Something weird has happened to my eyes, I can hardly open them. The sun is up, but I can't quite make out what my watch says. It's not until after my shower that my hangover eyes part enough for me to make out the time, it's 4am! The Swedish summer sun has stung me again!

Over breakfast I learn that Karin was part of the team to bring SFDC to Australia, and that Östen and I have a common ability to back slow moving Kickstarter/Indigogo projects, we're both home automation tragics. Rogermite is embracing the Aussie buttery Vegemite toast hangover cure, while I'm busy adding this delicious cheese to everything. It's a perfect day here, the sun is out in full force, it's sadly time for goodbyes, we beg everyone to visit us, then say our goodbyes.

We're only a few minutes down the road when a $1000 stone bounces off the highway and clinks the windscreen. We're still yet to hear from the hire company if it's a repair ($180) or replacement ($1000) repair, nothing can be done either way. With most of the country in still snoring off yesterday's celebrations, it feels like we have the road to ourselves. It only takes just under an hour for some foreigners like us to find our way into Stockholm and to the hotel. It's a cracking day and we're busting to get out and explore.

We're only a block or so back from the start of Drottninggatan, the Swedish La Rambla or the Strøget from Copenhagen. The Chinese restaurants in this area are thick as Starbucks tackling a new city, more common than City Conveniences in Sydney. They all remind me of that ad where the guy claims "I speak Asain, Nasi Goreng" - they're all selling Thai curries, Chinese Dumpling and Japanese Sushi. After a few tantrums to pull Boo out of the Candy stores, we've made it to the end (or beginning?) of Drottninggatan and cross the bridge to pass through the Parliament island behind the Castle and into Gamla Stan (the old town).

This is the reverse path Karin and Östen took us on last year, but we're making progress. We stumble down a lane into Brantingtorget, an old square amongst the ministry buildings that Östen pointed out to us last time. We find a nice looking Cafe and stop for lunch in the sun. 

The Swedes are one of the most beautiful looking and well-styled populations I've met. So when the Swedish Hare Krishna's come parading past us it's a comical site. They're beating their drums and chanting from 100 meters away. I give the kids my best explanation of these guys, believe in a god, live a simple life, limited possessions, need donations for their mission etc. All of that seems wrong when one of them is in a crisp white button up shirt, tailored shorts and nicely heeled suede loafers, the Swedish version of the Krishna mission :)

Gab is off shopping so the kids and I sit in a bar and watch with Switzerland - Poland game on in the background. My disinterest in soccer fades as the tension in this game mounts, it's a tie at the end of standard time. The nail biter plays right through extended time and has to go into a shootout decider. Can you imagine being the one out of five players in your team that doesn't score - literally the one guy that ruined Switzerland's hopes? Seems only fitting for the FIFA hosts to go out early.

So far we've been retracing last years steps. Now we head behind the opera house, down to walk along the waterfront for the afternoon. We have a stop in a park and just watch the world for a little while, most places are closed, but it's such a beautiful city to take in, that hardly seems to matter. I think we're in Ostermalm (East town?) by now. We sit by the water for awhile longer, I can tell why Frederick was so keen for us to stroll the water. 

The waterfront is lined with very swanky restaurants and bars, each a fantastic place to spend the afternoon, though it's 8ish by now, that Scandinavian sun just makes it seem like 3pm. We chose a place right next to the theatre across the road from the waterfront. By far the best lobster I've had in years! After dinner, we decide to stroll home.

We end up strolling through an area I think was called Biblioteksgaten. By far one of the most beautiful shopping precincts I've been in. There are lovely garden beds, wide street fronts, nothing overstated. This is a part of the world you'd be very proud to call home. Most cities have an area like this, but this seems larger, and more pleasant than most.

Sadly the stores are all closed, we stroll back up towards the hotel and slink into bed, how is it 11pm, it's looks like 6pm at the latest!