Here we are in part 2 of what seems like it will be an epic description of the things I saw and did on this trip. The next set of photos will focus more on the Gamla stan, Skeppsholmen, and Kastellholmen areas of Stockholm. I'm really just getting these names off Google Maps, so I'm really hoping they're accurate.
One of my favorite characteristics of Gamla stan are the alleys. They're narrow and colorful and reassuringly peaceful. While the alleys in Seville were certainly narrower and more colorful and busier, I didn't realy feel comfortable in them. Not that they were dangerous or anything, but somehow different. I would almost say these alleys in Stockholm felt a bit like a hug. Not warm, but oddly close. Maybe it was the feeling of solitude I liked. As an introvert, I seek out spaces away from others where I can consider my own thoughts and I felt like walking through these alleys might give me that peace. You know, if I were actually alone.
We encountered this statue outside a school, which I would assume to be for the elementary grade levels judging by the playground in the yard. What struck me as odd about this statue is A) it's outside a school, B) this is a youngish boy who is naked, C) so n aked you can see his dangly bits (not so much in these photos), D) his right arm has encountered brokenness. While A, B, and C are likely quite intentional, I am sure D was not intended by the sculptor, and yet...no less disturbing.
We walked over to these really satisfying islands, Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen which you should be able to see in the map I'm linking to if you zoom in a bit there. You can see in this photo the view from what I think is a monument across the river. There were some interesting and fun things there like swans and odd tunnels cut into the rock that seemed to contain hundreds of garbage cans. There was a sort of castle that I believe is a tourist information building, or something. Right across from that building was the tall ship you saw docked in the ealier picture. I thought the prow was kind of nice, so I snapped that as well. Walking across to Kastellholmen we found this interesting castle-like building. You know, I don't really care for buildings that look like castles but really aren't. I mean, I don't know what the official definition of a castle is, but I just feel like these buildings don't qualify. Still, fun to walk around and look at. Walking back to Skeppsholmen and strolling around to where the boats are docked we found things like tiny herb gardens ruled over by a frog prince and fake owls perched on masts and the bad house named such for reasons that escape me.
And I think that's pretty much the conclusion of my quick overview of the Stockholm photos. There were more, of course, and I invite you to look through the complete set. There were other interesting places and occurrences that I didn't photograph, such as the "American Cookie" in the mall. This is one of those middle-of-the-mall type of food places like a Ms. Field's except they offer large chocolate muffins that might be filled with cream stuffs or chocolate stuffs or topped with soft serve. I tried for 15 minutes to buy a muffin, but they didn't seem interested in serving me. Maybe they smelled the American on me and wanted to avoid any potential conflict. I learned that "public" bathrooms cost money to use, including and especially those in the mall. A GameStop in the mall actually still has a relativeily large PC section (while the GameStops I've seen locally no longer sell PC games). Oh yes, and the really fun dinner at the Mongolian BBQ place with some Swedes and the Englishman and the Dutchies. Of course, I'm not in the picture, so no one can actually prove I was there.
