jin loves to eat: Scandinavia Trip Day 7: Oslo, Stockholm

Ever had one of those days when every single thing just goes wrong?

Well, today is such day.

It is a series of unfortunate events.

First, the breakfast the hotel packed for us is dry and tasteless
(but still I finish everything)

And then, because of height restrictions, the double-decker bus that takes us to the train station cannot park near our platform, so we have to walk all the way to the opposite end of the station to board our train.

This artwork greets us as we get off the bus

We lug around all our luggages (there’s many, I tell you) through crowds, escalators, slopes and bumpy ground just to get to our platform.

Of course, along the way, someone trips, someone gets stuck in the revolving door, and someone falls face down on his luggage.

When we finally get to Track 6 where we are supposed to board the train, we are told that there is no train service today and that we have to walk all the way to Track 19 to board the bus to Stockholm

And so we lug our heavy bags and even heavier selves back through all the crowds, escalators, slopes and bumpy ground to get to Track 19

We wait forever at Track 19 only to be told that the train is coming after all, and that we have to hurry back to Track 6 or else we’ll miss it.

What

The

FFFFFFFFF

??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

So we rush back to Track 6… lugging luggages… through crowds… escalators… slopes… bumpy ground…

I guess I can say I now know Oslo Central Station like the back of my hand.

Train to Stockholm

We’re in it. Finally!!!
Uncle Frank, Auntie Babie, and the 3 Fayes

Mr. Ty, Flor and Me

It’s 7am and I’ve already done a whole day of walking.
I just have to reward myself with chips, hot chocolate and a bar of chocolate.

While the others doze off, I amuse myself watching this girl on the other side of the train.

She eats

She raises her legs and she reads

Then she sleeps

When we are just a few stops away from Stockholm, the train has to stop and wait for
1.5 hours due to a fire in one of the stations. Tell me, isn’t today our lucky day.

Ernest doesn’t care Vibson is pissed

Frances and Felisse go Justin Bieber And Florence… she eats

I eat, too. Nothing better to do.

Well, except take stolen shots of interesting hair.

Dirty-looking rope-like hair

Very interesting facial hair

Finally, at past 3pm, our train approaches Stockholm

Stockholm, the largest city and capital of Sweden, is the most populated urban area
in all of Scandinavia

Frances and friends at Central Station

We spot this grandpa with his cool ride while waiting for other tour mates to come out
from the station

Turns out one of our tour mates fell on the escalator.

And when she finally comes out, our tour bus engine wouldn’t start.

Unfortunate events.

“Uh oh,” thinks this unshaven man whom the travel agency hired just for the purpose of leading our group from train to bus

Anyway, after a few tries, the bus engine starts and we are finally on our way to lunch

Polis

People, bicycles, buildings, train

Locals enjoying a Thursday afternoon

Tourists starving on a Thursday afternoon

Stockholm is a beautiful city with saffron and terracotta-colored buildings.
It is my favorite among all cities we visit this trip.

Pay toilet

Trattoria Romana, our lunch venue

Or at least that’s what we thought

After we are all seated down and ready to eat, the restaurant refuses to serve us lunch.
(Don’t ask, I don’t know)
@#$%&!!!!!!! It is 4pm and we are dying of hunger!

So we get on the bus again, drive to Gamla Stan or Old Town to look for another restaurant.

Gamla Stan Waterfront

National Museum

Royal Palace and Obelisk

Royal Palace, closer this time

Poliswoman on polishorse

Stockholm Cathedral

Stortorget, the oldest square of Stockholm, is picturesque and filled with history.
In 1520, King Christian II used the square as the site for Stockholm Blood Bath
where he beheaded and hanged 90 people

Nowadays, Stortorget is a tourist destination lined with restaurants and cafes

The Stock Exchange Building on the northern side of the square houses the
Swedish Academy, Nobel Museum and Nobel Library

The Well

Daddy’s got pimpin’ hair

Our 5pm lunch is at restaurant Stortorgskallaren

Starved or not, the hazelnut raisin bread is the bomb!

I think someone forgot to put dressing on the salad

Lingonberries and pickled cucumber

The meatballs made with lamb, beef and pork are so rich and flavorful,
the gravy so thick and the mashed potato so creamy. The sweet tartness of
the lingonberries cuts through the richness and creaminess perfectly.
I finish my plate in no time. Easily the best meal of our trip.

Chocolate truffle is dark, smooth and sexy

Wiped out

After lunch, we get on the bus and head out to dinner.

Don’t look at me like that. It IS, after all, dinner time.

Yes, this ship is a hotel and a restaurant

Welcome aboard Malardrottningen

Group shot while waiting for food

Only Vibson’s mom can pull off this pose

Cream of chicken and corn

Salmon belly with marbled potatoes in dill cream

Raspberry tea cake with whipped cream and fruits

The Aunties and Uncles of our trip

After dinner, we check in at Elite Palace Hotel, drop off our bags and go out for drinks.

Our bartender at Grappa

We ask him for a “Swedish drink.” He says he’ll create a special Swedish concoction just for us. Ooohh. This “special cocktail” turns out to be just Absolut vodka + cranberry juice + lemon juice. Ayiah! No need to travel all the way to Sweden, I can make this
special Swedish drink for you in Manila.