The Stockholm Archipelago

Before I head off to the Italian island of Sardinia, I thought it would be appropriate to share with you the  images of some of the Swedish islands I visited on my last trip there. The Stockholm Archipelago has something like 24,000 islands that make it up, which seemed impossible to me until I was on a  ferry boat sailing through them. Once you are among them they become inumerable. It seems that some Swedes take to summering on these islands in small little cottages that seem more fitting in Tolkien's Shire then they do in the waters off the Baltic Sea. I set out on a ferry boat from Stavnas and my first stop was the island of Sandhamn. After a lovely walk across the island, it was on to Grinda, Vaxholm and then back to Stockholm. I made a map of my journey here.

Stockholm Dressed In Flowers, 2.

All of the flowers shown in these photographs were taken on Djurgården, a park on a large island in the center of Stockholm close to all the main Museums. The Boat Photograph was taken on a small beach on Lake Mälaren, not far from downtown. The other photographs are from all around the city, the Hot Air Balloons were for the annual Stockholm Culture Festival.

Stockholm Dressed In Flowers

I went back to Stockholm this summer for a quick visit.  The summer there is wonderful, the weather lovely, and the flowers in full bloom. I went to the Botanical Gardens, where I took most of these flower shots. The rest are from around the city parks.

Staten Island: Snug Harbor, the Boat Graveyard and the Conference House

Yesterday I went to Staten Island. On purpose. It has a bad rap I think, but there are indeed some pretty amazing places that are certainly worth your attention. I started at Snug Harbor, once a community for retired Seamen, but is now a Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. Its quite charming and reminds me much of Governor's Island. Sadly the outdoor maze was closed, but the rest of the grounds were open and provided a lovely few hours of meandering.

The next stop was less organized than the last. The entrance way into the Arthur Kill Ship Graveyard (if you could call it an entrance) is through a ramshackle old cemetery on the side of the road and down into what is clearly a toxic waste filled swamp. 

Next up on the south shore of the island, the Conference House. Some pretty cool history, so you should certainly click the link and read about it.  There is a small road that leads down to a pavillion overlooking the water. The view, New Jersey.

Madrid and the Matterhorn

I went to Madrid for the first time last month, and sadly I wasn't able to get out and see the city the way that I wanted too and take some proper photos due to a wicked bad head cold.  But not to worry though because I get to go again a few times in July, so I promise there will be a proper Madrid posting or two.  The photos below are just of the very quick walk around the city that I was able to get in while my DayQuil was still working. Like I said, some time within the next month I will have a post a proper group of pics from Madrid but for now, I hope you enjoy these. 

Also, I was able to get a great shot of the Matterhorn on my way back from Milan last week.  Anyone been skiing in the Alps? One day, I will do that :)