Stockholm, Sweden: A Fond Look Back

How in the world have I not told you guys about Stockholm yet? I’ve talked about my favorite North American cities, but Stockholm ranks among my favorite cities in Europe. It features colorful, historic buildings, quirky public art in the form of statues and fountains, and an unforgettable red boat hostel.

Standing in the boat hostel, looking out at pretty Stockholm

Almost ten years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting my cousins in Stockholm. Here, I stayed in a hostel for only the second time (in a room with twelve bunks, no less!). I also attended a fantastic gay pride parade and saw reindeer for the first time. Gay pride and reindeer! I bet you never thought you’d see those two things in the same sentence 😉

Here are some things that stood out for me in Stockholm:

1. Cleanliness. As I walked around, I got the general sense of This city is well cared for. I suppose when a city is 750+ years old, its people have a pretty good idea how to maintain their home and keep it beautiful.
2. Pedestrian friendly. Did you know that Stockholm is composed of several clustered islands, each accessible by convenient ferries and bridges? I get to know cities by walking around them, and here, I was never far from a bus or T-bana (subway) station.
3. History. See: reference to city being over 75o years old in item #1. Oh my lord! Those buildings can’t help but be stately and dignified!
4. Quirkiness. The statues everywhere I turned were an endless source of amusement.

Whimsy, how I adore thee!

One undesirable yet unavoidable fact about Stockholm is how expensive it is-  I quickly realized that I just had to stop calculating the conversion rate for every transaction. I just accepted that prices were high, and got over it. That red boat hostel may not have been cheap as far as hostels go, but it was another great thing to add to my list of Unique Experiences.

We need more colorful buildings here in NY.

But oh, I hope that one thing won’t deter you from traveling to Stockholm. It’s beautiful. It’s charming. It has character. Of course, I’m slightly biased: this was right at the start of my life-changing, two-month solo Europe trip. I was twenty-three years old and full of hope and wonder and awe at all the beauty and art  that surrounded me.

Is that guy on the left doing crunches? What’s happening here?

One night, as I explored the Old Town, Gamla Stan, I had one of those moments, where I was listening to some street musicians play this gorgeous piece as we all stood in the shadows of these ancient buildings. This is magic. I am here, right now, and it’s WONDERFUL. My travels seem to be filled with lots of moments like that 🙂

Even the trash receptacles are dignified.

Then there were the comical moments. I love how this fountain is a lovely juxtaposition to these formal office buildings:

Just…amazing.

I’m so glad I had an ‘excuse’ to visit Stockholm (and the nearby city of Uppsala) in the form of hospitable family. Have you ever been there? What stood out for you the most?

Holy bikes, Batman! This was before all the major U.S. cities became more bike-friendly, so my eyes kind of popped out of their sockets at this sight.

Again, I’d love to know the background.

I believe this was the start of my reflection obsession.

Just look at that view!

{I can’t post these pictures without saying that I took them with my first digital camera- poor quality, poor resolution, etc. I’d like to think my photos from the last couple of years are much better, but a few of these are favorites nonetheless.}

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Travel is like love, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.   –Pico Iyer