June 24, 2017 I landed in Stockholm today, taking plane from JFK Airport on June 23, landed in Reykavik, Iceland near midnight, and flying to Stockholm around 1:00 AM. It landed about 6:30 AM Stockholm time.
During the flight from Reykavik to Iceland, I was wide awake, but since it was the middle of the night Sweden time, everyone on the plane had all the blinds closed to sleep. However, it was bright, sunny, with blue skies outside. I opened the blinds a few times to peek, and as we neared Stockholm, I saw lots of beautiful trees and green. Once I landed, I stopped in the airport to have some coffee and breakfast, thinking I purchased yogurt with muesli, but it was cottage cheese and muesli. I made my way down to the airport lobby, asking for directions to the Arlanda Express train. I was told, "You have to exit the airport." Feeling sheepish, I existed, headed down the escalator, but it wasn't moving. Finally, I stepped onto it to walk down it, and to my surprise, it then started moving! Smart escalator. I sat in a cave-like waiting area for the train, and the ceiling was painted red and covered with plaster. Finally, a very quiet, modern, yellow train pulled up.
I exited at Central Station, Stockholm, and wandered around tunnels looking for my next destination. I finally asked directions, and made my way toward "green and blue" lines, hopping on the train, and exiting after one stop to Gamla Stan, which is translated to "Old Town".
I then exited (which took a few tries... I couldn't find the exit), looked at my printed directions for the hostel, and made my way up a cobblestone street. The streets were completely empty, as it was about 8:00 AM on a National Holiday, Midsummer Day. Here is the video I took as I walked up the street looking for the hostel.
I was given a code to enter the building, and a code to access the luggage room to drop off my things until check-in. I quickly cleaned up in the bathroom, changed into clean clothes, and then decided to walk around the area until the check-in time of 2:00 PM.
I ate some food, took some pictures, and wandered around.
I took photos of store window displays, since everything was closed on the holiday (except 7-11). I imagined that my mother would love to see the little Swedish items on display, since she's never been to Sweden, but has 100% Swedish ancestry. She often searches and scours the internet for little Swedish items to place in her home, just like these (except the trolls).
Once check-in arrived, I was given the code to my room, and my linens because you need to rent linens in Sweden unless you brought your own.
I then tried to get a much needed nap, until the manager came back in and said, "Wait! I put you into the wrong room!" She put me in a co-ed room when I had paid for an upgraded single-sex room. She said she would refund me my sheet rental.
So, I re-made my bed in the room next door to the first room, taking the only available bed, which was the top bunk nearest the door. I took a sleeping pill, and basically slept until the next morning.
Here are some pictures of the inside of the hostel:
Hostel Shared Kitchen
Common Area. There were two more tables.
Common Area
One of four showers in the hostel. Most (but not all) had their own private sinks.
Three Showers were in one room, and this was the ledge/organizer for that room. There was a shared hairdryer here.
My bunk is top right. I took the locker in back of the bunk.
Common Room
Two Computers for Guest Access
I will end this post with some of the pictures I took today of the empty cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan.
The hostel entrance is to the left. Notice the sign, "Castanea Hostel"
This restaurant was below the hostel. My room windows were above the awning.
