We spent the last week end in Stockholm. We spent Friday wandering in Stockholm’s warm streets. “Warm” because it was 5°C., which is not cold at all for a Swedish winter. But thanks to global warming we will soon be able to go swimming in Scandinavia in January. Gamla Stan (the old town) is full of colourful houses, paved streets…and souvenirs shops. In one of them Laetitia has even the big surprise to meet a friend of hers that lives in London and that she has not seen for years. Later we have a drink with Josephine and Peter, her Swedish friend. Josephine is the daughter of Brigid to whom Laetitia gives French lessons. Eventually we go to Anu and Andreas’ place. I met Andreas and Anu when I studied in Finland. Andreas is Swedish, Anu is Finnish. We are treated to a nice Finnish/Swedish dinner. Andreas makes me taste several Swedish beers. The last time I met Andreas was in Brussels. I like spending time with him because we always drink beer! 

     

      

On Saturday,after a big Swedish breakfast we head for Djugården, an island in the centre of Stockholm that shelters several museums and a big park. There we visit Skansen, an open air museum which shows old traditional Swedish buildings and Swedish animals (including otters!). Then we walk again through Stockholm’s beautiful streets before sitting down in a restaurant in Södermalm area (which we enjoyed after our 22200steps of the day). 

   

   




On Sunday morning we enjoy Andreas’ baking. Then we go back to Djugården (don’t believe it’s the only interesting place in Stockholm) to visit the Vasa museum. The Vasa was a Swedish warship that sank on her maiden journey in Stockholm harbour in 1628. It was drawn out of water in 1961 and is now in a museum. It is incredibly well conserved. After a last walk in Djugården it’s time to go to…the supermarket. Indeed we want to buy Swedish food before flying back to Ireland where the supermarkets are not as inspiring. We say goodbye to our hosts and take the bus to Skavsta airport. We might see them again in August in Finland for their wedding…