Our cruising adventure, this year, started in Stockholm. We went a few days early, before the ship sailed, so we could see this outstanding city. Now, I must tell all, keeping in the spirit here, that the average year round temperature in Stockholm is 46 degrees. In the summer make that 65 degrees. On our days there, the temperature was 85 degrees. Now, we are used to hot and humid weather most of the year, but we are not used to low, or barely felt, or non-existent air-conditioning. Most of the shops and restaurants do not have any air-conditioning. In keeping with many of the Baltic countries environmental policies, the places that did offer air-conditioning were minimal at best and the air conditioning was set to barely move the air around.  On that note, it is also sunny 18 hours a day in the summer. So, we stayed out late into the evening hours to keep the coolest we could, and only then, returned to the hot hotel to make dear use of the blackout curtains! But, that is why one travels: to learn new things and see how others live.

Now, a little background on Stockholm……….Stockholm is on the east coast of Sweden, where the freshwater Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea. The central parts of the city consists of fourteen islands, part of the Stockholm Archipelago. The city center is situated on the water in Riddarfjärden Bay. Think Venice on steroids and without the gondolas! Over thirty percent of the city is made up of waterways and another thirty percent is parks and green spaces. We had to decide what islands we would like to see in our short three days there. We started in Gamla Stan, (Old Town) where many of the streets and buildings have been saved from the “Modernist Era.” In Gamla Stan, the colorful 17th and 18th century buildings still stand among the old cobblestone streets. Our first stop was the bridge to the Parliament building in Old Town.

Fine (Door Ways) to get us off to a good start on our Doorscursion!

And just to give you an idea of the bridges and water that was everywhere!

There is a lot of new building in progress in Stockholm. They are building more residences with causeways connecting them, to keep the foot traffic at a minimum and still provide more housing. Over 10 million people live in Sweden and 2.4 million live in the Metro area of Stockholm!

So, let’s walk down the historic Old Town streets first, that’s what we like the most!

and a view of one of the park neighborhoods……..

And finally, I’m showing a door close up!

There has to be a folk singer at a folkart center!

The doors were awesome in Stockholm….. very ornate and detailed with BIG numbers on them!

The peachy-colored buildings are always eye catching to me…..this building and door were no exception…………

The door was Number 2!

I waited and waited and waited to get a photo of this telephone door without anyone in it. These folks were having nothing of it! I think they were too exhausted (or mad) to move!

To give you an idea of the back streets with its tunnels……

Don’t you just really admire the door with a door with a door? Pretty fancy this one!

I loved this door with the gas light above it!

You can’t ever get very far from the water, no matter what street you go down…….

Then there are the tiny alleyways connecting tiny streets…….

With more very detailed and fabulous doors………..

This door led to an underground bar (Viking by the looks of it)…….I waited until they opened that door to get a peek inside.

From the perfect columned door………….

to the plain and bolted door……….there was a lot to see!

Let’s walk over to another island now……..checking out all the boats……..that will be another post on Stockholm……

to the Stockholm City Hall……..

Oh, and I forgot to show one of the guards and his door, at the Royal Palace in Old Town…..

and last, but not least, this little niche/archway at the City Hall. What in the world is going on with him and the snakes?

I hope you have enjoyed a few doors from Stockholm! I have lots more to share from the Baltics in the coming days! ….It will take me weeks to write all about the different cities we visited and the places we discovered, but stay tuned, they were fantastic finds! Enjoy!

PS The Featured Door reveals that the shops roll out the red carpet for all who visit Stockholm!

Look here to see what others are doing for Norm’s Doors!

It’s easy to do Norm’s Doors. Photograph some doors and post them to Thursday Doors on Thursday!

PS All photos were taken on our IPhones this year……..we are traveling lighter!