A Sunday in Stockholm

I am writing this on Monday at 1:30 PM from Stockholm Sweden. It’s a cloudy/rainy day and it has already begun to get dark. I’m on my own today, as my son is working. I’ve been out and about several times and came home for lunch and to make a cup of tea before I head out again. I’m trying not to overdo it on my knees and so far am doing ok.

I took these photos yesterday to share with you.

 

I headed out early for coffee.  There is an extremely complicated coffee maker in the apartment and I have read the instructions and have no desire to learn this course in the art of coffee making. I am sure there is a test at the end of the instruction booklet and I’m certain I will fail it miserably. It’s easier to put on my shoes and coat and head down the street to the Espresso Bar. Unfortunately, the coffee shop doesn’t open until 9 on weekends.

 

I was the first customer. I had read before I came to Stockholm that the Swedes are . . .

 

I foolishly ordered a large regular coffee and didn’t realize until after I had drunk the delicious concoction how potent it was. I spent an hour chattering to my son and cleaned the surface of everything I could find in the apartment.

(Today I was smarter and only ordered a small.)

After the coffee incident, we hopped on the subway, a block away, and headed to the Sodermalm area which is just south of Gamla stan. I wanted to see Joyce Tenneson’s photographic exhibit at Fotografiska and this was the last day her “Light Warriors” would be on display.

 

The gallery is along the water and if you look to the right, there is a set of crazy high stairs that we ended up taking afterward. We wanted to walk around in the neighborhood up there.

The stairs weren’t bad at all, really. Going up stairs is easy. Going down is hateful on my knees. We went down another way (thank heavens).

 

These are two pieces from the Light Warriors display, which was absolutely luminous.

 

And these are the “killer stairs” that we took to get up the hill.

 

Being up there was totally worth the effort because we could now see Gamla stan quite well and the clouds were beginning to break and the sun began peeking through.

 

A group of young musicians was setting up as we walked by.

 

And the light was perfect to get a few shots of Gamla stan.

 

Pretty colored buildings in Djurgarden.

 

And Grona lund, an amusement park.

 

We walked the streets after climbing even more stairs and headed to a fantastic Mexican restaurant for lunch.

 

And then we walked the streets a bit more before getting back on the subway to head ‘home’. I just noticed that my son is in this shot. He is directly in the center and his back is to me.

 

I love that so many of the restaurants have decorated their entry ways with wire cages filled with candles. I’m not sure if they do this all winter or if it’s just for the Christmas season which is in full swing here. But it’s very cool.

 

And the subway trains are spacious and exceptionally clean.

 

There is an H&M on almost every corner. I exaggerate only a little. This one is outside of the subway station near the apartment and there is another on the next block. A young musician is singing a Bob Dylan tune as two little girls dance to his music. It was absolutely adorable and everyone in the crowd was smiling at their antics.

I love it here.

More to come tomorrow ~