Sunday, 20 May 2007

Sunday morning walk meeting the tourists

I am glad to see that also Stockholm attracts tourists. And it should because it is in my opinion one of the most beautiful cities in the world. When it comes to beauty it is in the same league as Rio de Janerio but Stockholm also has a freshness about it that is not easily found. On sunny Sunday mornings I often take a walk around Riddarfjärden (the picture) which takes me over the highest bridge in the city from where you get one of the best views of Stockholm. You see the sunshine reflecting in the water, the City Hall, the Old town, Slussen and Långholmen and it is absolutely beautiful. During this 1 ½ hour walk along the water front you have spectacular views every step of the way. Walking along Söder Mälarstrand you see visitors having breakfast on the deck of the boats that now serve as budget hotels. Some are on their way out with a map in their hands trying to locate themselves. This seems to be the ones who are travelling on their own, wanting to discover the city on foot. When you pass the City Hall you meet the crowds of tourists who are taking photos of the view and every corner of the building. If they are lucky a steam boat is just passing by on its way to one of the sites around Stockholm. Big groups of Japanese and Russians are dominating but many other languages can be heard during the 30 seconds it takes to walk through the courtyard and out the back gate. Along the water front you then pass the buses that has taken most of the tourists to the City Hall and will probably in a few minutes take them to the next site, maybe the Royal Castle or the Vasa Museum. Many probably just stay for a day or two but I hope that many of them can take the time to do the walk I just did. It is really worth it!

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