One last Stop!

Our last twenty four hours were a whirlwind.  We flew from Stockholm and arrived in London around 10PM.  We stayed at a Sofitel at the airport and I was doing back flips because it really was in the airport terminal-we pushed our luggage cart into the room.  We didn't even have to go outside.  How cool is that?  I told K to get to sleep because we had to get up in a few short hours.  Our driver was right on time at 7AM.   We pushed our cart out of the room and to our waiting driver.  We went to the Wolseley and had a great breakfast.  Then a little shopping.  Little White Company, Persephone and few other favorites.  Then we headed to the airport and home.

I cleaned my plate!

K was not a big fan of her sausages

Stockholm Archipelago

K and I are smitten with Scandinavia.  When we originally planned this trip I thought that we were going to see the giant Norwegian fjords.  That was my only expectation.  No giant Fjords.  When we got home I went back and looked at the website for the cruise and there were pictures of giant fjords.  So I guess we need to take another trip to see giant fjords.
When we left Sandham we sailed through the Stockholm Archipelago.  It was jaw dropping.  We had to have a pilot who was familiar with the area sail the boat.  For several hours we wound in and out of little islands.  Some no more than big rocks poking out of the water with a single house or lighthouse.   The weather was perfect and we were followed the entire time by different boats from large to small.    It felt like we were leading a parade.  People were honking and waving.  It was a wonderful ending to a perfect trip.

Stockholdm

Our next wonderful surprise was Stockholm. Beautiful buildings, azure blue skies and sparkling blue water. We had more wonderful food and stayed in of my favorite hotels of all times, the Lydmar.

Our last breakfast on the boat.

Bye, bye Windstar.  Hope to see you again.

Love the bird on the statue's head.

Lunch at a food hall.  The girls are living it up with lobster.  From Canada.

The view from our room

Sandham

One of our favorite stops was the charming island of Sandham.  We tendered in and arrived at a bustling dock with everyone getting ready to sail.  It reminded me a bit of a Swedish Nantucket.  A naturally beautiful island and no cars are allowed.

Either K is looking really tall or I am looking really short!

We had a delicious lunch on the island-I had pickled herring

K had risotto

Visby

 Our next stop with Visby, Sweden.  A lovely walled city with lots of history.  We visited one of the most beautiful botanical gardens I have ever seen.  There were so many unusual plants that I have never seen.

Our day ended with a barbecue on deck.  No, we did not eat any of that pig!

Copenhagen

Our next stop was a two day stop in Copenhagen.  The highpoint of the stop for K was Tivoli Gardens where she rode a roller coaster for the first time.  The highpoint of the stop for me was taking a ferry to southern Sweden and being picked up by a guide who took us antique shopping for the day.  K was a great sport and it was a very long day.  I bought some beautiful, beautiful pieces.  Cannot wait until my container arrives.

We had lunch at a little place on the right

Loved this dog-he was sitting in this MG at a vintage car show

To die for-love the feet!