
Yes, everything looks like Ikea. Yes, I have seen more Volvos than ever in my life. No, everyone is not blonde. Yes, those Ballerina cookies from Ikea are popular here. Yes, there are not many fat people. No, everyone is not tall. Yes, it is quite expensive. No, I have yet to see Swedish meatballs (this does not mean they are not here!).
Today I went to McDonald's for lunch. Yes, I know it is bad. But I find it interesting to go to Donald's around the world.
Back to work!
Amanda