Tuesday 29 July 2014

A Taste of Sweden - Stockholm

As soon as the stitches were out and life began to return, I booked my ticket to Sweden to join my partner in Stockholm. I knew that all I needed to do was get myself there and he would do the rest. It was extraordinary how quickly all the difficulties of the past weeks and months vanished the moment he met me at Arlanda with a big hug and an unexpected beard!


Stockholm dazzled in the bright sunshine, city of water and light. Beautiful old buildings in muted shades of paprika, vanilla, saffron and pistachio line the waterways of the old town, Gamla Stan, the buildings packed together along the narrow streets and alleyways, with bars, cafes, shops and restaurants vying for trade, as we set off to explore.



We soon left the teeming crowds for the peace and quiet of the old Lutheran Cathedral, Storkyrkan.


The rest of the day was spent exploring the city on foot, the weather far too glorious for serious museum and church visiting.  We wandered from one island to another, crossing the bridges that link the islands of central Stockholm, each with its own particular charm and character.



Katarina Kyrka, Sodermalm
Sodermalm lies directly to the south of the old town and is the residential, bohemian area.  Quieter and more low key than Gamla Stan, this is where young Swedes live and play and raise their families. 

Then back to central Stockholm for some serious window shopping, sightseeing and eating.

Music Museum

Riddarholmen

Under Kastanjen, Gamla Stan

22 comments:

  1. Hello Marianne and thank you for stopping by my blog! I loved your photos, it is always nice to see what happens in the rest of the world (and unlike broadcast news, the good things in life!!)
    Thank you for sharing your sightseeing and hoping surgery is well behind you!
    God's blessings to you and yours,

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    1. Glad you liked the photos. It's always good to focus on the positives. Thank you for coming by.

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  2. Thank you for that lovely tour of Stockholm. We visited the city when we were on holiday last year. The trouble was five cruise ships docked all at the same time and 'manic' was an understatement so we never got to see all those beautiful places on your photographs. We missed such a lot.

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    1. That is so disappointing Molly and what a missed opportunity as I'm sure visiting Stockholm was a once in a lifetime experience. We were very lucky!

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  3. Hi Marianne,

    I enjoyed your comment on my blog! Hope you cottage in Suffolk will sell and you will find the house of your dreams in Hastings. Especially the old town is lovely!

    Stockholm looks beautiful! Lucky you to go there for a few days.

    Happy evening!

    Madelief x

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    1. Thank you Madelief. It was beautiful and we were so lucky to have the chance to visit. Stockholm has always been a place I have wanted to spent time in - cities built on the water are so very special, I think.

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  4. Thank you for the tour. I have been to Greece and Canada, but other than that, my travels have just been in the states. Oh, how I would love to visit Europe and see the old world.

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    1. Well, I do hope you will have the chance to visit Europe one of these days, but I am sure you have had some wonderful experiences in Canada and the States, too. I have never been to Greece, but one day, perhaps...

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  5. I'd love to get to Stockholm someday, but it's off our regular route so for now I'm very grateful for the tour -- Thank you!

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    1. My pleasure - its good to share and inspire each other to see different places, have experiences. I never thought it would come my way either, but life has granted this wish and we had a wonderful time.

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  6. Stockholm looks like a peaceful city, calm and orderly. I think it would be a very relaxing place to visit. A good place to recuperate especially with a special person.
    The church looks wonderful, and that's quite the sculpture of St. George and the dragon.

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    1. The church was quite stunning and so different from any other church or cathedral I have visited. Stockholm is Sweden at its best and it certainly showed us its best face.

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  7. It's clear from your photographs and words that you had a marvelous holiday in Stockholm. It's a place I have yet to visit, so I do thank you for adding some travel inspiration.

    Best wishes.

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    1. We did, and I think I deserved it too! More to come as we actually spent 3 weeks out there in the end. I hope you manage to visit Stockholm one day - it is a brilliant city.

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  8. Gorgeous photos - they make me wish for a Scandinavian holiday. It's been ten years since I was last there - where did the time go? The Great Dane's little secret is that he was (by an accident of timing, on his mother's part) actually born in Sweden.

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    1. Time has a habit of just passing doesn't it, but the great thing about travelling is that you can slow it down - out of the comfort zone and doing new things every day, learning how to negotiate new places and another culture. So you are married to a Swede - that's nice!

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  9. It looks and sounds lovely. Hope the rest of your stay (are you on holiday? sailing?) goes as peacefully and pleasantly.

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    1. It was and I am still feeding on the time I spent in Sweden - more to come, if you have time to spend with me.

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  10. Hello Marianne,

    What a glorious set of photographs you tempt us with here. We have never been to Sweden although, through a friend, we know something of the country. We are now enticed to explore further.

    Architecturally, it all looks so delightful and Swedish design is so chic!

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    1. Thank you. Praise indeed, and I am glad you are tempted. I do hope you get there one day, in fact, I am sure you will. Stockholm is very unspoilt, being neutral in the last war it is still intact in a way many european cities aren't, sadly, and it is quite delightful and enormously chic!

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  11. Wonderfully colourful and inspiring pictures of beautiful Sweden, where I long to visit one day, with my very good friend Christina, who is from there, and can't wait to show me around! Lucky you!!

    Have a lovely weekend, Marianne!

    Poppy

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    1. Sweden has been on my wish list for a long time now, another dream fulfilled! I hope you manage to go there one day soon Poppy!

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