"We are free artists outside" is about the only English sentence you can find that describes the Malmö Streets Project, but it's all you'll need. The images speak for themselves.

Malmö, Sweden is home to a guerrilla beautification project that works with a ubiquitous element of urban life: The sidewalk. A group of artists have taken to pulling up the tiles that compose the city's walkways, and has replaced them with various vibrant works of art that range from decorative to compositions with a message.

Some have text blurbs--like the aforementioned "We are free artists outside"--while others add color, icons or pictures to the concrete sea of gray and red squares. It goes to show that street art doesn't always have to be big and bold.

Related Stories:
· Malmö Streets Project [Official Site]
· The Malmö Streets Project [Wooster Collective]
· Street Art coverage [Jaunted]]]> Dan Gould 2008-10-09T12:30:41-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/28/143541/030

We have to admit, this Labor Day weekend's movie releases are a little on the slim side, so don't slight us for recommending Vin Diesel! We're more into Babylon A.D.'s mindless action and its interesting mix of other names, including Michelle Yeoh, Charlotte Rampling and even Gérard Depardieu.

Babylon A.D. is the story of a mercenary assigned to escort a woman from Russia to America. Miraculously unbeknownst to him, she is hosting an organism wanted by a cult in order to produce a genetically modified Messiah. (Happens every day people...) We hear this one is all action and has, um, similar plot points to other popular films, but hey, it's an easy way to cool off in theaters on a hot summer afternoon.

While the film was shot in countries all over Europe, we've decided to pick out some cool things to see and do in one of our favorite spots, Sweden.]]> sedona 2008-08-29T09:00:49-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/24/144610/209

The ol' "I'll just hide in your suitcase" routine will no longer be an acceptable airport joke: A Swedish comedy troupe was able to check a dwarf at Stockholm's Bromma Airport, scaring the bananas out of check-in agents when the cargo escaped.

The troupe was filming a stunt for a show on Sweden's Kanal 5 in which an extra-heavy suitcase was brought into the airport and checked. Staff were "shocked and humiliated" but have decided not to press charges--but it's probably best not to hum "I'm Gonna Mail Myself To You" anywhere in Sweden for the next few months. (Checking your baby is also not endorsed by Jaunted.)

One thing we still don't know: Whether the dwarf hopped out to pay checked-bag fees on himself.

Related Stories:
· Dwarf Comedy Stunt Shocks Swedish Airport Staff [Canoe.ca]
· Sweden Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: geckotales]]]> egw 2008-07-24T16:00:22-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/20/111015/909

Sweden took in more than half of the world's Iraqi refugees last year, reports MSNBC. The Scandinavian nation offered asylum to 18,600 Iraqis in 2007, making it the most popular Western destination for people fleeing the war-torn country. Meanwhile, the main architect of the War in Iraq, the United States of America, has taken in just 3,000 Iraqi refugees since the fighting began.]]> Hunter Walker 2008-06-20T12:01:51-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/29/73135/4449

We definitely have a few favorite spots to visit around the world, but Swedish woman Eija-Riitta Berliner-Mauer has really put the attraction back in "tourist attraction." Her surname, of course, means "Berlin Wall" and she's taken this surname because she is, in fact, married to the Berlin Wall.

Confused? So were we. But Mrs. Berliner-Mauer has a condition known as Objectum-Sexuality--which means she's attracted to non-living objects, in her case, walls and fences. She had a small ceremony to marry the Berlin Wall back in 1979, and was fairly devastated when most of it came down ten years later.

Now she runs the Model and Guillotine Museum in Sweden which has models of various constructions, including her husband, the Berlin Wall. Her museum's open every afternoon during the summer season from June to August. Just don't expect to be able to buy any of those tacky chunks of Berlin Wall souvenirs--that's like taking a piece of her husband home.

Related Stories:
· Woman Married Berlin Wall [Ananova]
· Berlin Wall: A Love Story [Official Site]
· Berlin Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: gavinandrewstewart] ]]> amandak 2008-05-29T09:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/3/6/75915/27826

There are all kinds of odd reasons to visit Sweden. We're quite keen on the nuclear power plant tours for a start. But come April, we have one more excellent reason to head there: April 19 brings us the annual Oyster Opening Championships, held in Grebbestad.

The aim of a champion oyster opener is simple:

To open 30 oysters in the shortest possible time, without bloodshed, and present them in an attractive way on a tray.

So obviously you've gotta be into oysters to get a kick out of this particular event. Locals recommend washing down an oyster meal with some of the local beer, Grebbestads Bryggeri. Sounds like the kind of beer whose name only gets easier to say when you've had quite a few.

Related Stories:
· Oyster Opening Championships [Official Site]
· A Slice of Swedish Soul [UK Times]
· Extreme Tourism: Nuclear Power Plants in Sweden [Jaunted]
· America's Best Raw Bars Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: Basenisa]]]> amandak 2008-03-06T09:15:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/14/11219/1769

If you can never seem to get any sleep on a flight, the newest hotel coming to Stockholm may not be for you. Officials at Sweden's largest airport have approved a scheme to convert a retired 747 into an 80-bed hostel right next to Stockholm Arlanda.

Area businessman Oscar Diös plans to rip out the aircraft's 500 seats and put in 80 beds; the cockpit will be turned into a suite. Of course some of the interior will remain in place to add that aviation flavor. A potential opening date hasn't been announced, and rates are still a mystery.

If the plan, uh, takes off, Diös says he'll try to start up more of the airplane hotels around the world. After all, why take just a short ride in a flightless plane when you can spend the whole night?

Related Stories:
· Airport Check-In: Jet-as-Hostel [USA Today]
· HOWTO: Fly Without Taking Off [Jaunted]
· Best Geek Hotels in the World [HotelChatter]

[Photo of a 747 at DEN: Wikipedia]]]> pbb 2008-01-14T11:03:57-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/