Stunning Stockholm

Stortoget - The Big Square

Stockholm is a beautiful city.  It sits on 14 islands surrounded by the navy blue Baltic Sea connected by 57 bridges.  We have walked around it a fair bit since landing in Sweden.

Stockholm waterfront.

Some swanky digs on Strandvagen.

One of the things we are coming to terms with is the high cost of living in Sweden.  For example, this cup of coffee and pastry cost $25.00 Cdn.  Our dollar does not go very far here.  Hence, we are eating in A LOT!

More Stockholm waterfront.

Ever the foodie, Joe (and I) went in search of tunnbrödsrulle: sausage, mashed potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, shrimp salad, pickled carrots, fried and raw onions wrapped in Swedish flatbread.  Of course we had to search out the best of the best.  This kiosk is in Södermalm, the hipster neighbourhood of Stockholm.  I have never seen so many beards or man-buns in my life!

It was delicious!

I love doors, knockers, windows, sashes and anything else that decorates the outside of a medieval building.

City patio.

Pretty sweet spot for soccer practice.

Nordic Museum - outside

Nordic Museum - inside

Stockholm waterfront yet again.

I told Joe that putting mustard on his hot dog looked like he was milking a cow.

Selfies on the sea.

Even more Stockholm waterfront.

Is it just me?  Or does the corner of this building look like it is touching its nose with its tongue?

Foraging trumpeter swan.

Gamla Stan - Old Town

There are 57 bridges in Stockholm.  This is under one of them.

A sculpture outside the Prime Minister's office called 'Rag And Bone, The Homeless Fox'.

Seagull in a park.

The narrowest street in Gamla Stan.  Legend has it if you touch the walls the entire way down the stairs and make a wish at the end, your wish will come true.

Swedish author, artist, composer and singer Evert Taube - Iron Square

Gorgeous views everywhere you look!

This wee statue 'Little Boy Who Looks At The Moon' is only 15 centimetres high.  People leave him gifts every day.  In the winter they put knitted caps on his head, in the rain they wrap him in plastic.  The money left is donated to charity.

It is said if you rub Iron Boy's head, your wishes will come true.

The weather changes very quickly in Stockholm.  Ominous looking clouds rolled in over Saint George and The Dragon.

A storm is coming.

We made it back to the apartment just in the nick of time!

Sandhamn Island

Photo Credit:  Sandhamn International Sailing Centre

Joe and I took a boat trip to Sandhamn Island yesterday.  Sandhamn is the easternmost island in the Stockholm Archipelago.  It is one of 30,000 islands.  

It was a wonderful day.  We walked, we ate, we drank and we sunbathed.

Sandhamn is full of red cottages covered in flowers.  Narrow pathways separate the homes. There are no cars.  Just people on foot and bicycle.  Everyone enjoying life.  

I could have stayed there a month.

Joe enjoying the view.

Even doggies like ferry rides.

Sailing in to Sandhamn harbour.

Flowers adorn every cottage.

A view to the sea.

Lovers in the wind.

Ferries are in and out of this port all day.

A great place for lunch.

Here's how this dish was described on the menu.  "Pan-fried herring, mashed potatoes, lingonberries and MELTED BUTTER".  You know you are in the right country when your meal is swimming in a pool of melted butter. 

Now THAT is what I call a shrimp sandwich!

This is a seafaring country.  Sailing lessons on the beach.

"Oh, hello, Mister Kiteboarder!"

Boats, boats.  Everywhere boats.

This island is covered with sweet little cottages and narrow lanes.

I loved the telephone sitting on top of the fence post.

Many of the cottages are painted red.  The reflection in the window looks like a painting.

Good-bye Sandhamn!

It was another great day in Sweden.

Surströmming, Crayfish And A Boat Ride

The day after landing in Sweden, we were taken to the Nystrom's cottage on the Baltic Sea for a sleepover.  What a treat that was!

"Skol!"

As you know, Joe likes food.  Especially local delicacies.  To prepare for our trip to Sweden, Joe researched surströmming; fermented herring in a tin.  Mats and Elisabeth were kind enough to indulge him and we had a surströmming tasting party down on the beach.

Joe opened the tin in the sea in case it exploded all over him.

"It doesn't smell that bad!" 

We ate the surströmming on Swedish bread along with tomatoes, onions, sour cream and boiled potatoes.  And had glasses of schnapps and beer at the ready.

"Skol!"

IT TASTED BEYOND TERRIBLE!  I couldn't eat it.

Neither could Mats.

Joe and Elisabeth were the surströmming King and Queen.

When we woke up from our afternoon nap, there was a crayfish party waiting for us!

AND THERE WERE HATS!

Elisabeth shows us how it's done.

Not only were there hats, but there was singing throughout the meal.  Joe and I couldn't sing the Swedish songs, so we sang 'O Canada' in English and French.

Sunday morning started with a swim, followed by a boat ride to have a picnic lunch on one of the 25,000 islands in the archipelago.

Thank you Mats, Elisabeth and Lovisa for an incredible weekend.  We will never forget your kindness and generosity.  Enjoy your time in Canada!  We can't wait to hear all about it.