a capital weekend

Had a wonderful weekend in Stockholm with Miche, we met up on friday afternoon in the central station, she having flown from Manchester to Arlanda, and then got the express train in, and me having got a bonus first class train from LInkoping ( it was cheaper than 2nd class - wahts that all about). Unfortunately it was one of the tilting trains, and as I didn't have a window to look out of, I ended up feeling pretty travel sick.
I'd booked us a hotel in Alvik, about 10 mintes from the city centre on the metro. We went straight there, and then went for a walk around the lake next to the hotel, we had perfect blue skies, and it actually felt like spring was trying to break through - was the first day that I've been here that there actually felt like some warmth in the sun. We followed up witha coffee and cake in another of Stockholms fab coffee emporiums.
In the early evening, we decided to head into Gamla Stan for something to eat, had alittle wander roud, and ended up eating at the first bistro that we had found. Was run by an argetinian chap, and was really nice. simple, but good food, and a cracking bottle of wine.
Saturday, we went everywhere - started off with a wander around gamla stan, then went over into Sodermalm ( i took miche to a shop that I'd bee with R&V which we all thought she would like - and she did! Therre was a little exhibition on there, an artist who created her stuff with embrodiery and material - quite cool), where we stopped for a coffee. Stopped off at the viewing platform at Katarinahissen, for some photos, before dropping down in the lift, and catching a boat over to the Moderna Museet. I'd enjoyed it last time, so we went back, as I thought miche would enjoy it.
Finally got a light lunch after this, and then went for another trek around, before stopping for a beer in a bar on the "Nobel" square in gamla stan, and then getting a lovely pizza from a little restaurant there.

part two tomorrow.

I finished off a book that Miche had got me for xmas Killing the Beasts, by Chris Simms. Its based in manchester, around the time of the commonwealth games, so has a lot of local interest for me. it had a good plot too, an interesting exploration of schizophrenia, but ultimately, something about it didn't quite hang together properly for me. Can't put my finger on it, but guess it just wasn't as polished as some of the books I've read whilst out here.