Sightseeing in Stockholm SWEDEN

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Within 10 minutes of arriving in Stockholm we had decided it was a wonderful city. We walked into town from the campsite, a pleasant 2.5km along the edge of the lake (could be sea at this point - tricky to tell where one becomes the other !) and over the bridge into Gamla Stan, the old city.
The buildings are amazing. Stunning architecture, wonderful decorations and they all seem to harmonise so well with each other. We decided to find the Royal Palace first and did but on the opposite side to the entrance so had a good look round the other side first. There is water everywhere as Stockholm is built on a series of islands all linked by bridges so one side of the Palace is on the lake and the next side is on the sea. We checked where the trip boats leave from as plan a visit to Drottningholm palace tomorrow.
We found our way to the palace entrance but everyone was lining up behind cordons as the daily ‘Changing of the Guards’ was about to start. We had a prime spot so stayed where we were despite, after 45 minutes, melting into the tarmac as it was incredibly hot under a blazing sun and brilliant blue sky. The ceremony was very good and accompanied by a bit of a concert from a band. I wanted to sing “They’re changing guards at Buckingham palace, Christopher Robin went there with Alice” but Bob said if I did, and the guards didn’t shoot me first, he would. As the guards are armed with AK47 rifles decided to keep stum.
We had lunch at the palace (at the little café in the courtyard actually) then did the tour of the apartments which are open to the public. The royal family used to but now no longer live here but the decorations and furnishings are the genuine articles so it was really interesting. From the palace we went into the cathedral which has some amazing carvings including one of George and the Dragon.
We then explored the little medieval streets of the old city which are full of quaint little shops full of tourists.
From there we found we had somehow crossed a bridge so we were no longer on the central city islands but instead we were on the one which leads to Långholmens, the little island where our Tandy is camped. Too tired to do more sightseeing so set off to walk back. Not a good route as it was extremely hot and we were sticky and tired. When we got back to the Tandy we had to soak our poor feet. Too far to walk in heat like that.

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Photos

Stockholm
These were the first buildings we saw once we had crossed the bridge into Stockholm city and we fell in love with this gorgeous city

Fantastic buildings in Stockholm
Had to kneel on the floor to take this one as there was a car behind the big tub of flowers and I wanted to hide it

Changing the guard
at the Royal Palace under a blazing sun

George and the dragon
Stockholm cathedral

Wonderful old buildings
in old city of Stockholm