Stockholm syndrome

The twins told us they need an hour and a half to get ready to go and explore a city, apparently they can’t go into town without hair and makeup being just right. We woke them at 8.45 for our day in Stockholm and 78 minutes later we were on our way, they did well. We walked to the train station to find our train literally waiting for us, with plenty of seats available and within 10 minutes we were at central station. We actually weren’t completely sure that we were because it was almost spotlessly clean and bright, we didn’t have to dodge people to get from one place to another and there was an abundance of happy staff actually acting in helpful ways. Not what we are used to at all.
We didn’t really have much of a plan apart from just explore and so Tate managed to find us a Kpop Photo Booth which is apparently a thing. When I say she found it, this was on Google maps, she had a bit more trouble actually finding it. But eventually we did and we put on some silly headgear and took some photos. Then it was a stroll in search of a boat, although despite finding the water we somehow missed the departure point so we just kept walking and being very impressed with the city. We strolled along the water then through some parks on museum island and came to a maritime museum which had free entry onto some old boats so we thought the price was right so why not. At first we stood around in awkward silence, not really having much to say to each other, but one of the boats was an icebreaker and so that got us all talking. That’s the third time today I have made that joke. The boats themselves were quite interesting, although possibly not a museum I would have paid to visit.
We continued on searching for a cafe for a little morning tea and cardamom bun and then it was time for a boat trip. While we waited we were watching the rollercoasters and other rides at the amusement park that was there, mostly they were a bit much for me and I am not sure i could have gone on them, but luckily that was not part of our plan. The boat trip was an awesome deal. There are loads of hop on hop off boats which charge a fair whack but there are also commuter ferries that charge the equivalent of a metro fare and so we got a lovely two hour cruise on the waterways around some of the islands for almost nothing at all.
We returned to the centre and by then it was time to think of food. We didn’t have to think too much, as last time we were here we went to an awesome vegan restaurant with a spectacular view and so that was where we were heading to today. We asked the twins if they remembered it, but as Allegra pointed out, that was half their life ago. We walked past the palace which was nothing special to look at, just a big square block really, and through the old town to the far side of the city and then found our way to Herman’s. It is a buffet style restaurant, a veritable smorgasbord (a Swedish word contributed to the English language, interestingly enough so is ombudsman), where you pay, they give you a plate and you just go for your life. It was pretty empty because we were there in between meal times, our plan was just to have two meals, so we got a table under the giant trees with a view over the water to the old town of black roofed buildings and also the green parks and trees of the islands. We loaded up our plates and we were in vegan heaven. We polished off the first lot, had a little pause and then went back and loaded up for a second time. That too was finished, although we were slowing down a bit by the end. It is fair to say that the combination of the food and the location made for a very awesome meal. Lucky really, because I wouldn’t have wanted to have had to complain to the smorgasbord ombudsman.
We definitely needed to walk some of that off so it was back through the old town and some of the more touristy areas which also took me back to our previous visit here. You see, I think there is a point in every parents life when your children think you are amazing and are completely in awe of you. For me, this was on our previous visit to Stockholm when the girls would ask me the time and I would shade my eyes look up to the sky and say, ‘well judging by the position of the sun I hunk it’s about 3 o’clock’ (for example). This happened a few times, I can’t remember why they were asking, but each time they were massively impressed. Eventually I had to point out to them there was a massive church steeple with a clock in it that could be seen from just about everywhere. Pretty much that was the high point of my genius in their eyes and it has been all downhill ever since.
A little bit more of a wander was all we had left in us as we were all quite worn out so we headed back to the train station where a train was waiting at the platform. Got to love the Stockholm metro, which even put on a couple of good looking Swedish boys for the twins to snack on. In fact, there is not much about the city not to like. It is very scenic and very clean, loads to see just wandering around, delicious food and a real lack of the usual brands that make a lot of cities so generic. Also, we have visited twice now and each time it has been blue skies so I think the weather must always be pretty good too. All in all, I can see why people might get a case of Stockholm syndrome. We have to leave tomorrow but we have fallen so in love with the city we are no longer sure we want to.Read more