2016.08.13: Stockholm!

Anya loves Stockholm! It is a beautiful city with a long history and at least 70 museums! Today was our day to visit the city.

We biked to the train station in Uppsala, which takes about 15 minutes, and locked up our bikes in the sea of bicycles. Round trip tickets for 1 adult and 1 student is just under $40 and takes about 40 minutes each way. The train was very full on the way into town at about 11 am.

Stockholm is beautiful. We walked along the waterfront and saw the mounted guards and a mounted band!

We explored the city on foot, as we had done last year in May, when we came for my interview. Different from last year, this time we ran into many Pokemon hunters.

Eventually, we came to one of the main walking streets lined with stores.

We both supplemented our limited wardrobe to tide us over until more things arrive in the crate. Anya found some athletic leggings on sale for pole vaulting, and I found a reasonably priced sweater/jacket that is suitable for inside on cooler days.

Anya also discovered a couple new favorites stores. This book binding and imprinting place is now her favorite, and she bought a nice fountain pen.

There was a great thrift store too. When we are in our apartment in September, we may come back and pick up a few things here.

After a reasonable Thai lunch, we walked over to Gamla Stan, Old Town, which was full of tourists and more Pokemon hunters.

My wonderful Swedish tutor back in Sammamish, WA, is from Stockholm. She gave me a tip of a nice street in Gamla Stan that isn’t overcrowded with tourists. We enjoyed the beautiful old architecture from the 1600s and arched walkways with glimpses out to the sail boats on the water.

We found a store that had old maps and checked it out. There were maps from the 1600s too! Last year in London, I purchased an 1806 map of Africa and had it framed. There wasn’t an African map here, but there was a beautiful, hand colored world map. For $1,500, I could have taken it home, but I passed.

We made a loop coming back on the crowded tourist street, so we stopped in for fika. I had a bowl of chai (yes, a big bowl, which I’ve never seen before).

Anya enjoyed a piece of lemon meringue pie. There was much to choose from.

We had a window seat in this funky little bakery/cafe. I took one of my favorites pictures of Anya, and she agreed to let me post it.

We walked around some more and eventually headed back to get the 6:11 pm train back to Uppsala. Then, we biked home and arrived to an empty house. Our hosts are attending a wedding today. So, I was asked to walk the dog.

Halfway through the walk, I realized that I forgot a plastic bag for any poop. Fortunately, the dog didn’t poop, which would have made the walk very complicated.

While I’m not one who really enjoys cities and crowds, I ended up enjoying the day. There is something magical about Stockholm, and it is good to enjoy it with Anya.

With blessings,

Beth