A fairly early start was called for today, so after a quick breakfast I was at the station for 8.30am. In my best Swedish I asked for return tickets to Stockholm and to my amazement I was answered in Swedish, usually I am answered in English. However, I had to ask the lady to repeat in English as she spoke too quickly, she was telling me the price! She went on to tell me that there was a problem on the track so we must wait for a bus outside the station to take us to Strängnäs where we would pick up the train. So along with many others we waited in the cold and damp for the bus drivers to come to open the bus doors, which eventually they did. The journey to Strängnäs was uneventful but I was a little disappointed to find there was no train waiting for us when we arrived at the station there. We had arrived at 9.25am but the train would not arrive till 9.55. When the train did arrive I was pleased to see it was a double-decker train, one of Sweden’s answers to congested trains.
So we arrived in Stockholm a little later than planned, and as usual the first port of call was to the ticket office to buy a one day pass to cover all forms of public transport in Stockholm. Once bought we headed to the underground to go to Gamla Stan (Old Town) By this time it was almost lunchtime, so we called into one of our favourite cafes in Stockholm, Chokladkoppen (the Chocolate cup) for something to eat and drink. Outside in the square a Christmas Fayre had been laid on, so we had a quick look around. From there it was down to the waterfront where snow from the week before had been piled up. Even in gloomy wet weather, Stockholm still looks wonderful. As we headed into the city we came across a “statue” – of a workman in a hole in the ground, most interesting. Further into the city we came across preparations being made for a concert later in the day to remember World Aids Day. A “must do” on any trip to Stockholm is to visit Åhlens department store, so this was next on the agenda. It is easy to pass an hour or so there, wandering from floor to floor, admiring Swedish “style” whether it be in men’s clothing or household goods. From there it was a walk down Drottninggatan (Queen Street), a street full of tourist type shops, but also here is the Pickwick an English style bar! After pint of good Swedish beer it was time to wander again across Gamla Stan where we got the underground train back to Stockholm Central station.
Fortunately, the problems on the track had been resolved so the journey back to Eskistuna passed without incident. Once back at the flat a glass of warming Glug was had before heading off for something to eat. Tonight it would be Chinese food. The Ming Palace restaurant had apparently suffered major fire damage not long before and it seemed that it would not re-open. However, the local people gave the owners such support that they felt they had to re-open. The food was lovely and the portions were ample, so we were well fed as we walked back to the flat.
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