yesterday as the plane dipped below the clouds i got my first glimpe of sweden. i was unprepared for the green wetness. layers of deepening shades of green. coming from a drought in california to such lushness was divine. the land below was blanketed in thick forests of tall trees. there was blue sky even as storm clouds gathered. if anyone thinks i was disappointed by the rain you’d be wrong. wronger than wrong. i was the opposite of disappointed.
the armanda airport was orderly and easy to navigate. i got my passport stamped, picked up my bag, and headed outside to look for a taxi. just as i stepped out the door, the rain began to fall. i unzipped my bag, took out my rain jacket and hat which i’d left on top, and stepped out into the cool rain. soon i was speeding towards stockholm with ahmed at the wheel.
as we got into stockholm i craned my neck this way and that trying to see out of the rainy window. there were hints of blurry spires, and cupolas soaring into the skies. brick and stone buildings in a warm palette of golden colors against the gray clouds. beautiful.
but what caught my eye more than anything were the blooming trees, shrubs, vines, pots. EVERYWHERE you look something is blooming.
some of the flowers i recognized, but many were new to me.
once i had checked into the apartment and unpacked, i left again an hour later on a reconnaissance mission of the neighborhood.
trader joe’s bag in hand, i found a market 5 min. away. how fun it is to buy food in foreign places! i took photos of several things in the market and texted ingrid asking for advice. she was helpful as were the other shoppers. steer clear of me locals if you see me coming. you will get stopped and questioned. sometimes more than once. in the end i came home with a bag full of known and unknown treats.
the apartment has large screenless windows with wide sills. i flung them all opened, leaned out, and took in the courtyard & street below. my little home for the next 2 weeks is quiet and bright. the large windows and glass doors flood this 4th floor apartment! lamps, pendant lights, and chandeliers add a golden glow. poor lighting in a rental is an irritation i like to avoid. i set up my travel journal table in front of the balcony and organized my pens & watercolors. i can’t get properly situated until everything is unpacked.
today my main goal was to acquire a 7 day metro/bus access card. i walked to the nearest metro and bought my card more easily than i anticipated. it’s always easier of course when there’s no language barrier and a game of charades isn’t needed.
with my bus map in hand i set off to see how many of stockholm’s 14 islands i could land on and how many bridges i could cross. quite a few! i hopped on and off whenever something good caught my eye.
the weather is around 60 degrees and there is sun mixed with clouds. i brought an umbrella from the apartment but didn’t need it all day. some of the busses had heat which was surprising.
the enormous leafy trees ruffle and sway in the slightest breeze. so lovely.
stockholm is a green paradise of parks. everywhere there are velvety lawns of grass, comfortable benches, and people out enjoying their summer weather.
…but now it’s 2 am and i’m writing this blog post WIDE AWAKE. i’ll resist the urge to stay up all night listening to the wind and the patter of raindrops and instead do the sensible thing and head to bed.
the sun rises in another 90 minutes or so…
see you soon with another dispatch!
You have a great place to stay. A very charming apartment overlooking that courtyard…..how lucky you are!
Hang on, I’ll be there in a min….Well, this is as close as I am getting for right now, but you make it delightful!
Wonderful! Looking forward to more posts and pix!
Oh Mary Ann, as a fellow LA-er, I am slurping up all that green and wet. Sitting in my office I can feel the delicious moisture in your photos. Could ya bring some home please?
Sweetness and delight. I’m studying your photos, absorbing every detail along with your thoughts. I’ll just stand quietly over here and wait for further adventures and wanderings. xoxox
What a pleasant surprise to see this post first thing this morning! Such beautiful flowers and about town photos. What a wonderful place you’ve landed in. Can’t wait for more of your adventures.
Lovely. What a beautiful place. I love your adventurous spirit. And the rain….coming from here (crispy California) what a bonus.
Almost felt like I was there – have fun and post often – ahem, please.
Oh,the lovely coolness of Stockholm……so excited to see what happens tomorrow!!!
Oh how you inspire me! Love watching your adventures but this one is especially close to my heart as those are my people and Sweden is on my must visit list! I’m looking forward to reading every detail and I hope you have an amazing trip. Love your adventurous spirit so much.
Oh I just love traveling with you!! Thanks so much for sharing your trip!!
Beautiful photos and words. Serenely beautiful place. You are most excellent travel reporter!
What a wonderful way to start my day…..reading your post with my morning coffee! How I wish that I could be somewhere new and exciting instead of at work!! LOL….Have a glorious two weeks Mary Ann!!!
it´s so much fun seeing Stockholm through your eyes MAM, you always have positive comments on what you see. Have a nice stay, i follow you on your blog and instagram.
Liv M
I remember the first time I came to Stockholm. I was on a mission to visit a friend who had moved to a suburb of Stockholm, and I was totally unprepared and didn’t know a thing about Stockholm (well, I did know that it was the capital of Sweden, but that’s all). I was blown away by the beauty. The tiny streets. The colorful houses. Water and islands. The autumn colors. I was only there for three days, but totally fell in love with Stockholm!
I never came back for a longer stay. I went to north Sweden three years ago and had a couple of hours in Stockholm before my night train left. How wonderful to wander the streets again! I need to come back one day.
So thanks for taking me (us) with you to Stockholm, Mary Ann! That’s almost like being there with you. Enjoy every minute, and share them with us!
My gosh, it couldn’t be more quaint and beautiful! Again you inspire with every word and photo and I so happy for you and your trip! I’m waiting on the edge for the next post!
John and I, after reading your first Stockholm adventure post and drooling over the pictures, know that we don’t need to ponder where to go next. How can we resist your Stockholm, Mary Ann? Ah, well…..it’s always like this, when you go on a journey!
Thank you for sharing your life and your spirit with us. Enjoy every minute!
I am loving ready your first impressions of Stockholm and enjoying reading about your adventures… Someone is missing though…Me!
Intrepid.
Thank you for this post, for letting us know that you’ve arrived safely and have already had some great adventures. I look forward to your photos and posts and drawings and stories and for the final flip through of your journal. You inspire so many people to look more closely and attentively at our lives. Thank you so much.
Enjoy the rain and the sunshine, the food and the drinks, the people and the places.
Traveling mercies to you.
Rain sounds good to me, too. Love your adventurous spirit. I love me a good food shopping trip! Keep sharing, please! XO
At the risk of sounding like a complete moron… The pic of the chairs – with pillows – and BLANKETS? For anyone to just sit down and use? For no reason? Or is that some sort of café?
The lavender makes my heart sing! As do all of the photos. Enjoy your beautiful surroundings and we will be waiting to see what’s in store for us tomorrow. Sweet dreams!!
I feel drenched in adventure after reading your post. What a lovely place. Seen any cats yet? I bet Swedish cats are all sleek and mysterious.
I love your travel posts. I always feel I am there. Right beside you. All the senses experiencing. Thank you
Beautiful little tour. It was never a place on my wish list but you make it look so inviting.
Every trip you take is almost a vacation for me….your descriptions are as though you are there….beautiful sounding place! Enjoy and soak it up …what a restful visit! Thanks for sharing!
Oh, the pictures you have posted are so yummy. I have devoured each word and wait anxiously for more. have a wonderful time.
How lovely — sounds delightful. Enjoy!