Hello faithful followers!

This time, driven by our passion for Ikea, ABBA and Swedish meatballs (Köttbullar)

. . . . . . Yes . . . it's . . .

*click on a photo to see the full size.

First port of call - a gay cafe !
... for some gay food.

My sweetheart on the menu of sweets !

Lashed to the smallest Stockholm island of Glamor Stan! , sorry, Gamla Stan.

*top bunk with NO ladder !
each night I had to lift him up into place.

Looking thru to the engine room.

In front of the Royal Palace.

Very tasteful colour combination - everything is just so !

Couldn't work out what this activity was for. Never saw any fish.

The (quite relaxed) changing of the guard. Is it just my age, or are they recruiting 14 year olds ?

... and giving them guns.
There were quite a collection of navy ships in town - 6 or 7 of them.

Swedish meatballs in their natural environment !

Getting a smooch from a handless wench - she could do with a paint job.

Michael: In front of my new pad

Stockholm streets paved with blocks of chocolate ! . . . wait . . . no.

Something about a trench coat - lends a certain air of illegality to a scene.
( photo has only been slightly doctored)

The overall impression of Stockholm I got was a VERY sober, orderly and stylish society.
Not one dog poo on the streets, and practically no rubbish. For a city so far north, they are remarkably well equipped for outdoor dining, and certainly warmer than Glasgow.

Every single building - a different color, must be the law.

The city museum - usually a good bet, where ever we've been. But sadly, we missed this one.

We visited the early 1600's ship (more like a floating castle) at the Vasamuseet.

Model of it above. The real thing below.

Built with too much style and swagger, and not enough ballast, the Vasa ship capsized 30 minutes after it was launched.

Pictures can't really portray just how HUGE this thing is !
You go up 6 levels just to get from the base to the deck.

( no miniatures were harmed in the making of this interior scene.)

The Skansen park is a whole days worth of wandering thru transplanted period buildings (from the 17th century to the 19th), farmyards with rare livestock, windmills and other old Scandinavian architecture, a zoo, outdoor concert area and lots of beautiful parkland. And we couldn't have had a better day for it.

Love this one !

Foodies heaven ! - over to you Michael.

Michael: The Östermalm Saluhall was established in 1888 to provide Stockholmers with access to a high quality food hall reminiscent of those in Spain and Italy. It was instantly popular and remains so to this day. I tried some smörgås (open sandwiches) with salmon and the excellent coffee. Needless to say, Ian had pizza, which he assures me was excellent. There were a dazzling array of cheeses, meats and fish on offer. We would have loved to have tried them all, but only had a few minutes before they kicked us out at closing time. Certainly a place worth visiting.

Now, while I have the soapbox, a rant: Why is it that much of continental Europe can do regular filter coffee not only cheaper, but to a standard far superior to that of even espresso coffee available anywhere else? The secret must be in the water ;)

Here's Ian.

Looking at Gamla Stan from the Town Hall.

The town hall - where the Nobel prizes are handed out.

Inside the Town Hall tower - This big boy was going to be placed at the top.

and finally . . . ( back in Glasgow ) we get some real summer !

It only takes a few consecutive hours of sunshine and warmth to bring ALL of Glasgow out to get their annual lobster-red skin coloring !

Come to think of it - I've never been so white in my life ! ( and I never was one for sunbathing anyway ) I'd put a photo of me here, but i'm afraid the full extent of my translucent quality could not be adequately rendered. * this is Ian speaking, of course.

Bye bye till next time !