Meeting the Rick Steves group

This is by far the earliest we’ve ever checked in to out hotel prior to a tour. Both prior tours we slid in sideways, having  crammed in as much touring as possible enroute to meet the group. This time we have an entire hour to spare! I like it! So, more after we meet everyone and eat dinner together. 

Ok, here’s the crew! This is who we’ll spend the next 2 weeks and 3 countries with! 

We’re just about to make that all important decision...who will we buddy up with?! Then, out for our walk about and our first group dinner. Our guide Asa (pronounced Osa)  seems wonderfully fun. Looks like it’ll be a great group!
Ok, now we’re all buddied up and took a walk to sightsee and get good and hungry. We took the subway to the large island on the other side of the old town island south of the main area of Stockholm, I forgot the name of it, though. We have been all around it on our boat cruise a couple of days ago, so it’s nice to see the interior. We go to a quite famous and traditional restaurant rhat was actually a major place in “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”. The characters met there every Tuesday night.

Having not read the series, I’ll take Asa’s word for it. 

We had traditional food...different flavors of pickled herring (big yum), and...wait for it...Swedish meat balls! What makes them Swedish was the accompaniments...lingonberries, pickled cucumber, mashed potatoes, and gravy. One MUST eat some of each with every bite to really ‘get it’. 

On the walk back to the subway, we saw more scenes from the dragon tattoo series. Guess it has to go on must read list! 

So, now we’re back at our luxurious hotel at a whopping 10:30 pm, and it’s just gotten dark. We’ll sleep quickly for a 9:00a departure tomorrow!