The final leg of our 2013 spring trip. Another short flight and we arrived in Stockholm, Sweden. It was Saturday and the next day was Easter Sunday (and Sara's birthday). Once we made it to our apartment, we headed right back out to hit up the store for food (and drink).
**Travel Tip: we have learned the hard way and we will always ask in advance from now on...each country has different laws about alcohol. What they can/can't sell in stores, and when the stores are actually open. So, for your future travels...keep that in mind if you'd like to have a nice glass of wine when you get to your destination.
With that being said, we couldn't buy a bottle of wine until the third day we were in Sweden. The local liquor shop was already closed Saturday, and nothing was open Easter Sunday. Sigh. We settled for beer instead. meh.
At the store we stocked up on little items to try and replicate how our Easter would be had we been in the states. We managed to find eggs and a few fun items. Plus stuff for coloring eggs...the girls loved that! Matt and I had fun hiding all the goodies around the apartment once the girls went to bed. The Easter bunny travels well! ;) Easter in Sweden is very different...here's a little info about it: Children dress up as Easter witches with long skirts, colorful headscarves and painted red cheeks, then go from house to house in the neighborhood and present the occupants with paintings and drawings in the hope of getting sweets in return. According to Swedish folklore, during Easter the witches fly to Blåkulla (the Blue Mountain) to meet the devil.
Small branches and twigs of willow or birch are a common sight in every Swedish house during the Eater holidays. Feathers and small decorations are also placed on these twigs in a vase.
So, yeah, a bit different than what we are used to! :)
That same day we headed to a place called Skansen. Its an open air museum where you feel like you've traveled back in time. Swedish time. We loved seeing the old buildings and various animals. We ate real Swedish meatballs...yum! We really enjoyed the reindeer, they are kinda goofy looking actually! lol It was a great way to spend Easter and Sara's birthday. We took her out to eat for her birthday and she got to enjoy a huge banana split for dessert! Happy 6 year old girl! (check out more about Skansen here: http://www.skansen.se/en/kategori/english)
Stockholm is a huge city. So we had to pick and choose what we wanted to see. I wanted to see the old parts of town the most, so we headed to Galam Stan. This is where Stockholm was founded in 1252. So cool. We found the narrowest alleyway in all of Sweden, wandered through cobblestone streets lined with colorful shops and homes. I loved it. :) We also took a visit to the royal palace...I wasn't supposed to take any pix, but I did sneak a shot of the gorgeous chandeliers. Amazing.
I had already read all three books in the series of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and I found that you could buy a map and tour the places in the book and used in the movie (the Swedish version). We just told the girls we were going to see places from a movie. That was the extent of that explanation. It was really fun...sort of like a scavenger hunt. Took us through back walkways, and places we never would have sought out on our own.
The last place we visited was the Sky View. An awesome globe that takes you up 426 ft for killer views of Stockholm. The girls really loved it and I got some pretty cool pictures. :)
During the trip we had a great time taking the underground where we needed to go and spent time cooking some yummy dinners at home as well. Matt indulged in as much caviar as he could! lol It was a beautiful city and I'd love to go back and explore more someday.
And then, it was time. Time to head back to Saudi. What a great spring vacation. ;D
**Travel Tip: we have learned the hard way and we will always ask in advance from now on...each country has different laws about alcohol. What they can/can't sell in stores, and when the stores are actually open. So, for your future travels...keep that in mind if you'd like to have a nice glass of wine when you get to your destination.
With that being said, we couldn't buy a bottle of wine until the third day we were in Sweden. The local liquor shop was already closed Saturday, and nothing was open Easter Sunday. Sigh. We settled for beer instead. meh.
At the store we stocked up on little items to try and replicate how our Easter would be had we been in the states. We managed to find eggs and a few fun items. Plus stuff for coloring eggs...the girls loved that! Matt and I had fun hiding all the goodies around the apartment once the girls went to bed. The Easter bunny travels well! ;) Easter in Sweden is very different...here's a little info about it: Children dress up as Easter witches with long skirts, colorful headscarves and painted red cheeks, then go from house to house in the neighborhood and present the occupants with paintings and drawings in the hope of getting sweets in return. According to Swedish folklore, during Easter the witches fly to Blåkulla (the Blue Mountain) to meet the devil.
Small branches and twigs of willow or birch are a common sight in every Swedish house during the Eater holidays. Feathers and small decorations are also placed on these twigs in a vase.
So, yeah, a bit different than what we are used to! :)
happy birthday and happy Easter! :)
Swedish meatballs...yum!
Stockholm is a huge city. So we had to pick and choose what we wanted to see. I wanted to see the old parts of town the most, so we headed to Galam Stan. This is where Stockholm was founded in 1252. So cool. We found the narrowest alleyway in all of Sweden, wandered through cobblestone streets lined with colorful shops and homes. I loved it. :) We also took a visit to the royal palace...I wasn't supposed to take any pix, but I did sneak a shot of the gorgeous chandeliers. Amazing.
Matt is standing next to the narrowest alleyway, top left is Galam Stan, top right are Easter feathers,
bottom corners are the Swedish guard.
top corners in Skansen, bottom left is another shot of the alleyway, middle is inside the Royal Palace, spring flowers and a shot of the underground.
left is part of the beautiful old town, middle is my sneaky shot inside the palace, top right is the home where Mikael Blomkvist lived from the book/movie, next two are just shots of the city.
I had already read all three books in the series of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and I found that you could buy a map and tour the places in the book and used in the movie (the Swedish version). We just told the girls we were going to see places from a movie. That was the extent of that explanation. It was really fun...sort of like a scavenger hunt. Took us through back walkways, and places we never would have sought out on our own.
top left is where Lisbeth bought stuff for her new apartment, top right is the bar she hung out in, the others just more shots of the city
some shots around the city, Skansen, underground
The last place we visited was the Sky View. An awesome globe that takes you up 426 ft for killer views of Stockholm. The girls really loved it and I got some pretty cool pictures. :)
During the trip we had a great time taking the underground where we needed to go and spent time cooking some yummy dinners at home as well. Matt indulged in as much caviar as he could! lol It was a beautiful city and I'd love to go back and explore more someday.
And then, it was time. Time to head back to Saudi. What a great spring vacation. ;D
beautiful girls. :)
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