Returning to Stockholm

The Bean returned to Stockholm on Monday from her side trip to Oland. Tuesday also brought a return to the reality of the Swedish climate, after the weekend's unseasonably warm temperatures. Mom and the Bean finally had a chance to explore some of the warmer items they had packed in their suitcase:



After being with just Mom and Dad on Oland, the Bean returned to her busy Stockholm social schedule. On Monday, she had the chance to meet Hanna's sister Jenny:



And on Tuesday she spent time with Marianne, Hasse, their daughter Caroline and her family. It was quite an experience for the Bean, as Lovisa, Linnea (!), Elsa and Axel all gave her a tour of their home.



The Bean soaked it all up, but she also appreciated some quiet time with Marianne:



On Tuesday, Mom checked another item off on her must-do list for the trip, visiting the Ostermalms Saluhall for lunch. The salmon was excellent, but the Bean asked Mom to open up the hall's newest foodstall:



Walking around town on Wednesday, the Bean had a chance to observe the locals' behavior in a little more detail. In the morning, what looked like a band of toddler construction workers passed by, but it was just a preschool class well equipped for a rainy, wet day:



In the afternoon, the streets of central Stockholm filled with truckloads of (inebriated) graduating high school students. Literally. In an annual tradition, local high school students wearing sailor hats (the Swedish version of a mortarboard) rode through town on flatbed trucks decorated with banners and, in some cases, birch branches, with music blaring.



The first truckload was entertaining. By the time the tenth truck went by, the Bean decided to head out of the center of town. Near the water in Kungsholmen, she settled in for some quiet time with her moose while Mom and Dad enjoyed dinner.