Spotted: a house full of bears

Wow, it has been a day full of Bradbears! Yesterday we arrived at my aunt and uncle's house in Bourne End - we are here for a couple of nights. Little did I know what would follow the calm of last night. Today for lunch there were 11 adults, and three of the cutest little buttons, all under the age of three: Amelia, Harry and Rosie. Plus, I should not forget Elsie, the lively proper Cocker Spaniel. What a day's feasting - beef wellington! Plus fish pie, vegies, cheesecake and tarte tatin. All scrumptious.

If any of the pictures turn out I shall put some up tomorrow! Of the family, that is. You shall just have to imagine the beef wellington.

A war boat recovered

Last full day in Stockholm today, and I still surprisingly haven't seen an Ikea. Still there have been many other fascinating 'places of interest', most particularly today's visit to the Vasa Museum.

When the Vasa was built in 1628 it was intended to be the mightiest warship in the world. Unfortunately though, only a few minutes into her maiden voyage, she heeled over, took on water and sank! Apparently she was 'badly proportioned'. 333 years later, in 1961, the wreck was salvaged and reconstructed. It is quite spectacular, and has been very impressively conserved.

I realised during the night that I had not had two iconic Swedish meals - herring and meatballs (clearly, these are the big issues that are causing me sleepless nights). The hunt was therefore on to find a place for lunch today that would be able to resolve this problem. Fortunately it wasn't too hard. So good.

Tomorrow we are on the move. It's time for a week in the mother country and a visit to the relatives. Here's one last pic of snowy Sweden.

Something smells fishy

Its been a few days in Stockholm now and several very good meals under my belt (being loosened). The culinary highlight, though is most definitely today's lunch at Wedholms Fisk, a fish restaurant. I truly love a good scallop, and it is exciting to report that the scallops I had for lunch today have overtaken the scallops that were previously in first spot. Maybe lunch was made all the more delicious given I will soon be living on a diet of bread, cheese, and perhaps a can or two of baked beans. I exaggerate.

We also visited the Museum of Modern Art, which is a really lovely gallery, though one of the exhibitions we saw - Lee Lozano - wasn't quite my thing.

In the last couple of days I have noticed a few groups of small kids out on excursions all wearing ski gear and high-vis vests. Plus they have to hold onto high-vis rope. I find it pretty amusing.

Also, I noticed the below in a shop window today. Apparently it is Swedish for something like 'the final push'. I think it might be referring to the last stages of a sale in the shop.

A Swedish Fiordiligi and Dorabella

We have just returned from Cosi Fan Tutte at the Stockholm Opera House, sung in Italian and surtitles in Swedish. The set was fantastic, with fake plastic trees, and the theatre and foyer were impressively gold.

Earlier, we headed to Sodermalm, one of Stockholm's islands. It apparently used to house Stockholm's working-class, but unsurprisingly, has been gentrified. According to our guide on the boat tour yesterday, 'it is a good place for a beer in the afternoon'. It also offers one of the best views over Stockholm.

There was also a frozen bike.

A boat and a bolt

It was so cold today in Stockholm that even this tree needed to be kept warm (assuming this is the explanation for its coat). Not sure if this chap below would have been so comfortable though.

Today we took a boat tour through a few of the 14 islands that make up the 'Venice of the North', and our guide told us that this winter has been the coldest winter in 20 years. Fortunately the sheets of ice on the Baltic Sea did not pose any Titanic-type risks, with the boat making its way through them with ease and a fantastic crackling noise.

Back on dry land, and pounding the pavements of Stockholm, we came across Svenskt Tenn, which may in fact be any chair upholsterer's Mecca. Bolt after bolt of fantastically Swedish colourful fabrics. I am now the proud owner of 1m - ready for my next chair upholstering project.

Destination 1: Stockholm

Thirty-six hours after saying farewell to brother Joe, dog Bronte, and Brisbane generally, Mum, Dad and I arrived at Destination 1: Stockholm!

We were welcomed by snow and -4 degrees.

On the way into the city from the airport I was looking out for Ikea, but alas, did not see it. I did, however, see a Volvo dealership. Almost, but not quite as exciting.

Looking forward to discovering more of what Stockholm has to offer tomorrow. Will people who look like your stereotypical Swedish masseuse be lurking behind every corner? Will I be able to stomache a whole dish of reindeer? Will I be overwhelmed by the discovery of super tight yet strangely desirable jeans at unbelievably low prices?

So far, we are off to a good start, with a delicious Swedish meal tonight (not reindeer for me, yet), and beautiful snow-covered vistas. I think it will certainly be an enjoyable stay in Stockholm.