06-08 Boat Cruises Stockholm

Last night, online, Pat bought our tickets for the Under the Bridges of Stockholm canal boat tour.  We boarded just before 1pm. We used our ear buds in their in-the-table audio system. There was also a map of our route on the table.

We went though one lock. The first time nobody was in with us, so we didn't have to to tie up. He just kept us in the center. As you can see from the waterline we only rise about 4 feet.

Cool boat

They do have a few beaches in Stockholm. On our trip to the Palace the other day we passed this beach crowded with people.

On our return trip through the lock, a boat was already in and tied up, so this time we tied up. The lock separates Lake Malaren from the Baltic Sea.

We went by most of the major sites we have previously seen. It's always great to see Grona Lund with all its coasters going right next to the water.

We learn more about "allotment gardens", that they can't be owned (they are owned by the government), but have cheap rent. There is a waiting list to get one. They were originally made available to the poor to give them a place to raise their own food. They build tiny houses on their lots and they need to be there to care for the plants and vegetables and to watch over them so that nobody steals their crops. These are used in the summer and were not insulated for their cold winters here. We saw examples of them at Skansen.

There are a lot of marinas and a lot of small private boats here. They really enjoy their summer, once it gets sunny here. It's June and we still wear coats most days.

After our two hours, we get off and get tickets for the Royal Canal Tour. We have one hour till it leaves, so we walk around the paths near the water and down a couple blocks from town.

On this boat tour we see a lot of greenery. They have a lot of open space and parks. They like to be very active. We saw someone rock climbing with rope just feet away from the boat.

After our canal tour we take a quick walk through NK, their up scale department store. The entry  is very expressive marble and wrought-iron railing around each of the four floors you can see.  Other that that it was an ordinary Macy's.

This is our last day in Stockholm. It reminds us of Seattle in a geographical way. In Seattle, the saltwater of Puget Sound is similar to their Baltic Sea lapping against the shores of Stockholm. A freshwater lake called Lake Washington in Seattle creates a 20 mile boundary on the east side of the city, similar to the miles of coastline created by Lake Malaren in Stockholm.