Difference between revisions of "Sweden"

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<map lat='62' lng='15' zoom='5' view='0' float='right' height='550'/>
 
<map lat='62' lng='15' zoom='5' view='0' float='right' height='550'/>
'''Sweden''' is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]]. Many say that hitching in Sweden sucks. But it works too! As anywhere in Western [[Europe]], the motorways are the holy temples of car driving religion and someone standing on them is committing blasphemy. But you can hitch on the on ramps. Better bring a good map, so that you won´t find yourself in an impossible place.
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'''Sweden''' is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]]. Many say that hitching in Sweden sucks. But it works too! As anywhere in Western [[Europe]], the motorways are the holy temples of car driving religion and someone standing on them is committing blasphemy. But you can hitch on the highway ramps as well as on local roads. Better bring a good map, though, so that you won´t end up in an unexpected place.
  
[[Image:Gas_station_in_Sweden.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A big van, a group of Germans heading north and Erga, on a gas station on the E4 towards [[Stockholm]]]]
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[[Image:Gas_station_in_Sweden.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A big van driven by a group of Germans, and Israeli hitch-hiker Erga (on the left) on a gas station on the E4 towards [[Stockholm]]]]
You'd better not practice your Swedish if you're not very good at it. Almost everyone speaks English and people look at you in a weird way if your Swedish is kind of funny.
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There is no special need of practicing your Swedish since almost everyone speaks English there.
  
 
== Cities ==
 
== Cities ==
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* [[Stockholm]]
 
* [[Stockholm]]
 
* [[Lund]]
 
* [[Lund]]
== Border crossing ==
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== Crossing the border ==  
Sweden is in the [[Schengen treaty]]. This treaty is rather well respected at the Finnish and Norwegian borders but often violated at the ports where the ships from [[Denmark]] land or at the bridge from [[Copenhagen]]. Swedish customs are known to easily harass people of other races. They also enjoy doing strip searches without substantial reasons that are required by the rules. If such services are offered to you on the expense of Swedish tax payers, tell the customs that you´ll contact the parliamentary ombudsman later. However, the experience has shown that the parliamentary ombudsman is not interested.
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Sweden is in the [[Schengen treaty]]. This treaty is rather well respected at the Finnish and Norwegian borders but has stricter regulations at the terminals where ferries from [[Denmark]] port, or at the bridge uniting [[Copenhagen]] with Malmö. Stricter control and special attention is usually applied to those of other races. If you get unlucky, you might be made to strip during their search. The reasons of such strict control derive from the Sweden's specific economic situation (incl. high taxes on alcohol, tobacco, etc.) which attracts a number of smugglers, and a high-standard social security system which is a target of illegal immigrants.
  
[[Image:Gas station north from Gavle in Sweden.JPG|thumb|250px|left|Gas station with a lake, North from Gavle]]
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[[Image:Gas station north from Gavle in Sweden.JPG|thumb|250px|left|Gas station by the lake, North from [[Gävle]]]]
  
 
==Camping==
 
==Camping==

Revision as of 17:23, 6 November 2008

<map lat='62' lng='15' zoom='5' view='0' float='right' height='550'/> Sweden is a member state of the European Union as well as the Schengen Agreement. Many say that hitching in Sweden sucks. But it works too! As anywhere in Western Europe, the motorways are the holy temples of car driving religion and someone standing on them is committing blasphemy. But you can hitch on the highway ramps as well as on local roads. Better bring a good map, though, so that you won´t end up in an unexpected place.

A big van driven by a group of Germans, and Israeli hitch-hiker Erga (on the left) on a gas station on the E4 towards Stockholm

There is no special need of practicing your Swedish since almost everyone speaks English there.

Cities

Crossing the border

Sweden is in the Schengen treaty. This treaty is rather well respected at the Finnish and Norwegian borders but has stricter regulations at the terminals where ferries from Denmark port, or at the bridge uniting Copenhagen with Malmö. Stricter control and special attention is usually applied to those of other races. If you get unlucky, you might be made to strip during their search. The reasons of such strict control derive from the Sweden's specific economic situation (incl. high taxes on alcohol, tobacco, etc.) which attracts a number of smugglers, and a high-standard social security system which is a target of illegal immigrants.

Gas station by the lake, North from Gävle

Camping

Ready to sleep - a pitched tent outside the road in northern Sweden.

There is a one night's law in Sweden which allows a traveler to camp one night anywhere he wants.