Hello from Stockholm

Hello from Stockholm-

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” Lao Tzu

It's a good thing we have no fixed plans!

En route to Sweden, we change planes in Holland. We get to Amsterdam with 9 hours to wait in the airport, so take a fast train in to the old city! Even though we can barely keep our eyes open having hardly slept a wink on the plane, we walk for a few hours winding our way along the canals and cobblestoned streets lined with charming ancient architecture and fresh flowering plants; geraniums, hollyhock, roses. Taking the 7 am train, we arrive in time to watch this old town wake up on a random Tuesday. We check out many canals. Canals go here and there. The variety of boats, house boats, and crazy floating crafts fascinate us. Coffee is good in this city. 

We try two cafes! We enjoy one that was hard to find. Breakfast is not big in this town.We sit on the sidewalk and Jim sketches a "Pile of Bikes" parked across from our table. We wander around, passing a huge line of people waiting admittance to the Anne Frank House. We are not sure we want to wait in such a long line. The museum they are lining up at is new. The line is winding around corals. Do these people know some thing we don't know? They must. The wait does not look worth it to us for our first morning in Amsterdam. We keep wandering. About an hour later as we are passing another cafe with outdoor tables, Jim spots someone eating an irresistible piece of apple cake. He asks me:"Want to get one of those?" "Sure, and I can use another coffee". I agree. It's important to expose all senses to this new experience. What an interesting place with so many cafes, canals, bikes, more bikes, lots of bikes, everyone rides bikes in Amsterdam. 

Not so much in Stockholm as it seems to be more hilly!

We are happy to be way up on top of the hill in this modest very European type hotel and by that I mean small room, twin beds pushed together, windows that tilt open. We plan to stay at Freys Hotel for the next 3 nights. 

Jim is napping, getting ready for our first night in Stockholm. Ha Ha. We might walk around the nearby park and eat at a Swedish restaurant recommended by the friendly blond woman at the hotel desk.

As I sip my sparkling water from a wine glass, I am thinking of each of you hoping your Tuesday is going well. Please keep in touch? It's nice to get e-mails!

( already got one <3)