Saturday started off with a workout - dragging our suitcases the roughly 8 or so blocks to Central Station where we caught the S train to the airport. We checked in quickly and painlessly, and made our way through security with minimum hassle. After a light breakfast in one of the airport restaurants, we caught our flight to Stockholm and landed just over an hour later.

After some initial minor fumbling (why are ATM's always so difficult to find in European airports? And why do banks place such low limits on daily withdrawals - a major source of difficulty when travelling abroad? Argh!!!) we boarded the Arlanda Express train bound for Central Stockholm and then took a quick taxi ride to our apartment in the quiet, upper class neighborhood of Ostermalm.

AnaCha, who has lived in this apartment for 25 years with her husband Jan, greeted us and showed us around their spacious and well-appointed flat. Apparently, AnnCha and Jan have a country home just an hour from Sweden where they spend most of the summer with their adult children and grandkids, and they make a nice extra income renting out their city flat to travellers like us when they're not here. Although it does feel a little odd to be living in someone's home  (most of the flats we rent are just that - rental flats), Jan and AnnCha have really made us feel welcome and even left us a little care package of nuts, beer, and wine! This is probably the most well-stocked apartment we have lived in so far, they have truly thought of everything. We are absolutely thrilled to be living here for the next week, just take a look at the view out of our kitchen window:

The spacious and well-stocked kitchen.

All this, for the same price you would pay for a boring Americanized hotel room downtown.

Michael ventured out briefly while I stayed behind to unpack, do laundry, and generally settle into what is going to be our home for the next 6 days. From what little I've seen of Stockholm so far, I do think I am going to love it. I just hope the rain stops sometime soon!

Tomorrow is Sunday and a lot of things are closed, so we'll probably just focus on familiarizing ourselves with our local neighborhood and taking pictures. Hope everyone is doing well and do post a comment if there is anything you're curious about - be it Stockholm, European travel in general, or just to say hi. I'm here to help!