Sunday, August 26, 2018: Arrival in Stockholm and walk around Gamla Stan

Today we set our alarm for 4:30 a.m. as our suitcases must be outside our door by 5 am.  We have a 5:45 a.m. departure for the airport and our short, 45 minute, flight from Helsinki to Stockholm which goes by without a hitch.

We immediately start out with a walking tour of Gamla Stan, the old town of Stockholm, first visiting the Royal Palace (Kungliga slottet).




The coronation hall ...

A bed chamber ...
Supposed to be similar to the hall of mirrors at Versailles.  One thing for sure is that there are a lot fewer people here than at Versailles.
We are told that there is one public bathroom in Gamla Stan, this one and this is only part of the line.
The home of the Nobel Museum and the Swedish Academy which is missing a few members and, as a result, will not be awarding the Nobel Prize in Literature this year.  Google it.
Gamla Stan, "old town" in Stockholm:
Rub this little fellows head and increase the odds of fertility.  Ummm, no, we're not doing that.
It is either convert to Christianity or have this dragon released into your neighborhood.  This recruitment technique worked quite well.
A brief shower rolled through and a couple of us showed off our finest rain accessories.
Lunch at a Gamla Stan restaurant.  They had me at pork loin and lingonberries.
After we get into our hotel room, we have free and head for a walk through the city.  Beverly shops at Gudrun Sjoden.


We rest up after the very early morning today after walking back to the hotel.
Dinner this evening is at Restaurant FemSmaHus, just around the street from our hotel.  This restaurant has been in business since the 1700s.  On the way, however, it is pouring rain.  In our raincoats, we don't mind at all.

A Swedish specialty is Swedish meatballs and lingonberries.
Apple cake is for dessert.
Goodnight.

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