stockholm in the rain

I am sitting here in the bay window of our 4th floor apartment, looking over the boats and harbour of Stockholm.  It is currently raining fairly heavily, but that does not stop the ferries, the sightseeing boats, the cyclists, the pedestrians or anything about the progress of the day.  It is a frequent, usually short, part of the day, and already the clouds are moving on and brighter sky is visible out over the arm of the ocean where the cruise boats enter the harbour.

The apartment which we have rented for the week, is huge -- a real living space with a big eat-in kitchen, a formal dining room, a little alcove where Kieran sleeps, the front foyer, a big parlour with only a piano and a few chairs around the perimeter (K has designated it as the dancing room and there would be space for at least 4 couples to dance), a big living room, a library which is where Ian and I sleep, a big bedroom for Joanna, Sham and Clara, and then a laundry area plus 1.5 bathrooms.  No certainly not roughing it!  We opted for this arrangement rather than 2 or 3 hotel rooms as it makes travelling with the little ones so much easier.

Ian and I arrived yesterday afternoon,  exactly on schedule.  We took a taxi from the airport which, while being more costly, made the trip with extra luggage (Rich and Jenn's stuff) ,much easier.  It was   a long day and everyone went to bed early.

Joanna and company had already done some of the attractions and so this morning was designated "boat tour" which Ian and I have not done as our other visits to Stockholm have been in November.  Today the boat ride up the canals between some of the islands, was spectacular.  And bonus, most of the small pleasure boats and seasonal houseboats were all about, adding to the history and stories related by the tour company. I think there is a trip to the locks planned for after nap-- yes, that's another great aspects of vacation -- of the six of us, I am the only one not napping at this time.  But the apartment is big enough and the time lazy enough for each of us to indulge in whatever we want to do.

This window on the city is fascinating.  Last evening we watched as one of the tour boats readied to leave.  There were the little ferries which shuttled people back and for to the dock, doing their final unloading and then being hoisted beside the lifeboats; the anchors being hauled up while the tug turned the boat around; and finally the big ship sailing out.  But the huge cruise boats are only a small fraction of the water traffic.  Every size of watercraft -- right down to single person kayaks, use the waterways.  The street below has bicycles and pedestrians on the sidewalk, cars on on the outer lanes and only city buses on the centre lanes.  There's a creative way to move traffic through a city!

Well, another rain shower has just finished.  Time to get the kids up and find a nice afternoon coffee.