2013 0731 – Stockholm: Slept until after 9:00, which is what we really needed. Nice bed with typical Swedish mattress – just a couple of inches thick and over a solid base. Nice down comforters – sort of singles for each of us on the king size bed. Did a continental breakfast here 9how do they expect you to eat that whole basket of roles and bread and goodies?).
Got our stuff from the room and walked over to Gamla Stan. Went uphill to the castle and then down into the narrow streets and a zillion tourists. Walked around until it was time to climb back up to the castle for the daily changing of the guards. Got a nice vantage point where we could see most of what was going on. I took over 800 pictures today … lots of them of the soldiers and the marching band. Lovely and fun even with the throngs of other tourists. And all along the roads by the castle are tour bus after tour bus after tour bus. 15, 20? More?
When the ceremonies were over, we again went downhill into the old city. We tried to go on streets with the fewest people. Great buildings, shops, lots of sidewalk cafes and restaurants. Strolled around until 1:45 or so. Walked back to the harbor and around to our hotel. After putting stuff away, we went downstairs to the smorgasbord – something we have loved. Well, it’s sumptuous and way too much to eat and it was near 3:00 (when they close) by the time we were done.
As a side note, food/liquor is expensive here. Dinner last night was about $150 and the smorgasbord was more than that. At dinner tonight, our two glasses of wine each cost as much as our main course. That should give you an idea. Again, over $100 for dinner. Not complaining. All wonderful and enjoying every bite … hope pix do the food justice.
Spent the rest of the afternoon in our room. Me downloading pix and Marian writing postcards. Yes, she’s still analog, but that’s a good thing. It was raining all afternoon (while nice and sunny all morning while we were out), so just staying in the room.
About 6:30, we walked about the same route as last night, but farther up the same street to Sturehof for dinner. On the way, we saw some sculptures and a plaque in a park that were dedicated to Raoul Wallensberg, who saved many Jews from Hitler. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoul_Wallenberg is a link.
Another lovely dinner, but neither of us could finish our food --- ate too much earlier. And it was also a lively place which, like last night’s, was mostly populated by folks who live here. Walked home in the dusk (sill a lot of light at 9:00). And it’s time to pack up to go to the ship tomorrow.
Got our stuff from the room and walked over to Gamla Stan. Went uphill to the castle and then down into the narrow streets and a zillion tourists. Walked around until it was time to climb back up to the castle for the daily changing of the guards. Got a nice vantage point where we could see most of what was going on. I took over 800 pictures today … lots of them of the soldiers and the marching band. Lovely and fun even with the throngs of other tourists. And all along the roads by the castle are tour bus after tour bus after tour bus. 15, 20? More?
When the ceremonies were over, we again went downhill into the old city. We tried to go on streets with the fewest people. Great buildings, shops, lots of sidewalk cafes and restaurants. Strolled around until 1:45 or so. Walked back to the harbor and around to our hotel. After putting stuff away, we went downstairs to the smorgasbord – something we have loved. Well, it’s sumptuous and way too much to eat and it was near 3:00 (when they close) by the time we were done.
As a side note, food/liquor is expensive here. Dinner last night was about $150 and the smorgasbord was more than that. At dinner tonight, our two glasses of wine each cost as much as our main course. That should give you an idea. Again, over $100 for dinner. Not complaining. All wonderful and enjoying every bite … hope pix do the food justice.
Spent the rest of the afternoon in our room. Me downloading pix and Marian writing postcards. Yes, she’s still analog, but that’s a good thing. It was raining all afternoon (while nice and sunny all morning while we were out), so just staying in the room.
About 6:30, we walked about the same route as last night, but farther up the same street to Sturehof for dinner. On the way, we saw some sculptures and a plaque in a park that were dedicated to Raoul Wallensberg, who saved many Jews from Hitler. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoul_Wallenberg is a link.
Another lovely dinner, but neither of us could finish our food --- ate too much earlier. And it was also a lively place which, like last night’s, was mostly populated by folks who live here. Walked home in the dusk (sill a lot of light at 9:00). And it’s time to pack up to go to the ship tomorrow.
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