Ever had one of those days when every single thing just goes wrong?
Well, today is such day.
It is a series of unfortunate events.
First, the breakfast the hotel packed for us is dry and tasteless
(but still I finish everything)
And then, because of height restrictions, the double-decker bus that takes us to the train station cannot park near our platform, so we have to walk all the way to the opposite end of the station to board our train.
This artwork greets us as we get off the bus
We lug around all our luggages (there’s many, I tell you) through crowds, escalators, slopes and bumpy ground just to get to our platform.
Of course, along the way, someone trips, someone gets stuck in the revolving door, and someone falls face down on his luggage.
When we finally get to Track 6 where we are supposed to board the train, we are told that there is no train service today and that we have to walk all the way to Track 19 to board the bus to Stockholm
And so we lug our heavy bags and even heavier selves back through all the crowds, escalators, slopes and bumpy ground to get to Track 19
We wait forever at Track 19 only to be told that the train is coming after all, and that we have to hurry back to Track 6 or else we’ll miss it.
What
The
FFFFFFFFF
??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
So we rush back to Track 6… lugging luggages… through crowds… escalators… slopes… bumpy ground…
I guess I can say I now know Oslo Central Station like the back of my hand.
Train to Stockholm
We’re in it. Finally!!!
Uncle Frank, Auntie Babie, and the 3 Fayes
Mr. Ty, Flor and Me
It’s 7am and I’ve already done a whole day of walking.
I just have to reward myself with chips, hot chocolate and a bar of chocolate.
While the others doze off, I amuse myself watching this girl on the other side of the train.
She eats
She raises her legs and she reads
Then she sleeps
When we are just a few stops away from Stockholm, the train has to stop and wait for
1.5 hours due to a fire in one of the stations. Tell me, isn’t today our lucky day.
Ernest doesn’t care Vibson is pissed
Frances and Felisse go Justin Bieber And Florence… she eats
I eat, too. Nothing better to do.
Well, except take stolen shots of interesting hair.
Dirty-looking rope-like hair
Very interesting facial hair
Finally, at past 3pm, our train approaches Stockholm
Stockholm, the largest city and capital of Sweden, is the most populated urban area
in all of Scandinavia
Frances and friends at Central Station
We spot this grandpa with his cool ride while waiting for other tour mates to come out
from the station
Turns out one of our tour mates fell on the escalator.
And when she finally comes out, our tour bus engine wouldn’t start.
Unfortunate events.
“Uh oh,” thinks this unshaven man whom the travel agency hired just for the purpose of leading our group from train to bus
Anyway, after a few tries, the bus engine starts and we are finally on our way to lunch
Polis
People, bicycles, buildings, train
Locals enjoying a Thursday afternoon
Tourists starving on a Thursday afternoon
Stockholm is a beautiful city with saffron and terracotta-colored buildings.
It is my favorite among all cities we visit this trip.
Pay toilet
Trattoria Romana, our lunch venue
Or at least that’s what we thought
After we are all seated down and ready to eat, the restaurant refuses to serve us lunch.
(Don’t ask, I don’t know)
@#$%&!!!!!!! It is 4pm and we are dying of hunger!
So we get on the bus again, drive to Gamla Stan or Old Town to look for another restaurant.
Gamla Stan Waterfront
National Museum
Royal Palace and Obelisk
Royal Palace, closer this time
Poliswoman on polishorse
Stockholm Cathedral
Stortorget, the oldest square of Stockholm, is picturesque and filled with history.
In 1520, King Christian II used the square as the site for Stockholm Blood Bath
where he beheaded and hanged 90 people
Nowadays, Stortorget is a tourist destination lined with restaurants and cafes
The Stock Exchange Building on the northern side of the square houses the
Swedish Academy, Nobel Museum and Nobel Library
The Well
Daddy’s got pimpin’ hair
Our 5pm lunch is at restaurant Stortorgskallaren
Starved or not, the hazelnut raisin bread is the bomb!
I think someone forgot to put dressing on the salad
Lingonberries and pickled cucumber
The meatballs made with lamb, beef and pork are so rich and flavorful,
the gravy so thick and the mashed potato so creamy. The sweet tartness of
the lingonberries cuts through the richness and creaminess perfectly.
I finish my plate in no time. Easily the best meal of our trip.
Chocolate truffle is dark, smooth and sexy
Wiped out
After lunch, we get on the bus and head out to dinner.
Don’t look at me like that. It IS, after all, dinner time.
Yes, this ship is a hotel and a restaurant
Welcome aboard Malardrottningen
Group shot while waiting for food
Only Vibson’s mom can pull off this pose
Cream of chicken and corn
Salmon belly with marbled potatoes in dill cream
Raspberry tea cake with whipped cream and fruits
The Aunties and Uncles of our trip
After dinner, we check in at Elite Palace Hotel, drop off our bags and go out for drinks.
Our bartender at Grappa
We ask him for a “Swedish drink.” He says he’ll create a special Swedish concoction just for us. Ooohh. This “special cocktail” turns out to be just Absolut vodka + cranberry juice + lemon juice. Ayiah! No need to travel all the way to Sweden, I can make this
special Swedish drink for you in Manila.
Wanting a quick buzz for a good night’s sleep, we order a round of tequila shots
Cheers!!!
Florence, Felisse, Frances, Erwin, Me, Ernest, and Edward Cullen
We almost died when we saw the bill
