With so many extraordinary places in the world to explore, I try not to visit any spot more than once. There are the exceptions. A passionate Anglophile, I’ll never say “no” to a trip to the UK or Ireland, no matter how many times I’ve tromped the streets of London, Dublin and the like. France, too, has a certain repeat appeal. All that wine, history, culture and food!
The Scandinavian country of Sweden joins the list of rare places to which I will happily travel again and again. Below are a few highlights of May in Stockholm, when the sun rises at 4 a.m. and sets after 10 p.m. and life is both more relaxing and invigorating.
Comprised of 14 islands on Lake Malaren and the Baltic Sea, Stockholm has a multitude of pretty waterfront scenes.
The view from the ‘skinny bridge’ to Skeppsholmen. This small island contains several museums, including my favorite, the Moderna Museet.
One of the most popular attractions in Stockholm, the Vasamuseet houses the massive, 1628 Swedish warship, the Vasa. The ornate ship sank on its maiden voyage and was salvaged, intact and whole, from the Swedish harbor in 1961.
Because of a ferry strike, a boat sits empty and idle near Ostermalmstorg.
Cross any bridge in Stockholm and you’re bound to see groups of men, rods cast over the railing, fishing for whatever they can catch in Lake Malaren.
With two massive stores on the outskirts of Stockholm everyone truly does go to Ikea.
Find yourself near the Royal Palace in Gamla Stan around noon and you invariably will witness the changing of the guard. Traffic does not come to a halt for this daily occurrence but instead follows the parade at a not-so-safe distance.
Don’t own a car, don’t want to pay high fares on the efficient and clean public transportation system yet oh-so-tired of walking? Rent a bike from one of the many stations in Stockholm. Like shopping at Ikea, everybody does it.
Not everyone drives a Volvo — or Saab, for that matter — in Sweden. However, quite a few of these classics can be found on the streets.