A Day of Shared Discoveries

Today, I had the pleasure of reuniting with a colleague from the ProGen genealogy course we took together last year. We chose to spend our day at Skansen, the world's oldest open-air museum, nestled on Stockholm's picturesque island of Djurgården. Established in 1891 by Artur Hazelius, Skansen is a living testament to Swedish culture and history. As we strolled through the grounds, we were transported to the earlier years of Swedish history, marveling at the carefully reconstructed historical buildings from various regions of Sweden. Farmhouses, a quaint church, a school, and a towering bell tower were all relocated from different parts of Sweden and reconstructed on-site.

We also traveled through the historic districts of Stockholm together pausing during the beautiful sunlit day for a refreshing beverage. Much of our time was spent discussing and delving into our shared interest in genealogy. Poor Jeff, what a trooper he was! While he undoubtedly appreciated the architectural details of the buildings we encountered and contributed a few of his insights along the way, I'm fairly sure he wasn't as enthused about our in-depth discussions on citations, research reports, the restrictive use of AI in genealogy, and the rigorous process of becoming credentialed in the field.

One thing is certain, though: we both thoroughly enjoyed our typical Swedish luncheon on a bridge overlooking the waterway. The meal consisted of a savory meat patty seasoned with onion sauce, topped with a delicious dill pickle, and served with butterly boiled potatoes. Paired with a glass of Merlot, it was the perfect conclusion to a fantastic day spent with my friend Anna during our short stay in Stockholm.