Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Kennel

Lucy is at a kennel called Hundgrottan - literal translation is dog cave... Which is true.  It is on the first level of an underground parking garage. The employees and kennel is nice inside once you walk down the ramp to a door shining in the darkness. It's a block from Vasaparken where there is a big dog run.

Glass ceilings can be fun!

Sofia and Audra are having a lot of fun and racking up mileage running back and forth on the glass walkway in the Prague apartment.  I think it's worth serious consideration as an addition to any home renovation...


 

 







Prague, December 30, 2013

4am came way too early for all of us, but we were out the door by 5am to catch our 7am flight to Oslo, Norway then onto Prague.  Gordon and the girls were bent out of shape that they were denied access to the Crown Room at the Oslo airport because the employees there are sticklers for following the rules.  I think they are a bit 'spoilt' as the Brits say!
Off to Prague
sunrise at the airport in Oslo, Norway

Waiting to board our flight to Prague the girls noticed a Thai airline plane which led Sofia to comment that 'sometimes they eat dogs in Thailand'... apparently the boy from Thailand in Sofia's class shared that tidbit of information.  Audra had already asked that we never vacation in Thailand after her class talked about the tsunami there during their disaster preparedness unit.  So we'll be crossing that destination off our list.

We arrived in Prague on a beautiful, sunny day. Gordon rented a 4 bedroom apartment, through VRBO, in the Mala Strana neighborhood, close to the Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle.  The apartment is newly renovated and next door to the American Embassy (read good security, good neighborhood).  The owners showed us around the apartment they had just finished furnishing today. It is wonderful to be in a place where they have thought of every detail from tea and coffee to basic spices in a fully equipped kitchen.  The girls are thrilled... with the glass walkway between 2 bedrooms upstairs and the jacuzzi tub, complete with party lights and stereo, in the bathroom they share.
Living room of our Prague apartment
glass walkway

beautiful new kitchen

master bedroom

girls in the jacuzzi tub with party lights and stereo, very Barbie!


After a little down time we headed out and walked from St. Nicholas Church, across the Charles Bridge, through Old Town Square to Sakura for sushi (the girl's choice for dinner).  The girls were thrilled to discover a Starbucks close by and immediately made plans for tomorrow's breakfast.
view on our street
other direction on our street, Trziste 11

St. Nicholas Church

beautiful detail on St. Nicholas church door

old trams

woo hoo!

luckily they speak Engligh

cool Prague pes (dog)

start of the Charles Bridge. Apparently the side where the Swedish army stole the statues off the bridge long ago... but didn't get any further

Charles Bridge

sunset from the Charles Bridge


Old Town Square

600 year old astronomical clock

Old Town Square


Prague Castle

a few of Prague's spires

discovery a new treat... trdlo

dough rolled on a fat cylinder, rolled in sugar and toasted over a fire
fun sculpture on a building

yeah!

3 flights of stairs up to our apartment






Saturday, December 28, 2013

Viking Boat - 'Ragnarok'

When we first moved to Stockholm we would see this viking boat replica in the harbor every day.  It gives tours around Stockholm city and is now parked at the docks along Strandvagen (it's winter home?). 


Friday, December 27, 2013

Djurgarden Bridge

December 26, 2013 - Met a friend to walk our dogs on a quiet 'boxing day'.  This is the bridge from Ostermalm over to Djurgarden....
Strandvagen, 8:30am the day after Christmas
Djurgarden bridge
 Nordic god #1
Nordic god #2
lamp post detail
Nordic god #3
Nordic god #4
locks on the bridge
the entrance to Djurgarden walking paths