Stockholm

Yuan arrived the next day after i came back from the UK..
and a few days later the 4 of us were off on a 5 day trip to Stockholm and Copenhagen!


Stockholm is the capital city of Sweden. Most people take a cruise to Stockholm from Helsinki but we decided to fly to save time =) The city is surrounded by an archipelago of tiny islands.. during this time some of this water is still frozen.. as can be seen from the pic below..


We took some maps/brochures.. bought return bus tickets from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to the city.. then headed towards our hostel.. in Gamla Stan (Old Town)..

Along the way we passed by the Stockholm Town Hall.. and walked by many beautiful waterways.. No wonder Stockholm is called the "Venice of the North"!


We settled in at our nice hostel and went out to explore a little. We were there on the right day coz there happened to be a skiing competition going on! So we joined in the crowd!

This competition is held around the Royal Palace.. they basically gathered all the remaining snow in the city.. made a circuit around the Palace.. and then raced around it..

Nationalism from young.. Waving the Finnish Flag!

Swedish boy not to be outdone

We didn't actually go into the Palace itself.. coz of the race.. it was closed! Besides.. we needed to pay.. haha

The Gamla Stan is really quite nice.. with quaint shops and nice cobbled alleyways.. We found a famous hot chocolate and dessert place right in the middle of Gamla Stan.. food was good! Except that it was like run by gays.. with "interesting" and provocative paintings on the walls.. oh and the waiter's hand brushed against mine.. gasp!

Nobel Museum - Stockholm is the home of the Nobel Prize

Exploring the Gamla Stan..

Many Swedish flags along the street

What are you looking at?

Sky bridge

Ri Hao the Viking.. Rarr!

Sweds like their elks

*Wei Sing still had her bag.. Sob Sob

Edmund, who was on NOC in Stockholm, invited us to a big Singaporean gathering on board a restaurant boat.. We had whole lobsters! Then we realised that it was wed.. and wed is half price lobster day.. no wonder i see so many Singaporeans haha.. Gian Berng

Jelene, Yuan, Wei Sing, Zhou Chu

Anyway we met many nice people.. and we actually went to a popular club that nite.. but walked out after realising there weren't seats.. then went to a Jazz place.. but the when we arrived.. the oldies finished their last song and then packed up.. =)..

We arranged to meet up with Claire, Ian, Jing Hui and Lucas at the City Hall for the guided tour the next morning

On the way to the City Hall..

Ducks and more ducks

?? I forgot what this building is ??

The Town Hall was really quite cool.. it is where the politicians of Stockholm work and meet..

The Blue Room.. where the Nobel Banquet is help each year

Not really blue eh? Notice the pipe organ at the top of the room

Wall murals painted by a former prince of Stockholm

The Golden Hall.. now thats more like it

Outside the Town Hall by the waterfront

Sunny weather makes pictures looks good

We went looking for lunch after that.. but couldn't find some Herring thing that Wikitravel recommended.. but found a better restaurant instead! This old lady in a bakery pointed us to this place.. which served wonderful white fish.. lamb and pork dishes..

Yummy!

Can i start now?

We went shopping after that.. but Ri Hao and i grew bored.. coz there were no sales going on.. haha.. so we decided to explore 1 more museum which was nearby.. the Medieval Museum..

We then found a place to hang out while waiting for the girls.. something resembling the Esplanade Library.. =)

We were leaving that night to stay over at the airport.. but before we left.. we were still treated to a nice sunset by the water..


Stockholm is really quite pretty and happening.. like a really huge Helsinki.. with more history.. and according to Yuan.. prettier girls on average.. i didn't notice.. seriously!

Next stop: Copenhagen!