God Dag! After a beautiful day at sea, we arrived in Stockholm.

We all got up to enjoy as nice breakfast together. I must say, the breakfasts are 1M times better than dinner. I haven't sailed Royal Carribbean since my trip to Alaska, many moons ago. But if my memory serves me correctly, the dinind room experience was much better. Maybe I've just been spoiled by Celebrity.

Anyway, I got off and there were my friends (Hop On Hop Off buses) waiting for me. Since I'd pre-booked, I just handed the tour salesman my voucher, he handed me a ticket and I proceeded to the bus.

Ques are always the places where you experience the worst in non-American tourists. Some of them are the worst travellers I have ever seen. They're rude, loud and obnoxious. But then again, in Cleveland, you don't have to jump in front of anyone nor push your way through a crowd, BECAUSE, everybody has a ticket, that's assigned to a seat. The caste system is still alive in many of these people.

Anywho, so much for that, back to my adventures. I headed into Old Town for a bit of shopping. Gamla stan (Old Town) is genuine Stockholm. Its cobbled streets and narrow 17th-century alleys create an atmosphere like nowhere else in the world. If you visit nothing else while in Stockholm, be sure to spend at least an hour or two here. It will enchant visitors of all ages. Gamla stan will interest history buffs and shoppers alike with small and large shops on both sides of the street offering jewellery, souvenirs, rare books and gifts. You may also hear street musicians along the way. For medieval atmosphere, tourist attractions and shopping, you simply cannot miss Old Town. The tiny, often cobble-stoned alleys are lined with several shops. Most of them are quite small, with old-fashioned interiors. For those yearning to mix in a bit of sightseeing, the Old Town is a major attraction in itself, and it houses the Royal Palace. When your feet begin to ache, sip a latte and enjoy a snack at one of the many cafes or have a meal at one of the several restaurants. Let me tell you, these cobblestones are kicking my butt.

I hopped back on the bus and the next stop was totally intended for Stuart. I headed over to the Vasa Museum. I really hadn't planned this stop for myself, but I had to get something for Stuart. After I plopped down 45 Kr. (about $9), I headed in. Once I stepped through the second set of double-doors, I couldn't believe my eyes. The "Vasa" was massive. Nothing like our cruiseship, but still massive. In 1628, the highly-decorated warship, Vasa sailed from Stockholm on her anticipated maiden voyage and sank. However, three centuries later, in 1961, Vasa was discovered and salvaged, and is now the world's only preserved 17th-century ship. It has now been converted into a museum. The cleverly constructed museum allows you to view it from six levels. There are all types of artifacts housed here. This was an absolutely great experience, and I'm truly not a museum person. Sorry Stuie, I need a new camera. It was so dark in there my photos did not come out well, but I think I have a few photos of replicas. The vessel so intrigued me, I went to the theatre to watch the movie, which was also very interesting.

After that, I headed over to the giftshop. I'm trying to make myself come to grips with the fact, that everything on this trip going to be extremely expensive - I mean EXPENSIVE! You know when all the souvenir shoppes sell furs, everything in it is expensive. And the stamps, MY GOODNESS. If I hear another person tell me about the cost of postage, I'll probably scream. I left that shoppe spending way too much money. Walked around to take a few photos of the Nordic Museum, then I walked back to the Vasa Museum to catch my bus. The bus stopped in town and I did some more strolling. I stuck my head in and out of a few shoppes. I really wanted to take the Hop On Hop Off boat tour (included with my ticket) but there just wasn't enough time. I walked around the waterway taking a few snapshots. By this time it was approaching time to try and make my way back to the ship.

On the way back, we'd passed "Kaknastornet." One of the tourist information centres is located in Kaknäs Tower i Ladugårdsgärdet. This centre is open in the evenings and an important place for tourists, especially those visiting the city for the first time. The TV tower also has a restaurant, gallery and cafe. I'd taken photos of it on the way out, but had no idea of what it was. I wasn't worried that we wouldn't make it back to the ship on time, I really just wanted a little time to spend in the souvenir shop there. I felt a little bad for the Indian driver. I knew if he didn't speed it up a bit, he was headed for a beatdown by the passengers. He was driving quite slowly and talking on a cellphone. Some people started knocking on the walls of the bus and tapping on the windows. Then one guy just says it, "you need to get off that cellphone, we're going to miss the ship." Then the driver says loudly, "I cannot drive faster, this is a touring bus." He actually did speed up a bit, but remained on that cellphone. He was driving like a snail. We made it back to the port on time, with about a half an hour to spare. There really wasn't enough time here, and I's spent most of the day at the Vasa Museum, it had just gotten away from me. I'd stopped at the gift shoppe at the pier. Realized I should have stopped here before I headed out. The place was jam packed. I brought a few souvenirs, then made my way back to the ship.

I'd dropped off my bags and headed up to the dining room. Unfortunately it was closed and I was subjected to, what I call, "bug sandwiches." There's a small snack area near "The Windjammer" that serves in-between sandwiches and hot beverages. The sandwiches always have gnats on them. I told the girls, if something happens to me, blame those sandwiches.

As I was eating, a woman approached my table and asked, "do you mind if I sit?" Of course, I told her to sit. We talked and talked until "The Windjammer" opened. Ruth and I proceeded in. We grabbed some dinner, sat and talked for a couple of hours. Ruth is Puerto Rican, recently widowed and travelling solo from North Carolina. She left me with so much more than I bargained for, but the most memorable thing she told me was, "It's okay to be in love with someone. Love is a good thing. There's nothing wrong with beoing in love." As she raised both her hands, which were clearly ridden with arthritis, she said, "just be sure that you both ADORE each other. That is what will keep you together. That is what my husband and I had." My eyes are tearing now, just typing this, just as they did while we were face-to-face. She was so passionate in her speaking. I's really like to talk to her again sometime. I cannot say, that in all my travels, I have sat and talked that long to anyone of Hispanic descent. The woman held my hands as if she was trying to read my future. It was time for the dining room to open and Ruth had given me a lesson on how to eat sushi. She explained to start with the vegetable 1st and then after I've gotten used to the taste move to cooked meats, then on to raw meat. I put the sliced ginger and wasabi sauce on the single piece I'd gotten, but I don't think I'll be acquiring that taste, anytime soon. Perhaps not until my next life.

After that wonderful and enlightenting dinner, I headed up to my room and got my shower, but really wanted to watch a movie and have a drink. I got dressed and grabbed my notebook and a couple of movies and headed up to the bar, or should I say, a non-smoking bar. I found an empty one, put my bag down and ask the bartender, "how do you make your Long Island Iced Teas?' He exdplained and then I explained to him, how I'd like mine made. After he made it, he said, "normally, I would have to charge you $25 for this drink, but you must promise me that you tell no one I made it for you like this." I promised as he passed me the drink. He charged my cheap self $9, which I felt was still expensive. I sat and watched "Awake" with Terrence Howard and then "Six Reasons Why." Don't bother looking for the latter, it stunk and I was tipsy. It was still a stinker. Headed back to the room to call it a night. After that drink, that's all I could do anyway. Ellen came in and we talked a bit, but both of us called it a night.

Hejda Stockholm!