Weds - Orebro to Stockholm
We left our hotel around 9:00 and headed out onto the freeway for a quick two hour drive to Stockholm. We continue to be amazed at how beautiful it is- craggy rocks, hills, lakes, lakes, lakes. We keep seeing "Moose Crossing" signs and have yet to lay eyes on a venerable moose. I keep calling to them to no avail.
As we came close to Stockholm we stopped at a StatOil station to fill the little Polo with diesel. That was the most complicated thing we've done so far as we couldn't figure out how to open the gas tank, nor now to operate the pump/credit card. Pretty funny (hindsight).
We have promised ourselves that we WILL laugh about our escapades in the drive through Stockholm...some day. Poor Dick. I don't know how he did it, what with driving on pedestrian walks, making u-turns in the middle of crazy streets, all 1.8 million Stockholmers out either in their cars or on foot just to make it tricky for us! We had to drive through several tunnels and would come up out of the tunnel unable to read even one street sign. We drove in large and small circles on this little island for about 25 minutes and then "fell" upon our hotel - on a deadend street with construction. We fell out of the car and into the hotel, realizing that we had to unload suitcases and then drive to the car drop off spot. Lordy. We lived through it and are beginning to smile .... but not laughing yet!
We loved Stockholm! The walking in Gamla Stan (Old City) was out of this world. Feasts for the eyes wherever you turned. After shopping well we made our way to the water and sat with all the Swedes with our faces turned toward the sun and soaked up the ambiance. Saw some cruise ships, ferries, etc. Had a glass of wine at one spot outdoors. We love that all the restaurants with outdoor seating have wonderful blankets tossed on every chair - so you just wrap up in the blanket and keep sipping your wine as the breeze blows! We walked about 6 gazillion miles - and are feeling it a day later. Had dinner at a British Pub with wonderful fish and chips - time to get away from the fish and mashed potatoes, Swede style!
If we thought we saw Niece Carolyn in Orebro we also saw many Niece Karrisas all over Stockholm ... some even appropriately pregnant! How fun.
Our hotel was above the huge pedestrian mall - we had a saxaphone player just below us on the street who seranaded us until the wee small hours of the morning when we finally closed the window in desperation. Obviously we aren't in Prospect Heights anymore. :>
We do love Stockholm - would come back again anytime!
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