Gamla Stan

On Monday, Anastasia and I hit the big city. We went to Gamla Stan, the oldest part of Stockholm, where the streets are narrow and the tourists are everywhere. It's a pretty short walk from Lotta's house to the train, and Annie was up for an adventure.



When we arrived at Stockhom Central Station, Anastasia spotted these two white Afghan hounds. She asked to pet them and learned their names were Vitras and Viktor. They were very sweet and even sort of posed for a picture.



Then, we walked directly to Drottningsgatan (the Queen's Street) and began the walk to Gamla Stan. There are lots of shops on Drottningsgatan, but Anastasia was much more interested in eating a hot dog and saying hi to the lions that stand at every intersection.



With the hot dog finished, our adventure continued. We purchased small presents for Momma and Daddy, and continued along Västerlånggatan. When she became a little tired, I knew it was time for ice cream. She picked raspberry this time.



Refreshed with ice cream, she was ready to take on the Royal Palace. On the way there, she posed for a few pictures in Storatorget (the big square) where Orlando and I have also posed for pictures.



When I've been here before, I was always too tired to go into the Royal Palace after a long day of walking in Gamla Stan. But with my little princess along, it felt like a crime to leave without seeing where the real Swedish princesses live. So, in we went to the "State Hall" and the "Royal Apartments". First up, the king's throne. Anastasia managed to not repeat my own faux pas of 19 years ago when I sat in the king's chair for a photo and got in trouble by the Swedish guard.



Then, we saw the rooms that will be ours when we are invited by the king for a visit (he's not still holding a grudge about me sitting in his seat at the Nobel Prize cermony, right?). Anastasia saw a very comfy looking sofa where she will sleep, and a lot of rooms to play in.



Then, we went to where the real party will be. This room is designed after Versaille's hall of mirrors, and seats more than 200 for dinner at one long table. Now that's a dinner party.



Anastasia posed for one last picture in the window before we headed home.



She has been a great travel partner, walking everywhere without complaint and asking very little for herself. In fact, she was thinking of Orlando and Myney the whole day, saying they would really like to have this or to see that, or that she would tell them all about this thing we did. We have a real traveller on our hands. Near the end of the day, I took her into a little toy shop to buy a little gift for my sweet little girl.