citykonditoriet

yes, the day has arrived.   we have set our feet back on solid ground in north america and our idyllic days in sweden have come to an end.

but do not despair pilgrims!  i still have a couple of stockholm posts to share with you.  let’s start with this cube of lemon cake.  sour & sweet & moist.

with a rich cup of coffee.

at one of my favorite unexpected lunch spots in stockholm.

where you might pass your afternoon in leisure sketching the gilt mirrors, refilling your coffee cup, writing in your journal, spying on the other guests, or whatever else strikes your fancy.

citykonditoriet a cafeteria run by the adolf fredriks church down the street.  promise me you will go and read every word on their website.  you will be handsomely & humorously rewarded by the translations.

Both older and younger people find their way there because of the sober environment and the delicate atmosphere that prevails.

it really is the details that make all the difference.

the setting, a lavish building with plenty of gold gilding to go around, flocked wallpaper, heavy drapes, a small balcony, and lots of walkers (the kind with wheels). shabby chic never had it so good.  so real.

oh you will be dining in fine company here!

stockholm’s elderly lunch set.  the young man above was visiting with his grandmother (i presume).

not a tourist in sight.

except me.

i spent some time sketching this mirror while a young boy turned around in his chair and made exclamations about my progress in swedish.  he kept turning to all the adults at his table and giving them loud progress reports, gesturing with his hands at which part of the mirror i was on, then turning back around to hang over the back of his chair.  delightful.

there was a sign in the bathroom…  where i fled after clattering my tray to the ground as i attempted to stack it in a perilously full cart.  i think it says:

dumbshit, you have succeeded in making a nuisance of yourself.  kindly take your bull-in-a-china-shop self out of this establishment asap.  signed, the management.

naturally i took it down and put it in my purse.  one of my swedish friends will kindly translate.

and of course i did manage to navigate my way through the ordering, pick-up, translation, and various other quirky aspects of visiting that required a guide.  the girl working behind the counter kindly assisted me in all these intricacies.  i used to be much more reserved about asking for help with such matters, but nowadays i just ask.  nearly always here in stockholm people have generously explained things to me because while nearly everyone speaks english, it is not spoken casually.  in fact you rarely hear it, unless you ask a question.  signs & menus were often in swedish at the places i visited.  trains & boats also dispatched information in swedish, but for the most part i like not knowing exactly what’s going on.

it’s the way i operate best.  which might explain why i lost my bus pass twice.  yeah.  i only told you about the first time.

i do possess a mind like a steel trap and occasionally put it into use, but mostly i’m content to be a wandering fool.

here follows a photo of my apartment building (no. 2) and the bay window from which i conducted all blogging and travel journaling operations in week 3 of my trip.

the link to apartment no. 2 is HERE.

i am so glad i had the opportunity to  stay in 2 different neighborhoods in 2 such different apartments.  one thing i loved about no. 2 was watching and listening to the people walk up and down the hill.  the location was fantastic.

the link to apartment no. 1 is HERE, and here is a photo of the outside of that building:  i adored the mature trees and birdsong that were a constant here due to the balcony overlooking the park-like courtyard.  the natural (and electrical) light was also fantastic and the furniture was super comfortable.

both places had really easy owners that made everything such a breeze.  makes such a difference when the owners are prompt in responding to questions.  i also find it very nice when the welcome note is pleasant in tone and not full of sour warnings about what NOT to do.

this secret park was discovered very close to monteliusvãgen.  most people walk by the red fence and have no idea there’s a public park up here.

completely open, yet hidden from view a bit by gates.

behind each window a story.  each a mystery to the other.

a city full of people, but where once can still find solitude.

and flowers that grow tall.

little pockets of quietness.

bearing fruit.  and petals!

this is what i saw.

when i walked around my neighborhood on the last day.

always more more more around each corner.

propelled forward by curiosity.

what comes next?

anything seems possible.