My Stockholm walk

It’s been cold here and instead of getting outside, Robert and I have been hibernating by the fire. But today was sunny and I was feeling like I needed air. So I went for a walk with a friend around my favorite path on Södermalm. The route goes along the water and I cycle it daily in the warmer, lighter months. It’s always full of people, life and energy. But I had not been on the path since November and I’ve missed it. Much like seeing a friend who you’ve been out of touch with, there were changes that I noticed. All the boats were in, of course, pulled up onto land for the winter. The garden houses were all shut up and deserted, but some had Christmas wreaths on their doors. No one was on the beach. And for the most part, the water was completely frozen over. It sounds like the scene was desolate, but it was not. While the trees were bare, the path was busy with a small, regular parade of people. One of the many things that I love about Stockholm is how on even the coldest of winter days, if it’s sunny, people are out.  There were joggers and occasional cyclists, people walking dogs, Moms and Dads pushing prams. But mostly, people of all ages were walking and enjoying the sunshine. It felt good to be a part of the gradual return to daylight, the gradual return to life.

Tagged as: Sandra Carpenter's book, Södermalm walk, Stockholm, Stockholm walks, writing about Sweden