Stockholm

First time for me visiting a Scandi country!

Our flight was at 8:55 flying with Norwegian Airlines. We got up at 5:15 and I was sound asleep so being rudely awakened by the alarm was a shock to the system! Still not feeling back to normal after the cold I’ve had. I still have an annoying cough and sinusitis. And fatigue.

We had a good drive in to the airport. There were some road closures due to the highland show. It was weird driving in early morning and as bright as it would be during the day. And quite a lot of traffic. A horse box had broken down at Halbeath. But we weren’t held up too much.

A coffee and pastry and Pret and then round to gate 26 for boarding. Under two hours to Arlanda, very smooth flight apart from landing which had some turbulence with coming through clouds and and speedy thud down and hard brakes.

We were quite far up the queue for passport control. Lots of questions and examine of passport. Where we were staying and when leaving.. took about 15 mins after landing so was quick.

We bought a ticket on line for the bus to the centre. Took around 35 mins.

Our hotel was half hour walk from the bus station . Thankfully there was no heatwave here. Sitting around 20 for our four days here.

Arriving at the hotel reception we were happy to hear our room was ready. Lovely receptionist called Amanda, she said we had a quiet room on the top (6th floor) as per my request. I popped down later to ask for two more pillows and also if I could get the windows open so got a contraption for them. I’d rather have fresh air than air con.

We hung up the clothes then went for a walk into the old town then found a very good restaurant selling traditional Swedish food. S had the meatballs I had a salmon dish with potatoes which was delicious. We got chatting to the young waitress, speaking perfect English, who is going on an exchange to Glasgow after the summer. She is an art student . We gave her some tips and told her she would love being a student in Glasgow. Maybe we will see her …
Lots of people wear flower garlands on their heads for the midsummer festival. I attach a photo of the lovely waitresses from the restaurant.

It was a holiday for Midsummer so was pretty quiet in Stockholm . Everyone away to their cabins in the countryside.

We found a bakery that sold cinnamon buns and some other decadent cake with cream and bought them to take back to the room.

I started to feel absolutely done in so we walked back to the hotel. Hopefully feel better tomorrow.