Stockholm
Right after we landed in Tirana, I pulled a 180 and took off for a few solo days in Stockholm for some ‘me’ time. Arriving mid-morning, I got my bearings and my train ticket app, and headed to the hostel I’d booked. I checked in, had a glass of rosé in the lobby, got ready, then headed out for a quick dinner and a concert.
The next morning, I set myself up for a huge day of exploration with a solid breakfast and coffee(s) and headed out. Oh, the freedom of leaving at the drop of a hat with only my phone and AirPods, and knowing my feet could take me anywhere for hours and hours! Travelling with the family is many incredible things, but full of independent exploration, it is certainly not!
I walked for hours that day: from Centralen past the Opera House, Parliament Building, Royal Palace and Riddarhuset. All through Gamla Stan. Up the tiny, staircased Mårten Trotzigs Gränd. Up and down Prästgatan and Västerlanggåtan and Stortorget. To the harbour overlooking City Hall. Over the bridge to Södermalm for a stunning solo lunch at Freyja and through the lovely, lilac-scented Monteliusvagen Cliff Path. Back through all of that to Vete-Katten for a mid-afternoon kanelbulle and coffee. Through Strandvägen and along the gorgeous waterfront path to the delightful, flower-strewn garden-party paths of Mälarpaviljongen (where unfortunately I couldn’t get anything, as their payment system was down) and back, finally, to Centralstation with its lovely top-floor champagne bar for a well-deserved glass of bubbly. Lucky for me, there was an independent champagne importer couple there hosting a tasting, so I got to try three different rosé champagnes. Fun!
My final day, I took advantage of the little hostel gym and got a workout in before again heading out with coffee. Strolling through the Sofo area of Södermalm, I treated myself to a cute new bikini at a lovely boutique called Blu Kat and enjoyed a delicious little quiche and salad lunch at the chic, cozy Café Blå Lotus before catching my train back to the airport.
Though my trip to Stockholm was quick, it was refreshing in all the right ways. I walked wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted, without having to stop for someone needing a snack or a bathroom or some water or a break for tired feet. I took a million photos of goofy things that made me happy and savoured each mouthful of all the scrumptious things I ate and drank. I danced the night away at the concert and treated myself to extra legroom on the flight home. I absolutely fell in love with the parts of the city I experienced, and I would love to take my family back to show them around and explore even more.
Divine !
<3