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Known as the land of Vikings, Sweden is actually an odd mix of cosmopolitan cities and vast stretches of wide-open spaces. For budget travelers, Sweden is a bit expensive.

Stockholm

An incredibly beautiful city in the summer, Stockholm is the Venice of Northern Europe. Like Venice, Stockholm is built on the water with canals and waterways criss crossing the city. Instead of marshland, Stockholm is actually a collection of dozens if not hundreds of little islands.

Despite the beauty, Stockholm can seem a bet sterile for a big city. Large parts of the city seem to be devoted completely to either providing working spaces or residences. With a little digging, however, youll find the city has much to offer.

To get a taste of the real Stockholm, throw away your travel guide and head to the Sodermalm area. Sodermalm predates the modern areas of the city and provides a glimpse into the past. In the neighborhood, youll find authentic old pubs, hole in the wall shops selling all manner of strange things and artist enclaves. During the summer, Sodermalm has plenty of outdoor cafes and a friendly feel.

Karlskrona

If naval history is your thing, Karlskrona gives even St. Petersburg a run for the money. The entire city has been designated a historical site and is rife with the naval history of Sweden. Attractions include naval museums, submarines and a variety of ships from differing eras.

While naval history dominates Karlskrona, the city has much more to offer in atmosphere. The older sections of the city have a heavy baroque style whether for architecture, streets or epic park areas. There isnt anything particular to point out, but it is a good city to relax in during the summer. If you need a couple of days off from racing around Europe, Karlskrona is a good place to recharge.

Like all of the Nordic countries, Sweden is visually stunning during the summer. While the long days give you plenty of opportunity to roam, high prices can put a crimp in the ol travel budget.

Stocking Up How You Should Prepare your Home in Case of a Bird Flu Epidemic

The threat of bird flu pandemic has become very real to many people. The US government has taken many steps in preparing for a possible pandemic. However, preparing for a pandemic should not just be on a federal level. There are many things normal citizens can do to prepare themselves, and their homes for a possible avian flu pandemic. Citizens should seriously consider preparing their homes for a flu pandemic. The home will play a huge role in fighting the bird flu pandemic, so it must be stacked with the proper supplies.

Preparing your home for a pandemic begins with stocking up on food and water. During a pandemic, many people may not be able to leave their homes and travel to the store. However, if you are able to travel to the store, many of them will have a shortage of supplies, or may be completely out of supplies. A pandemic can interrupt public waterworks services, so stocking up on water supplies can be useful in this situation. The best foods to stock up on during a pandemic, include non perishables that dont require refrigeration, foods that are easy to prepare in case you are unable to cook, and foods that require little or no water. The CDC recommends foods such as, canned goods, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal, dried fruit, bottled water, baby food, and pet food. Crackers, Gatorade, and other foods for sickness are also good to have during a pandemic.

A pandemic will cause a shortage of hospital beds, so many ill persons will have to be cared for at home. Its a good idea to have plenty of over-the-counter painkillers, such as anti diarrhea medicines, acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), which can be used for headaches, muscle pains. Its also important to stock up on nasal decongestant for nasal discharge cough and congestion. Tissues and gloves are also important items to have during bird flu pandemic. The gloves can be used to collect any of the contaminated tissues. Your home should also be stock with plenty of cleansing agents, such as hand cleansers and detergent. A pandemic may also cause so people to consider another power source, and its always good to have flashlights, and batteries. Some other important items to have included a portable radio, a manual can opener, garbage bags, diapers and toilet paper.

Some people may be less prepared than others, so it is also good to try and help your neighbors. If you have extra supplies, it may be possible to help sick neighbors in need. During a pandemic, it is important that people constantly work to help each other. Supplies like painkillers will be short during a pandemic, so its helpful to share with others. Its also a good idea to prepare a room for any sick family members or friends. Having a quarantined room will reduce further spreading of the virus. The room used for the infected should also be clean and sanitized, to promote a greater chance of recovery. Using a specific area for the sick will also make the caretaker’s job easier and more convenient.

Its also important to stock up on anti-bacterial products, during a pandemic. Anti-bacterial cleaning products will help protect your family against the virus. These products will also make it easier for infected persons to recover. Your home should also be cleaned using these products, during an infection and after an infection. There are also some things to avoid in case of a flu pandemic, which include using tobacco and alcohol. Parents should also avoid giving aspirin to children under the age of eighteen without first consulting a physician.