Swedish countryside outside of Stockholm
Monopoly money. Sweden opted out of the Euro. Exchange rate is terrible $1 = 6 kronors (crowns) and a lunch entree is about 70 kronors.
But it was a beautiful solstice ( 'midsommar' in Swedish). This picture was captured at 9:30pm. Sunset was 10:10pm and sunrise 3:10am. It never really got dark, just dusky.
They set up a large flat screen and beer gardens for public viewing of the Eurocup (soccer/football).
A pretty building and fountain (taken at almost 11pm).
In old town Stockholm.
The Riksdagshuset. I don't know what happens here so instead I will teach you some Swedish: 'god' = good, 'glad' = happy, 'frukt' = fruit, 'badrum' = bathroom
A french hot dog looks like a corn dog.
The changing of the guards at the Stockholm Royal Palace... I caught this on accident after sensing commotion. The King and Queen reside here.
The guards looked like they were 15 yrs old.
Marching band leading the processional -- they enlisted in January and were trained to play and march.
Followed by the new guards.
Much fanfare.
Does that thing work?
About 1/3 of the guards (that I saw) were female.
Drum song.
The changing of the guards event took nearly an hour.
Across the water from City Hall.
The area of Stockholm is really a grouping islands or an archipelago.
City Hall Courtyard. This buidling is where the Nobel Prizes are awarded.
View from hotel onto St Eriks Square
Carrie is so hot right now. The movie didn't premier here until Jun 21.
A plaza with an open flower and produce market. Theater house in the background.
Fountain, birds flying, people bustling.
The most beautiful 7-11 ever -- the store, as the name implies, is actually open from 7am to 11pm (unlike in the US, where stores are 24/7).
Slurpees and "coffee for real"
Swedish cover band "Liverpool" performing The Beatles.
Dinner of chips and beer.
And a rocking music shop.
Pretty wrought iron bench
The Blue Hall of the City Hall building
This is where the Nobel prize banquet is held.
Local Swedish marble... where the Laureates have walked...
The architect honored the laborers that built city hall by creating busts of a few of them.
Where the political deliberations happen.
Yes, this is just for city government.
Inside the tower.
The Gold Hall -- all mosaic.
St Eric. After ruling the country for a bit, Danes invaded and beheaded him.
The classic Swedish horse figurine.
Waterfront.
Another view of City Hall
Cool stairs -- the city has a unique topography, built on sometimes steep fjords.
This is some sort of "borrow a bike" program. The bikes are secured to this kiosk frame. A person (somehow) unlocks a bike (with a magic wand?) and bikes to another one of these around the city and then inserts it into the frame there. They are well-used!
Sunset, last night in Stockholm: 10:10 pm local time.
