Twenty streets to enjoy Stockholm on foot
The first thing I did nothing more than set foot in Stockholm was walking. Perhaps it is driven by the 18 hours we had been stuck on the ferry from Helsinki, surely a hobby, Anyway, there we were dragging suitcases up City Gärds harbor, savoring the pleasant feeling of knowing a stranger, flirting with the bewilderment of groping a city to discover. We crossed for the first time the popular district of Gamla Stan, we'd return to dissect it into comings and goings, to feel himself, something that starts to happen when you no longer have to consult any map.
We crossed the monumental islet Helgeands-islet and lined pedestrian Drottninggatan, with its terraces with blankets on chairs, to our hotel in the small park Tegnerlunden. We had walked an hour from the port, but the fascination of the city had managed to dilute fatigue. To the extent that we use just five minutes to leave Maleas and we were back on the street. I think Stockholm is, with Paris and Prague, European city I have more walked outside Madrid.
The first thing I did nothing more than set foot in Stockholm was walking
He had to return without suitcases Old Town, this time by the bridge Strömbron, in view of the majestic Royal Palace. The most crowded street of this historic neighborhood, Vasterlanggatan, is a commercial artery where Bulle tourism. Inevitably cross it from end to end, the Järntorget a Mynttorgett, on more than one occasion, but curiosity pushes you, little by little, to adjacent streets, a corner where all the magic crouches, which it is much, Stockholm. There you stumble bikes that seem part of a decorated, recumbent on orange and yellow buildings lit by the evening light, on which a row of lamps rescued iron illustration of a story is cut.
Some of these streets are really narrow, just over a meter in some places (The popular Marten Trotzigs, fenced until recently over half a century, perches at the top of this podium Angosturas). All invite you to keep walking, not to lose the thread of Ariadna shadow wilting our way.
In Prastgatan you stumble bikes that seem part of a decorated, recumbent on orange and yellow buildings
Prastgatan, immediately parallel to the excessively busy Vasterlanggatan, It is my favorite street in Gamla Stan. It seems incredible that so close to the commercial epicenter of the city, just meters from the bustle of tourists, can be breathed into it so quiet. In this contrast lies, course, much of its charm. I was fascinated cross it minutes before sunset, When every detail charged lucidity meaning that anticipates the gloom. And a few meters, the reward of Cathedral of Cathedral or Square Stortorget, one of my favorite places, where they were beheaded five centuries ago the notables of the city by order of the Danish King Kristian II, he had just taken the city. Stortorget, so peaceful, so coquettish, so perfect, It is the triumph of civilization: where before beheading nobles now coffees are served.
Walker should not arredrarle rain. Bad weather is only the realization that it is less to the perfect day. Therefore, an evening out jarreando up the street looking for the oldest observatory in the city, mid-eighteenth century, Located in the park Observatorielunden. Under the umbrella and dodging puddles, Stockholm takes an ashen appearance, very suitable for browsing through the cemetery of the neo-Gothic church John Kyrka, where at any moment one expects tripped over a coat and a hat.
Stortorget is the triumph of civilization: where before beheading nobles now coffees are served
The very chic Kungsgatan, dominated by the Torres del Rey (Kungstornen), twin towers located on either side of the street, we walked up Stureplan, epicenter of a lively shopping area full of restaurants, a place that comes alive especially at dusk as usual meeting point. Even Nybroplan springs and there are only a walk, we extend by Birger Jarlsgatan, flanked by more posh shops and chic cafes. Rain tires before us and we Reaches, allowing us to enjoy Sergel Square and illuminated glass obelisk that dominates this nerve center of modern Stockholm is harbinger of the future.
Close, in Sveavagen, It is the place where they murdered in 1986 former Prime Minister Olof Palme, shot as he left the cinema with his wife (a plate well attested). Although they are not the seven p.m., night sensation is full, because shops are closed mostly between six and eight. On the street named after the murdered politician, some prostitutes seeking fortune among the puddles. A Palme, probably, he would not have minded. His tomb is in the Adolf Fredrik Church, a step here, but it's late and is now closed.
On the street where he was killed Olof Palme some prostitutes seeking fortune among the puddles
If there is a majestic avenue in Stockholm that is Strandvagen, escorted by a stunning line of old houses. Caminándola exudes an essence of another time. In this palace they lived a century boulevard ten largest fortunes in the city. In the old docks where once unloaded timber ships now compete in meters in length, although it still remains a handful of neatly restored old timber ships. Strandvagen is a recurring ride for the stranger, also keeps a dazzling prize: the green heart of Stockholm, the island of Djurgarden, a haven of tranquility that takes hours to travel walk (I attest).
Kungsholmen It is easily distinguishable for hosting the City Hall, a recognizable building on any boat trip on its tower 106 meters. One step from the gardens of Riddarfjärden born one of my weaknesses city, Norrmälarstrand, where the textile industries of the XIX gave the land to residential high purchasing power. The walk along the bay is stimulating and when we got to Bridge West Bridge, linking the shores of Lake Mälaren, almost half a kilometer, No one can hold us. We cross walk fifteen minutes to reach the district of Söder, a hill that looks like a city within the city itself.
One step from the gardens of Riddarfjärden born one of my weaknesses city, Norrmälarstrand
The Katerina church, a visual landmark in the area, we headed Zinkens Vag, orchards dotted with wooden houses and brightly colored. Some of the best views are enjoyed from Stockholm Söder, especially in the romantic walk Monteliusvagen, which overlooks the lake and Gamla Stan Malare almost furtively. I must cross it at sunset.
After an aborted attempt to reach the cemetery Skogskyrkogården, where Greta Garbo is buried, who she was born in Södermalm, throught Fjalgatan, Post a street marred by parked cars, with a beautiful view of Djurgarden. A Södermalm back a few days later to cross the neighborhood walking down the street Gotgatan to bridge Johanneshovsbron, Sodra carrying Hammarby-Hamnen, where we retrace our steps because it has already done us at night. In this part of the city they overlook Outlet Stores and fast food restaurants and appreciated a greater presence of immigrants.
Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen are evening tours where the reward is silence and the feeling of getting caught up time
Two small islands, Skeppsholmen y, especially, Kastellholmen, They are synonymous with smooth rides. The arrival, for the great iron bridge Skeppsholmsbron, You can not be more stately. The first houses three museums and a hostel-boat, of Chapman, aupado the second a medieval castle on the cliffs. Evening tours are where the reward is silence and the feeling of getting caught up time.
The neighborhood Ostermalm I remember especially its stately boulevards (Valhallavagen and Karlavagen, Without going any further) and the Olympic Stadium, where we come to the track 83 no one asked us accountable world records. Ostermalm is the equivalent, or so it seemed to me, the distinguished Salamanca district of Madrid. We ended the tour in two markets: that of Ostermalmshallen, where almost he was afraid to ask the price of the products, but you should visit if only to admire its wrought iron structure and neatness, almost offensive to a Latin, of posts, and the most popular, and outdoor, the Hotorget, Hay and old market where today all kinds of fruits are sold, vegetables.
That Sunday Vasastan streets are empty and you can almost hear the breathing of the sleeping city
Early Sunday, heritage cities are retreating tourists and noctívagos. That Sunday at eight o'clock, Vasastan streets are empty and you can almost hear the breathing of the sleeping city. We walked along lonely streets up to two charming parks: Vasaparken, where a group of children playing football on the same land where his great-grandparents planted potatoes during World War II, and Vanadis groves, a breakwater of silence perched on a hill dedicated to the goddess of beauty and love in Norse mythology, Vanadis. No one better than her to put the finishing touch to the tens of hours walking around Stockholm.
