Surprisingly for a country whose economy depends on exports (today, often high-tech), Sweden has long held itself independent from the rest of the world. But this is changing. Sweden joined the European Union in 1995 and five years later opened a bridge-and-tunnel route to Denmark that slashed travel time to the Continent to 10 minutes. Still, Swedes are typically formal and proper with strangers, though not unfriendly. And although their cities are sleek and modern (with pockets of medieval streets and architecture), Swedes eagerly escape to the countryside, especially to ski and hike after long, dark winters. In fact, in anticipation of summer’s nearly perpetual daylight, many Swedes greet the first dawn of spring after all-night celebrations. Fortunately, they have lots of outdoors to play in. More than 57% of Sweden is sparsely settled forest.