Sweden 2023

Some pictures from beautiful Stockholm. This is the famous Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, find it in Gamla Stan (Old Town). Why is this alley famous you might wonder? It is narrow, it is in fact the narrowest street in Stockholm.

You can find ice cream and licorice here. At Lakritsroten, also in Gamla Stan. SO yummy!

My favorite cake on the top shelf, Prinsesstårta. I will miss it.

Dalahästar. A favorite souvenir.

Who is in the mood for some bastu (sauna)?

Some history, an old runestone.

A beautiful entry to a subway station, this one is Kungsträdgården.

And this is Solna. I love how much colder it is is some of the subway stations. Plus there is a certain scent that I associate with subways (of course) and childhood.

When I still lived in Sweden I lived in Handen which is a suburb of Stockholm. It takes about 20 minutes on the commuter rail (pendeltåg) to get into the city. This is what the station looks like......is that a lake in the background?

Yes it is.....right there a lake and forest. It is called Rudan. I spent many nature days during school there. Doing orienteering, which I was really good at actually. Now when I visit I go to Rudan to just be there. There is Upper Rudan and Lower Rudan and many trails in the forest, all of that in "my" backyard (when I am in Sweden that is) basically.

Maxingeslingan takes you around Lower Rudan.

One of the many docks.

I love this place. I did not appreciate it enough when I was growing up but now I do. Priorities and interests change, I am all about nature and peace and quiet now. 

I had the most wonderful afternoon with my friend Marie yesterday at Klockgårdens Våffleri in Grödinge. Come along, let's take a tour of the place together.
An inviting lush green path lined with lanters with live candles and a gate that reminded me of the torii gates I saw in Japan led up to the café.

Let's walk inside!

The building is from 1864. The waffle batter, fruit jams and ice cream are home made.

You see all this interesting stuff when you first enter.

So pretty!

The menu. So many delicious choices.....

We both ordered waffles with homemade raspberry jam and whipped cream. Absolutely scrumptious!
Nice decorations and flowers everywhere, this place is amazing. A real gem.

An old wooden rocking horse.

My good friend Marie.

Another way in or out. This area, Grödinge is a fairy tale land.

There is plenty of seating in the beautiful garden.

This was my first visit to Klockgårdens Våffleri but not my last. This place is too good so I must return.