That Old Tree

Warm and sunny, or so I thought when I jumped on the bike earlier yesterday. But just a few kilometres later I realized I should have dressed differently, so I turned around, heading for home after a quick visit to the old tree. Had the wrong camera and lens, so this is a nine photo panorama of the Swedish Whitebeam.

Uphill climb

I walked up the Hammarbybacken ski hill, again. Because of the views over Stockholm and the surrounding areas. Most of the artificial and natural snow gone now. The man-made hill is very popular with super-fit runners. I spotted this guy three times during my visit.

Nature is strong

That is what it says on this headstone that I photographed at Skogskyrkogården a couple of days ago.

The Irishman

Brian is a Flickr contact since a few years. Originally from Ireland. Later he moved to Australia where he lived for many years. Then he met a Swedish woman, married her and moved to Sweden. He is often out snapping around Stockholm, just like me. I knew that he would be at The King's Park yesterday as he had left a comment about that the day before. So when I spotted him snapping away I walked up for a chat. It was the first time we met IRL. We talked for something like twenty minutes about photography, different camera models and lenses, as one does when one meets a fellow photographer. Brian also told me an interesting story about how he and his wife swapped apartments with another couple. Long story short, don't ever do that as there will be a lot of problems and issues, but as of today the move was finally done. We were at the park to check up on the Cherry Blossom, but we were probably one week too early so it was fun to talk to Brian instead of photographing the flowers.

That time of the year again

Top photo taken at a pedestrian crossing at Sveavägen. I heard the motorcycle coming, noticed it was a pink one, so I walked out onto the street, took a photo, she smiled, and then I walked back. Back home I did a quick search and found her TikTok. The fast looking BMW was parked near Fjällgatan, the spot I showed you yesterday. I spotted the vintage Triumph a while back while on my way to Norrmalmstorg.

Looking at the view

Out on a recent promenade on Södermalm I found myself at Fjällgatan, so I stopped for some of the views you can see from up there. The tourist couple had the same idea. They were looking left, towards Slussen, Gamla stan and Skeppsbrokajen. In the second photo I aimed the Canon at Kastellholmen where the flying flag at Kastellet means that Sweden as a country is at peace. In the third snap we can see Gröna Lund, the old amusement park at Djurgården. And lastly a panoramic view where we can spot a Djurgården ferry on its way to Skeppsbron where it will pick up tourists and locals.

A close-up street portrait

On a recent promenade snapping away right and left I noticed this redhead standing out from the crowd, well not really, it was just the two of us there near Norra Latin, so I raised the camera as if to ask if I could take a quick portrait, she nodded, I took the photo and then we walked on.

What big eyes you have

Bank palace at Kungsträdgårdsgatan with a classy entrance. Sculpture made by the classicist Ivar Johansson, a member of De tolv. The Twelve.

Street observations

I parked my bike at the Royal Dramatic Theatre at Nybroplan and went for a walk along Strandvägen. It was a sunny afternoon. Lots of people out and about. Top photo shows people enjoying something to drink at a pier at Strandvägskajen. In the background the world-famous Wasa Museum and the amusement park Gröna Lund. Next, three tired tourists at the ferry docks. The woman on the bench with the pug tried her best to make me just photograph the dog, but I was a little too quick for her. In the end we both smiled. The dog looked more serious though. Next two guys chatting up two gals at one of the posh restaurants. They reminded me of two ice hockey players. Then a dad and his daughter at the ferry port Nybrokajen. She had a nice star. Always fun to see people out walking their bikes. I'm guessing the runner was his girlfriend. Tourist season is around the corner and I saw several people working on this archipelago ferry. It looked to me that one of the guys were holding a champagne glass in his hand. You can never have too many selfies, right? I spotted the flying tiger as I waited at a stop light at Nybroplan. A woman dressed for Winter out walking with her daughter, maybe. We finish with a snap of a white bicycle outside the very expensive Diplomat hotel, famous for its Afternoon tea.

Classic comics

It's a good thing I am not a collector of comics. I'm sure I read most of these growing up. And back then I had a big collection of them. I guess my parents threw them out at some point. Alvglans, at Östgötagatan on Södermalm.

Mäster Mikaels gata

All the old houses that once stood here was destroyed in the big Katarina fire in 1723. In total, around 500 houses were lost to the flames. After that huge fire it became illegal to construct wooden houses here, but just six years later these houses were finished at what is today Mäster Mikaels gata. All the buildings are today owned by the City. The young woman came out from number 8 as I took the photo. Must be an interesting place to live.

Kapsylen

Two of my friends, both of them music idiots, (at least if you ask them about it), have spent many evenings and nights in here working at Kafé 44. When one of them retired, his friends, (everyone in the music industry) arranged two concerts in his honour. All the bands played for free and Tompa got all the money. It was a secret for him up until a few hours before it happened. I learned about it a few months before it happen while out driving with the other music idiot. The bands playing were: REFUSED WEEPING WILLOWS TEDDYBEARS (Hardcore set) MONEYBROTHER NOMADS SATOR ASTA KASK STRINDBERGS NO FUN AT ALL THE BABOON SHOW DE LYCKLIGA KOMPISARNA TROUBLEMAKER PSYKBRYT KSM3 (Gäster: Stefan Sundström, Kajsa Grytt, Hasse Edström mfl) ADAM NILSSON COCA CAROLA MONSTER. I was reminded of that as I walked by there the other day.

The door

A favorite door this, at Katarina on Södermalm, with a historical view, and with the Katarina church from yesterday's post in the mural. If you have good eyes you can read the word varuintag on the door. Which means that it is used for deliveries.

A church bell with a story

Fifteen minutes before midnight on the 17th of May 1990 the fire alarm sounded. When the fire trucks arrived from the oldest fire station in the world, which is very close by, it was already too late. The Katarina church from 1656 was lost. The church did not have any smoke detectors. It burned down for the first time back in 1723. This is the old church bell. It weighs 4200 kilos, it fell down from the tower during the 1990 fire. It survived, the others melted. Some material from the melted bells were later used to make the new bells. The church was rebuilt and opened again in 1995. The church photo dates back a few years. I took the church bell photo on a walk last week.

Beer O'Clock

Four photos from Kägelbanan at the Mosebacke Terrace at Katarina on Södermalm. If you ever visit Stockholm this place with a great view over Stockholm is a must. It was a sunny Spring weekend and everyone seemed happy enjoying beer, cider and more.