Mälarterrassen

Mälarterrassen at Södermalmstorg. A new square that opened to the public earlier this month. It is very open, so it will be a bit windy. There's a lot of stone, granite. And places to sit. Trees and flowers to come. On my first visits last week, two places were open for anyone wanting a fika. The view towards Gamla stan is of course great. There are two glass buildings still under construction. I tried all the stairs up and down between the square and vattentorget below. The ew square is part of a massive project known as Nya Slussen that I of course have documented for a few years already.I already like the place, although some architects not involved in the project have expressed their dislike for it, as is the rule these days.

BBQ Time

I was doing nothing at all out on my veranda yesterday afternoon when one of the usual suspects called and asked if it was time for a BBQ. It was. So I jumped on the bike and pedalled the 14 kilometres to Villa Blåmes in Norrby. The third suspect, Jujja showed up in his old Volvo as we were carrying up the furniture from the storage room. He brought with him Bruichladdich whisky that could only be bought on site in Scotland, and some other spirits as well. I was in charge of the grill and I lit it up while the others took the old Volvo to the store as we were out of beer, ice cream, strawberries and crispbread for the salmon and aioli starter meal. Then we enjoyed three different sausages, fries, and a salad. The coma hit as it always does here, so we drank more whisky and Cointreau liqueur before finishing off the meal with Belgian strawberries and vanilla ice cream. The only major issue was the total lack of coffee. Not sure if I can survive that again! The evening continued with more food coma and story telling. Mostly from Jujja about his Scotland travels and birding at Gotland. The bike ride home during sunset was quite nice thanks to the warm Summer evening and possibly helped by the alcohol consumed. I finished the evening looking at an episode of Unforgotten while enjoying a mug of coffee.

A new square

This is a six-photo panorama shot through a fence from The Katarina Elevator on Södermalm. Looking down at a square that have been totally closed off for several years. Södermalmstorg. But it opened for the public a day or two after I took this photo. The view from Katarinahissen is pretty good, and I try to visit occasionally. It was also closed for a very long time because of the gigantic Slussen project. I visited the square yesterday and the day before that, so many photos to come soon.

And the living is easy

Sergels torg.

The portral

Völundsgatan. Sankt Eriksplan.

A bit unexpected

I can't say that I ever expected to see a Google Cloud Dala Horse. But now I have. Kungsträdgården a few days ago.

Bicyclemania

Time for some bicycle photography. We start with a panning photo, shot at 1/100th of a second at Slussplan of a guy on a rental bike, partly using his phone while cycling. Next, a woman doomscrolling down by the water at Skeppsbrokajen. In the third photo, a couple chatting away at Skeppsbron. Someone over at Flickr noticed the woman's fox brooch, Googled it, and most likely ordered one. Next, a stylish biker at Gamla Brogatan, close to where I took the two detail photos that I showed you three days ago. We finish with a cyclist riding up the golden bridge at Slussen. The tattoo on his arm reads Noah Karlsson Cortez, which most likely is his son who lives in Uppsala, I know that because I googled the name.

Torpedo Boat

T121 Spica. Torpedbåt. Veteranflottiljen. Torpedo boat. From the mid 1960s. In service until 1987. Listed as a historic ship. Today a museum. Usually moored at Djurgården, but I spotted it at Skeppsbrokajen a few days ago. You can book a ride with the ship here: www.t121spica.se/bokningssida/

More Summertime

Four Summer views from Drakenbergsparken and Tantolunden on Södermalm. This is one of the more popular parks in Stockholm. There's also a rocky beach along the Årstaviken bay, usually packed with sunbathers, weather permitting. The walk along Årstaviken is always very busy, and I usually bike around it. There are two big allotment gardens on a hillside overlooking the bay. There are restaurants and food trucks, miniature golf, a legal graffiti wall, and more. I have seen a few concerts here as well as a Greta Thunberg protest, and last Summer a strong man competition. Oh, and boats of course. Many boats.

Details

Walking along Klara norra kyrkogata, between Gamla Brogatan and Mäster Samuelsgatan at Norrmalm in Stockholm, stopping twice for photos.

Summertime

Four photos from a few days ago, taken at Rålambshovsparken on Kungsholmen in Stockholm. The park was packed with sunbathers, picnickers and beach volleyball players. This is one of the more popular parks in the city. There is another beach nearby. And a marina, and a lot of activities for kids and teenagers. Summer is looking good so far. We celebrate our National Day today and there will be a lot of fun activities to check out if the rain stays away.

Sørlandet

The Norwegian heritage tall ship Sørlandet visiting Stockholm. Photographed from the temporary pontoon used for bus parking and as a bike path at Stadsgårdsleden. And to the right you can see part of the Fåfängan hill where I sat on that bench two days ago. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8rlandet_(ship)

AIDAdiva cruise ship

Another one of my photography rules, while walking around Fåfängan, photograph one of the visiting Cruise ships docked at Masthamnen. No idea why these lazy people are not enjoying Stockholm, though.

Available seating

Another warm and sunny early Summer day. I parked the bike below Fåfängan and went for a walk, up and around the hill. I lost my bicycle key up here a few years ago, and I remember sitting down at this bench to gather my thoughts so I could retrace my steps and possibly find the key. Did not work. No such problems on this day, although I really need to replace the chain on the ebike, and buy new brake pads. The view over Stockholm from up here is great, but on this day it was just me, a teenage boy and two people walking their dogs.

Early Summer at Hammarby sjöstad

An early summer visit to Hammarby sjöstad. I still remember when this area was just a very run-down industrial part of Stockholm. And before that there was a very busy dock here. The only thing left from that in this series of photos is my arty shot of the rail left as a message of the old times. In the top photo, one of the free ferries that anyone can use. Then Kajsa's at the docks. A very popular place for coffee, a bite to eat or an ice cream. In the third snap, we see one of the sightseeing boats pass by. Then a typical apartment building very close to the water at Regattagatan. Then, my arty rail photo. Next a view towards Sickla and Lugnets terrass, with the new highrise building sticking up at the back, it was not there the last time I photographed that view. It will house offices, stores as well as a roof top terrace. Next we see the ski hill that I have climbed up a few times in recent posts here on the blog. We finish with another architectural gem. The old light-bulb testing room at Lumafabriken. Built back in 1930. Today an office I think.

Hammarbybacken

Guess what? I walked up that ski hill again. Hammarbybacken. Came back down with way too many photos, as is the rule. The first photo here shows a soccer pitch at Hammarbyhöjden. Although we would call it a "fotbollsplan". Or an "idrottsplats" I took that shot before walking up to the highest point of the artificial hill. It was a very fine May day. Lots of people out walking. And quite a few hiking straight up, which you can see in the second photo, instead of using the path which you can see in the third and last photo. Both ways to reach the top can be quite hard, but also a very good workout. And there are more ways to get up and down, I often walk down using the new stairs as I always park my bike near the entrance.