Stockholm, Sweden
In April of 1998 I visited Stockholm, a city which came with a high reputation. Stockholm is built upon many islands connected by many bridges, which has led it by some to be called the "Venice of the North". I had heard that the city was supposed to be scenic (in fact, its' "Old Town" is the best example of Medieval Europe in existence), and that the people were supposed to be among the most helpful and friendly. In my experience those reputations were completely justified. I was very impressed on all counts, and only regret getting there in the non-summer months as the glimpses of beauty were all that could be afforded given the climate.
The view outside of my hotel was first-rate. Upon arrival it was a beautiful spring day, and my hopes of avoiding the stereotypical arctic blast were high:
By the second day, the weather had turned cold and late in the day the water began to freeze:
There was no turning back now, and by the morning of the third day the snow had fallen. It was cold again and I didn't bring my thermal gear. End result? About a week with the flu once I got home...
Here's my hotel, the Strand (a Radisson), considered "one of the best in Stockholm" according to several people I met. Though it was pricey, I would rate my satisfaction with the place quite high.
Breakfasts were included, and they were quite good. I heard about one gentleman who would spend two hours at breakfast every morning eating away in an effort to have enough food to last him the whole day. Food in Stockholm can be expensive, so though this behavior is not common, it is understandable. Anyway, here's the view from the breakfast area looking up:
As it was pretty cold and my time was short, I didn't get too many pictures of the city, but I thought this shot was worth taking:
I'd really like to come back some summer when the weather is nice and the people are out and about. I think this city would be the endpoints for a wonderful trip into the Swedish countryside. With luck, someday I'll find out for myself...