The Monarchy, The Walk, The Family

So yesterday I discovered that Sweden is a monarchy... They have a king and a queen and a crown princess and everything... I had really never thought about the politics of Sweden before, but I was really excited about the discovery, because though I have actually been to several I have no recollection of ever being in a monarchy.  Cool.

On the walk that will be mentioned shortly, We saw this building, which is actually one of the King's castles, though he doesn't live there.  It was apparently where they lived regularly a couple of hundred years ago, but is now primarily used as a military academy

 The Castle extended wayyyyy down both sides. 

Anyway, after dinner Therese, Ali and I went for a walk (the previously mentioned walk, in fact)... We went down a street and through a tunnel and over a bridge and down to some nature area and a marina (the marina is technically not a part of Stockholm, but it is a part of the greater city area)

It was so cool... there were people running everywhere and the walk was really just so pretty! And get this-- Stockholm has an infestation... of RABBITS!

They just basically roam the city, and people will throw food down in places that are known to be homey to rabbits.  This is sort of an area of construction connecting the tunnel that I mentioned to the bridge... that I also mentioned.  The babies are CUTE too!

The walk was very nice... so pretty! Stockholm really is beautiful! Some photos for your viewing enjoyment...

View from the bridge

View right before we got to the castle/military academy

There is so much nature, and it's so accessible! It's even a part of the city!

 

*wow formatting these pictures is a royal pain (well I guess not technically royal)

AAANNNYYYYWWWAAAYYY... Today we went to a different part of Sweden, about an hour away by train! (the trains were so cool! They had who stories!)

Moo Moo and Tessa at the train station

shitty picture (we were in a hurry) but you can kind of see the top part!

stairs leading to the top floor

 I do apologize for the crummy quality of the photos... and also for how long this post is... but I digress... and now proceed...

We met Therese's sister Jessica and Threse's best friend-- Jessica (they have known each other since they were SEVEN, crazy, especially since Jessica lived in London for 15 years and even though she is Swedish, she is exactly how I imagine a British woman).  We went to her Dad's house that is on a river.  He died a few months ago though, its too bad.  He seemed like a cool guy.  We hung out and had lunch and just chatted. It was really nice, and the kids LOVED the hot tub. 

My Swedish has been getting better, (and by better, I mean better not BETTER or even BeTtEr)  I've been trying to write down all the new words I learn in a journal Moo Moo got me. 

We came home and had a good dinner and hung out for a bit and now here I sit... Typing away, when really I should be watching Bones. 

Tomorrow I am going shopping with Vanja (the Js are pronounced like Ys so its kind of like "vahnya" the "a" is soft, not like aaah!" so hopefully that will be fun!