Nov 20th, 2009 at 4:30PM: Two North Korean diplomats tried to claim diplomatic immunity when they were arrested in Stockholm for smuggling cigarettes.
The man and woman, who were caught driving their tobacco-filled car off a ferry from Helsinki, have been taken into police custody. Apparently, they have diplomatic status in Russia, but no accreditation in Sweden. Also, they allegedly had 230,000 Russian cigarettes.
...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Sweden posts
Two North Korean diplomats arrested for smuggling
Nov 20th, 2009 at 4:30PM: Two North Korean diplomats tried to claim diplomatic immunity when they were arrested in Stockholm for smuggling cigarettes.
The man and woman, who were caught driving their tobacco-filled car off a ferry from Helsinki, have been taken into police custody. Apparently, they have diplomatic status in Russia, but no accreditation in Sweden. Also, they allegedly had 230,000 Russian cigarettes.
...Through the Gadling Lens: photographing skies
Oct 1st, 2009 at 11:00AM: Oh, how I'd love to regale you with my brilliant photographic skills in capturing the sky's majesty!
I'd love to, but I can't.
For some reason, I'm really, really horrid when it comes to shooting skies. Oh, I can manage to get a good sunset photo here and there, and occasionally my blue skies appear shockingly blue, but the truth is that for the most part, I get by with a little help from ...June 4 trial date for American journalists in North Korea
The Daily Show on a Socialist Sweden
Record influx of visitors to U.S. in 2008
Mar 26th, 2009 at 1:00PM: Last year, 58 million international visitors came to the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. That's an increase of nearly 4 percent from 2007. To sweeten it up a bit, 13 of the top 25 arrivals markets saw new records set. In the last month of the year, nearly 4 million people came here from abroad – down 7 percent. The fourth quarter was down 6 percent ...Ten Great Unknown Treks
Mar 20th, 2009 at 9:00AM: Every adventure traveler knows about the Inca Trail or the Annapurna Circuit. They're amongst the best known hikes in the world, and the amount of traffic on those trails reflects that. While they both offer amazing scenery and a great travel experience, that experience can be tempered by the crowds. Thankfully, Backpacker is here to offer us ten great unknown treks, a list of outstanding long ...Sweden's Ice Hotel to offer trips to space
Mar 18th, 2009 at 5:00PM: The famous Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, will soon begin offering trips to space. Yes, space. Hotel officials have announced a partnership with Virgin Galactic in which it will begin selling tickets for the company's space trips, which will blast off from nearby Kiruna, Sweden, as early as 2012. Guests will have to pony up at least $200,000 for a flight to space. But they'll have choice: ...Travel sans visa coming for European, Caribbean, Mauritius, and Seychelles nationals
Feb 13th, 2009 at 2:00PM: A mutual agreement allowing Europeans, nationals from four Caribbean countries, and citizens of two island nations in the Indian Ocean is expected to be passed and approved by the end of March, which will allow for hassle-free and smoother travel. If you hold a passport from any of the following countries, it means you're that much more free to travel between those listed sans visa: Austria, ...Love in the air - Germans most likely to flirt, Swedes most likely to have sex
Feb 12th, 2009 at 10:30AM: It's the most romantic time of the year - which means companies are releasing all kinds of love related news and surveys. The latest comes from British Airways, who did a quick interview of European travelers, and how often they flirt with their fellow passengers. According to the survey, Germans are the most likely to try and hit on you in the sky, followed by the Swiss. The "passionate" ...Clean living in Stockholm
Jan 21st, 2009 at 9:00AM: Scandinavians are recognized as being on the cutting edge of environmentally-friendly innovation. Nowhere is this clearer than at Hammarby Sjöstad, a community of apartments in Stockholm designed to reduce carbon footprint and generally enable clean living. Large windows make the most of sunlight, especially in the summer, and carefully planned logistics – down to trash pickup schedules ...The new face of army food
Jan 11th, 2009 at 5:00PM: The U.S. Culinary Arts Team ... yes, there is such a thing ... faced an incredible challenge. The team had to cook 150 three-course meals in six hours without the benefit of a real kitchen. The crew had to work "in the field" – as the army calls being away from the plumbing, walls and heat of the barracks – which is never an easy task. The IKA/Culinary Olympics, which occurred back in ...Keep busy with 44 travel ideas
Jan 10th, 2009 at 2:00PM: If the entire world is too much from which to choose, take a look at The 44 Places to Go in 2009 suggested by the New York Times. Some are obvious, such as Reykjavik, which was been on everyone's mind 2008. Others are easy, including Washington D.C. Our nation's capital has plenty of hotels (including the funky Hotel Helix, photo at right), great public transportation and access via two major ...Hotel Hellsten a must in Stockholm
Jan 4th, 2009 at 9:00AM: You expect a certain sleekness when you step into a Scandinavian hotel. The region is known for its nascent design talent, and a pedestrian property would detract from your experience. To get the full flavor of Stockholm, park yourself at the Hotel Hellsten. Comfort and style come together easily in these boutique digs. You'll close your eyes in the warmth of a soft bed and open them to slick ...Baghdad airport welcomes first European passenger flight in 18 years
Jan 3rd, 2009 at 11:00AM: 18 years after the United Nations imposed a ban on all commercial air traffic destined for Iraq, a Swedish charter plane has landed at Baghdad International Airport. The charter was operated by Nordic Leisure and their 150 passengers were mostly Iraqis. This is just the beginning of what should become a fairly popular route, as many Iraqis are in Europe waiting to return to their homeland. ...Photo of the Day (11/06/08)
Nov 6th, 2008 at 9:00PM: Fiznatty does it again with today's Photo of the Day. This shot, taken in northern Sweden, just screams winter, doesn't it? He used a 25 second exposure and 'painted' the bath house with a flashlight while the shutter was open. I like how the northern lights shoot upward above the house, almost as if the heat from the bath house generated the glow. Having grown up in Alaska, I've seen this kind ...Rat causes a 3-hour power outage in Stockholm
Apr 7th, 2008 at 11:20AM: The year of the Rat has been going well so far. Rats have been getting more attention than ever. At least on Gadling. At least by me.
It warmed my heart to see that yet another rat got into the spotlight lately. On Saturday morning, a giant rat had apparently sneaked into a signal box in the Sheraton Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden and caused it to short-circuit. The rat was electrocuted and ...One for the Road: The Palace of the Snow Queen
Oct 21st, 2007 at 10:02AM: I've had a copy of this book for awhile, but unfortunately have not had a chance to read it yet. However, I want to let you know about Barbara Sjoholm's new book now, because she's got an event coming up this week. The Palace of the Snow Queen is a travel narrative that follows the author through Sweden, Finland and other parts of Lapland. Sjoholm visits the Ice Hotel in Kiruna, takes part in ...A City on the Move. Literally.
Jan 14th, 2007 at 10:06AM: Countries sometimes have to make unusual decisions to preserve their cultural heritage. Sweden's northernmost town of Kiruna, for example, will move its city center a few miles away. It needs to save it from sinking into the ground because of some underground cracks created by iron ore mining.
Moving some buildings is harder than others. The city hall, for one thing, needs to be cut it into six ...Word for the Travel Wise (06/09/06)
Jun 9th, 2006 at 8:00PM: Alas, the World Cup games have arrived and it was a sad day for both Polish fans and Costa Rica's Ticos that stormed over to Munich to support their teams. I was fortunate enough to stay inside and watch a good portion of each game, but the one I'm really hoping to see is Trinidad & Tobago vs. Sweden tomorrow. With Trinidad & Tobago being one of the smallest nations in history to qualify ...
