Tuesday, October 21, 2014

The Scandinavian Affair: Stockholm Syndrome


The train journey from Malmö to Stockholm was the epitome of torment - endless hours in slow-motion and the landscape was not so breathtaking as I expected it to be... But the imponent and solemn beauty of this big city made up for the hassle - nothing beats the splendor and majesty of Stockholm in Autumn! And yes, it felt quite chilly over there, almost like the Baltic Sea itself was getting into my bones and lungs. Thank you, faux fur coat, for fighting the cold and making me look like a grizzly bear! There is something regal and almost Soviet about Stockholm's grandeur: the big beautiful buildings with Empire written all over it, the Parisian-looking boulevards, the silent gardens, the bridges adorning the waterfront, the iconic Royal Palace, the opulence, you name it. Our first morning was spent wandering around cobblestoned Gamla Stan, looking for the perfect place for a coffee or a hot chocolate and marvelling at the medieval charm hidden in every narrow alley, illustrated with souvenir shops and façades painted in warm colours like terracotta, saffron and rust. I ended up neglecting my camera a little bit as I spent 50% of the time contemplating the city from the bicycle saddle. You see, I'm not the most multitasking person, and after a bike accident back in Copenhagen I decided I was bruised enough. We explored and eventually got lost around some metropolitan districts of Stockholm packed with boutiques, french restaurants, fancy hotels, sophisticated coffee shops, antique stores and markets - Norrmalm and Östermalm, I believe. Oh, the perks of having no map! Our appetite took us to a cosy restaurant called Salt, where we drank Aquavit, Swedish beer and cider and I ate... moose burger! Delicious, that's all I'm gonna say. I haven't tried the reindeer meat yet but if I ever go back there, I will. Ruthless licensing laws and alcohol taxes make Sweden's capital an expensive place for drinkers so I wouldn't pick Stockholm if party was my first priority. Unless, of course, I was filthy rich. If you haven't been in this splendid city, go! It's pricey and bitterly parky but come on, it's worth a visit. Beyond the design freaks and meatballs, lies ahead the pearl of Scandinavia, triumphant with the aesthetics of the likes of Paris and Saint Petersburg, filled with historical heritage, countless parks and a modern underground system.

12 comments:

  1. These pictures are gorgeous! Making me wish I was on vacation right now...

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  2. Stockholm looks and sounds amazing! I seriously love your travel photos so much.

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  3. The pictures are wonderful and now I want to visit Stockholm
    even more. I love the way you describe it -
    It has to be such a beautiful city with so much to see. (:

    dearmisscoco.blogspot.de

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  4. Aquele edifício do início deve ter as heras mais bonitas que eu já vi :3 estou admirada pela quantidade de bicicletas! Faz todo o sentido, mas nunca tinha pensado muito nisso x)

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  5. Mas porque é que eu não sou nórdica, porquê? Parece tudo tão civilizado, tão calmo, tão sossegado... ah ok, não passaste pela Noruega, onde são todos doidos. Lindas, as fotos, volto a repetir, andas-lhe a dar!!
    http://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt/

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  6. What a gorgeous place to visit. Thx for sharing these beautiful pics with us. Lovely blog here btw! Would you like to follow each other on GFC? Please let me know on my blog so I can follow back. Thank you.
    xox
    Lenya
    FashionDreams&Lifestyle

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  7. Stockholm looks amazing! I have heard so many beautfiul things about the city in general and I have always had the urge to visit there. The only thing that probably is and maybe will hold me back is the weather. I am awful in cold climates.

    http://chamomiledealer.blogspot.com.tr/

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  8. Ai!! O meu ponto fraco! Tenho tanta, mas tanta vontade de conhecer Estocolmo! Ai!

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  9. Belíssimas fotos de uma cidade com edifícios lindos.
    Gostei do pormenor das flores e daquele senhor à esquina!...;-))
    xx

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  10. Beautiful photographs! I'd love to visit Sweden someday, it looks like such a wonderful place.

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