Stomping around Stockholm

Waking up excessively early to get to the airport by 5:45am, I ....   My first flight in a propellor-driven plane was uneventful and short, featuring stunning views of the archipelago and salty snacks.  After my rather quiet time in Helsinki, I was excited to get moving.  

Aerial Archipelago Assessment

Laden with my heavy pack and buoyed with the excitement of checking out a new city, I trundled through the quiet city streets and waterside walks.  The architecture, cleanliness and feeling of "everything is so right" really hit home here.

A typical Stockholm building

After a considerable walk, it was time to head out to the little island where I'd be staying.  That boat looked pretty neat docked beside the little castle.  

What a nice boat

I walked to the check-in, and was greeted with the news that I'd be sleeping on that white floatie!  It's amazing what you can forget a few months after planning a trip.  Unsurprisingly, it was way too early to check in; I stashed my bags and set off camera in hand.  

The plebe view from my hostel

Strolling on out, it was time to grab some groceries to take shelter from the outrageous Stockholm restaurant prices.  I expected that to be a fairly simple task, and it would have been but for one small obstacle:

Gay Pride Parade

The dense, colourful crowds of people from all walks of life made my little trek for a bite to eat a two-hour excursion.  The only attention I attracted was from a Finnish girl well endowed with facial hair.  Great.

Bunk up

I was glad to get back to the hostel, check in, and freshen up.  The early morning had taken a toll on me, and after a nap in my gently rocking bunk, I took a stroll over to Old Town.

This caught my ears before my eyes

Arriving in old town, I was greeted by beautifully restored ancient architecture, streets, and cars. It was a peaceful and surreal walk through a quaint and expensive part of town.

American cars are a rare sight in Europe

Clouds'n'stuff

Old Town Dock Construction

Some old guy who did something important

 I took the fading light as an opportunity to practice my panning shots.  They do cars right in Sweden.

Soon the sun started falling, and it was time to head back to the ol' ship again to recharge.

Typical stroll view

That evening I went out on the town.

I walked over to the 'bohemian' sector, then on to the hip & trendy main strip.  Walking up the hill I noticed a sign: "Happy Hour Drink Special: Beer 70 Kronor!"  This worried me - it converted to just over $10 cdn.  For one beer.  At happy hour.
Worse, it was already past happy poor hour, and beers were up to their usual price of 90 Kronor. Being used to German prices, I kept walking.  And continued walking.  Prices didn't improve.
I asked some locals where to go and was recommended a hilltop patio - if I was going to spend money I may as well do it somewhere cool.  It was closing as I arrived, so I gave up on that idea and went back to the hostel.

Cost of a night out on the town: 0 Kronor.

Mornings on the roof of the hostel

I woke up without a hangover and with a full wallet, which was nice.  I saw a couple Austrians I had met the day before in the morning (Sophie and Martin), so we went out to explore Stockholm.  We went on a hop-on hop-off bus tour, and saw the whole city.  I decided that Stockholm is, in a word, liveable.  It wasn't amazing to explore, but it seemed to ooze a high quality of life.

One highlight of the day was touring the Vasa museum, which was built around what was meant to be the crown of the Swedish navy in the 1500's.  Unfortunately it was tragically unstable and sank miles out of the harbour.  Something about a top-heavy design and low, open cannon ports didn't quite work. Oopsie daisy.

Sophie and I at the back of the Vasa

Sophie & Martin, the friendly Austrians

The Vasa took in too much Wassa and went for a plunge

Dat Stockholm Sunset

Stockholm harbour

The hostel was gorgeous to come home to at night

My bedroom

Tschuss!

The next day I went out to catch the changing of the guards at the Palace.  They were an impressively patient bunch of chaps.

Don't mind my zoom

N'sync

The afternoon was full of rain an catching up on Facebook, followed that evening by a much quicker grocery trip than the first day.

I decided to fill my last day in Stockholm with a boat cruise on the Strömma Kanalbolaget through the Archipeligio to Vaxholm.  Picturesque and peaceful, being out on the water was a beautiful way to spend an August morning.

The bow of the Strömma Kanalbolaget on the Archipeligio

Stockholm also had a giant park showcasing Sweden's interesting history - Skansen Open-Air Museum.  A thoroughly interesting 3.5 hours passed here, wandering ancient settlements, chest-height abodes and fully functioning 1800's bakeries.

Olde Tyme Machinery Shoppe

Trendy in the 1700's?

In the evening I caught some of the olympics in the painfully family-friendly hostel and got prepared to stay somewhere a little more lively.  

The next morning I was off to Copenhagen!