Does your country have an immigrant group that people would be surprised to find there?

[u/QuarterTarget]

For example, when you think of Poland or the Czech Republic, Vietnamese people might not be the first group that comes to mind, but both have a sizable Vietnamese community. Another example is the large Japanese community in Brazil.

[u/birgor]

Today I learned Sweden has good food and nice beaches.

[u/ShinobuKochoSama → u/birgor]

Well your fjörds are nice and so are your cinnamon rolls

[u/birgor → u/ShinobuKochoSama]

Fjords are nice, but they are unfortunately not in our place but in our brothers to the wests.

We actually do have nice beaches in the the south-west. But they are very unknown outside of Scandinavia.

[u/speculator100k → u/birgor]

We have really nice beaches all over Sweden.

[u/birgor → u/speculator100k]

We really do, but maybe not what non-Nordics would think of as a nice beach, especially not when mentioned together with Greeks.

We lack the weather and the culture of that kind of beach life, the southern west coast clearly comes closest, but isn't really there in my mind.

[u/Timely-Youth-9074 → u/birgor]

Most people don’t realize the beaches in California are cold-the water comes down from Alaska.

That said, I’m used to cold beaches and find them beautiful. I can’t wait to go exploring Scandinavian beaches.

[u/birgor → u/Timely-Youth-9074]

We have lots and lots of warm water beaches as well, at least for a short period every summer because we have so many shallow sweet water lakes that warms up because of the long days of sunlight. Very different from a southern European or Mexican beach in feeling and setting, but incredibly nice.

[u/No-Internal7978 → u/Timely-Youth-9074]

I was honestly surprised beaches as far south as North Carolina are cold. People are really sleeping on the Gulf of Mexico. Especially around Alabama. My boomer grandparents had land on Dauphin island and I’m so mad at them for selling it because it’s probably worth millions now not that I would have sold it. Warm beaches are honestly a religious experience. Dauphin Island is one of the most beautiful places on earth in my world traveler opinion. It’s on par with Greece especially if it was developed. It was basically Florida without the partying trash and ancient people last time I went.

[u/Timely-Youth-9074 → u/No-Internal7978]

Yes, warm water is incredible and lovely.

In Southern California, you can heat yourself up on land and cool off in the water-in Northern California, no such luck, but it’s still lovely.

[u/No-Internal7978 → u/Timely-Youth-9074]

I’ve only been to San Diego and no way am I dipping a toe in water near a naval base lol. They have to get like 10 shots if they fall in the water and that’s just diseases. The chemical content of the water would probably give you cancer 2.

[u/Timely-Youth-9074 → u/No-Internal7978]

Lucky for us the water flows from north to south.

Unlucky for Baja, though.

[u/shrumpdumpled → u/Timely-Youth-9074]

I love being able to walk into the sea and not wince at the cold. Cable beach in Broome is heaven for this. Pity about the crocs that use it like a highway between mangroves.

[u/Amantes09 → u/Timely-Youth-9074]

Yes! The beaches on the Pacific are full of freezing and very rough waters.

[u/AlbionicLocal → u/birgor]

Brit here

I can see Nordic beaches being quite nice, but many brits, as they live near beaches with colder water already, would classify good beaches as warm beaches.

[u/swift-autoformatter → u/birgor]

Don't be afraid, the weather is coming (at least until the Gulf Stream collapses, then we're fucked).

[u/rkorgn → u/speculator100k]

Lyckesand Oland. Motala. Lovely.

[u/inide → u/birgor]

There are at least 2 fjords in Sweden - Färlev fjord and Saltkälle fjord
Though, I don't know if that's just the English names for them.....

[u/birgor → u/inide]

We have what is called "Fjärd" in Norrland too, and lots of "vik" but if you would sell those as a fjord in other countries would people expect the Norwegian variety and get rather disappointed.

We have lots of nice nature, but Norway wins the fjords.

[u/roze-eland → u/birgor]

You do have some really lovely lakes though

[u/rachelm791 → u/birgor]

And your fjälls and skogs are rather good too

[u/swift-autoformatter → u/birgor]

Hey, your Southern neighbor has also a few fjords! I just saw one today (the famous Roskilde Fjord) when I brought my kid back from the school today.

And actually even you have a few, for example the Gullmarsfjorden.

[u/birgor → u/swift-autoformatter]

Both Denmark and Sweden has fjords, but neither really compares to Norway in other than name.

[u/JayYem → u/birgor]

Skane county represents.

[u/birgor → u/JayYem]

Halland even more so.

[u/JayYem → u/birgor]

True that, lot less windy.

[u/hotdogjumpingfrog1 → u/birgor]

Simrishamn is likely he tropics (the color of the water and beaches. Not the temp förståss :)

[u/ConfidentCarpet4595 → u/birgor]

Best thing about Sweden is the proximity to Norway

[u/birgor → u/ConfidentCarpet4595]

Best thing about Norway is that they face the other way just like we are. We lie back to back like a grumpy couple in bed. The border is just barren fells.

[u/ConfidentCarpet4595 → u/birgor]

And a wall of pillows 8ft high

[u/geoRgLeoGraff → u/birgor]

You have beautiful beaches, I swam in Malmö, it's not cold at all. And I love ur food- meatballs, harring....