A little trip to Gällnö

The weather in Stockholm has been fantastic this summer - I think better than I can remember having seen for a long time. And what's a better use of a good summer than to go out in the archipelago. We have gone several times this summer and last time we decided to go to Gällnö, where they have a very nice beach and proper (gravel) roads to drive the buggy on.

Several boats leave from Nybrokajen, where you have a nice view over Dramaten - seen below in beautiful summer light.

Waxholmsbolaget's boats often leave from Stromkajen, right opposite Grand Hotel. This morning we went with the boat Gallno (needless to say that boat goes to Gallno :). The trip was about three hours and we passed through the beautiful archipelago with its characteristic small islands (called kobbe in Swedish). 

Alexander was as usual a good boy on the trip, even though he didn't want to sleep when there was so much excitement. Below is Maria and Alexander holding hands creating hearts. 

When arriving to Gallno there was a bit of a walk to the restaurant/bar and then a bit more to the beach. Along the way we saw several typical houses, built in wood and painted red with white corners. 

There were still signs of the midsummer celebrations. 

At the restaurant they served sausages and hamburgers clearly freshly made:

After dinner it was time to go home. It was a good day. 

Stockholm archipelago

Stockholm Archipelago is one of the most beautiful places I know and it is of course extra pleasant in the summer. There are boats leaving from Nybrokajen in Central Stockholm every morning. We left just after eight and the boats were lined up at the pier.

We had decided to go to Rodloga - four hours away by boat. The tour had several stops along the way, including Waxholm - the capital of the archipelago - and lots of nice views. Below is at Furusunds Brygga. Very Swedish. Very picturesque. 

Finally we got to Rodloga. A steam boat had gotten there just before us. Next time I go I want to take the steam boat.

At Rodloga they celebrated the 'Rodloga Day' - a yearly event. That meant a fair amount of people - to be the archipelago - but it was still very calm and relaxing. 

Many boats had anchored outside the island. 

Some viking-like boats was on display because of the event... 

...and there was live music. 

But most of the time we just enjoyed the nature. 

The little one also enjoyed himself!

After four hours on the island it was time to go back. This time it was Sjobris that came and picked us up for the ride home. 

London walk 2 - Mayfair

My second London walk took me to Mayfair. It started out at Green Park underground station walking towards Old and New Bond Street. On the way is wonderful Ritz.

New Bond Street has become synonymous with high international fashion and luxury. All the big designers are here - Chanel, Prada, Cartier... And of course Tiffany's. 

Just where Old Bond Street meets New Bond Street the statue 'Allies' is found. The bronze a statue shows Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt talking. 

Typical Mayfair street.

Cozy Shepherd Market, just off Curzon Street - a well-hidden warren of alleyways is lined with small shops, pubs and restaurants. 

#48 Berkley Square, where Churchill grew up.

Berkley Square.

The walk ended off at Regent Street... 

...and Piccadilly Circus. 

London walk 1 - Buckingham Palace and the parks

I have decided to do walks around London when I am free. The first walk was around Buckingham Palace and St. James's park, starting at Trafalgar square. I came come into the mall through The Admiralty Arch entering from Trafalgar Square. Normally the Mall is open for traffic but this morning it was open for pedestrians only, even though it was not Sunday (it's apparently closed for traffic on Sundays).

The Mall walking towards Buckingham Palace

Guarding

Buckingham Palace in all its pride

One of the best things with London is its park. Here is Green Park

St James's Park is one of my favourite parks in London. The park is stretching along the Mall, from Buckingham Palace almost up to Trafalgar Square and on the other side almost to Westminster and Victoria. 

Kids feeding the birds in St James's Park

Pelicans? In Green Park!? Have seen them there before so they must be permanent!

Resting swan

A weekend in Beijing

The weekend after the conference I stayed in Beijing. This was my third visit to the Chinese capital and I actually liked it a lot better than I've done before. The first day I just walked around the city. Had been to the forbidden city so I was ok with just walking around it, taking in its grandness from outside. Started my walk in Tiananmen Square, the fourth largest city square in the world. On the one end there is the gate to the forbidden city, Tianmen, which is also where Mao proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China on 1 October 1949.

Walking around the Forbidden City towards Jin Shan Park to the north of the monuments, I saw several people fishing in the waters around the sights. Here is Forbidden City viewed from Jin Shan Park. 

On the way back to the hotel I saw street vendors selling birds... 

...and food. 

Before heading to my quarters I took a tour in the street market just off Wangfujing Street  called Wangfujing Snack Street where you can travel back in time to to feel the old Peking Food Street. They serve things that I have not seen anywhere else and that I would not taste. Someone told me that they are mostly for show - for tourists (but then that someone told me that some still eat that food...  

The day after I went to the summer palace and the wall. The wall was magnificent. I have been to Badaling before so this time I went to Mitanyu. Like last time I was speechless. 

Short stop in Shanghai

This year's China conference with work was in Shanghai and Beijing and the first stop was Shanghai. I got a chance to walk around some in the central parts before the conference started and started out taking the metro to Nanjing Road, the main shopping street. Nanjing East goes down to the Bund or Zhongshan East No 1 Road. The Bund was the heart of colonial Shanghai, flanked on one side by the Huangpu River and on the other side by hotels, banks, offices and clubs. It was extensively rebuilt for the World Expo 2010.

From the Bund you get a good view of Pudong with the modern skyline and the famous TV-tower. 

From the Bund I walked along busy streets to Yu Gardens and Bazaar.

Yu Gardens is not really old but still appealing with its fanciful roofs. It was Sunday and very busy and it was impossible to find a tea house or a dumpling restaurant without long queues. 

Instead of eating in Yu Gardens I could have had street food, of which there was plenty! But I was  not ready to take that risk. 

On the way back I walked by some street vendors. Some busier than others... 

Local transport.

In the evening we went for dinner in Pudong and after that for a drink at the roof top bar at Ritz Carlton. The view over Pudong and the Bund was amazing.