Stockholm...the coolest city ever

Our arrival in Stockholm after our 15 hour, overnight ferry ride from Helsinki. Pretty awesome way to approach a city for the first time.

We're here! Alex and I took one of these hugging pictures on one of our first dates. Now we probably have about 100 of them in different places over the 4 years we have known each other. One day I guess I'll gather them up and put them in a book or something.

We borrowed bikes from our hotel and spent the day exploring pretty much all of Stockholm. It is so much fun going out for the day with no expectations. I have the say, today was one of the best of the entire trip. Alex picked the perfect route, and the ride just got better and better as the day went on.

Pink house with beautiful vegetable and flower garden. Ummm, yes please.

Alex and I ate lunch at an adorable cafe on top of one of the hills on Djurgården Island. All of the produce is grown just over the hill.

After lunch we lounged in the shade on a green grass hill next to the cafe. Is there anything better than laying in the grass on a Sunday afternoon? Topic of conversation...how we can go about finding jobs for an English speaking social worker and interior designer in Stockholm.

Just so you get the whole idea here. These outdoor bean bags are the greatest thing ever. We will have these in our life somehow, someway.

Some very Swedish looking cows we ran into on Djurgården Island. It is amazing we are a 10 minute bike ride from downtown Stockholm and we're seeing cows, horses, and adorable Swedish country cottages.

Bike path along the canals in between some of the many islands that comprise Stockholm.

In the distance you can see a perfect view of the Gothic Nordic Museum on Djurgården Island. People had parked their boats and were swimming and just hanging out along the water. I don't know what this scene would look like in January, but I could definitely handle summering in Stockholm. 

Stockholminess

Mansions along the water. Ahhhh...what I would do to tour one of the puppies. The coolest part though was that the area in front of the homes, between the road and the water, is all public park. I love that.

I took these from the boat when we arrived yesterday but I had to include them. Note that second storey door is open letting some fresh, summer air in...again....yes, please.

Love that patina on the copper roof.

Gamla Stan, the Old Town. Dates back to the 13th century. Delicious color palette, cobblestone alleys, cute cafes. So great.

This is possibly the most adorable little pocket park I have ever seen. Cool, quiet, lush. This picture does not do it justice.

The colors here are so cool. Loving the mustard yellow. And I love that open window with the little picture hanging.

Awesome balcony and awesome shadow....which brings me to another point. We haven't really mentioned the fact that it does not get dark here! It is so weird. Helsinki was dark like 2 hours a day. I think Stockholm is a bit better because we are further south, but it is just super bright all of the time. Again, great in summer but I might not like it so much with the opposite is true in winter. Anyway, my face hurts from squinting all day on the bikes. Now back to the hotel to shower and get ready to (hopefully) watch Spain beat the Netherlands in the World Cup!