After Amsterdam, I went to Stockholm to hang out with my cousin and her family. It was really great to see them, since it's been a while. This leg of the trip ended up being one of the most memorable for me. It was really inspiring to see the deep love and warmth in their family and friends. Stockholm is also a beautiful city, and my cousin Kelly lives a bit outside of the city center. Since I normally stay in city centers, it was really nice to escape that environment for a while.
After landing, I took an hour or two to explore Stockholm proper.This was one of the main strips in the old town area. Midsummer was coming up, and so I think it was a bit slower than normal. A lot of the shops were closed, but there were still quite a few restaurants, bars and stores open.Kelly gave me a recommendation for an overlook of the city. So I dragged my suitcase up the hill, and it was worth the view! I always love to see cities from a good vantage point.From the same vantage point, here's another scenic shot.Thankfully, the nice views didn't end with the city overlook. Kelly & Josef have a balcony with an absolutely stunning view. This was a cluster of houses you could spot in the distance.Kelly & Josef's daughter, Lilou, enjoying some strawberries. Such a cute little kid, and so happy all of the time. I can't express how much happiness radiated from all of them.For midsummer, we went to their garden with a few friends. Everyone was really warm and welcoming to me, and they were all such fun people. The garden itself was lovely, and the weather was just perfect for a day outside.One of their friends brought a bunch of silly hats, hence the fashion choices here."Look, Lilou. Everything the light touches is our kingdom."After the midsummer hangout, we went walking through a nearby area that was known for the street art. It didn't disappoint! Here's one of my favorites.Just a ramblin' man...On the walk back, Lilou found herself a park to play in! As a side note, I have my camera set to save RAW photos. It rarely comes in handy, but this was one of those times. The exposure was an absolute mess, but I was able to rescue it in post-process.I was playing with Lilou, and she wanted to go for a ride in the bag. But only a very short ride. As soon as we showed Kelly, she started shouting "OK OK PUT ME DOWN!"And, of course, some of the food from my time in Sweden. On the top left is a traditional Swedish dish that I got at a restaurant. I can't recall the name, but it was a mayo-based seafood mix with roe. Served on toast and with red onion. Delicious! For midsummer, we had a potluck-style thing. All the food was phenomenal, and I especially liked the inclusion of dill. It's one of my favorite herbs, and not criminally under used in American cuisine.