Stockholm!

This Wednesday (1/30), I didn't have class so I popped down to Stockholm for the day to visit Sarah Lucht. It was so awesome. Have I said that I believe public transportation is underrated? It is. Getting to Stockholm by train was incredibly easy. I was nervous about missing my train and getting lost in the train station. Well I was just being ridiculous.

I met up with Sarah and we walked to Östermalms Saluhall for lunch. It's a market place that's fairly well known for having a wide variety of foods and restaurants. We were starving so we didn't explore all of our options fully but we made a good choice getting wraps from Planet Food. Östermalms Saluhall had delis, sushi bars, fruits and vegetable stands, and bakeries. It was all your food needs under one roof. The delis were moderately disgusting. There was so much meat, which is awesome, but the slabs were humongous and I would have no idea how to prepare any of the meats. Except maybe bacon. Goal for before I leave Sweden: Make chokladbollar. I love eating them but eating them daily will bankrupt me. Plus, I'm pretty sure they're not that hard to make. Oatmeal, chocolate, sugar, and butter. There's not too much to screw up with that.

We then wandered back toward the main downtown area and fikade (past tense of fika. Look it up.) at the cutest cafe. Thus far, I have not found a cafe in Sweden that isn't warm and cozy. After a couple lovely hours of chit chat, Sarah had to get back to work for the afternoon so I decided to wander around Stockholm for a bit.

So much shopping. There are no fewer than 7 H&M stores within a 2 mile radius each other. It was absurd. They were literally across the street from each other. They were also decent sized stores. Most were multi-level. It was bizarre to see. I also walked through Åhléns, which is like Swedish Macy's. It was huge and made more complex because all the signs were in Swedish. It also cost 10 kronor to use the bathroom in Åhléns which is like $1.75. Stupidest thing I've ever seen. 

Gus the Lion!

Stockholm is a fantastic city. It's astounding to me that there are many buildings in Gamla stan (literally translated as "the Old Town") that are older than the entire country of the US. I think of the MN State Capitol as old but really that bad boy is just over a hundred years old. It's cool that Stockholm has the modern business and shopping regions and Gamla stan which dates back to the 13th century. That's right. I read the tourist plaques around the city. Gamla stan is home to the Royal Palace, the Opera House, the National Museum, the German Church (I know, weird), Stortorget, and the Vasa Museum. I wish it wasn't so cloudy when I was there but it was four in the afternoon and the sun hadn't set so I'm not complaining!

Royal Palace. What's up, Carl and Sylv? It has more than 600 rooms. WHAT.

Swedish Parliament

Apparently, the changing of the guards at the Royal Palace is a cool spectacle in Stockholm. That will be something to check out on a nicer day this spring. I also saw a TGI Fridays in Stockholm. That was strange but it's nice to know that even Sweden has a place where it's always Friday. Next time I got to Stockholm, it's going to be a Gustie shopping day to get dresses and everything we need for the Gasque in 3 weeks! Well that's enough words and gloomy pictures for one post! Happy Super Bowl Sunday/Monday!