Stockholm Hotel and Abba ( my idea unfortunately!)

It seems such a long time ago now since we left Paris, spent overnight in Berlin near the airport and then flew on to Stockholm.  This rather crazy way of travelling was all part of my " great eternal plan" of getting the cheapest airfares for our destinations.

It is often more expensive to fly one way than return in Europe.  In any case when I was looking for the cheapest flights (in about March), it was easiest to get Paris - Berlin return and then Berlin to Stockhom return.

When we arrived in Stockholm, the Arlanda express ( the high speed train from airport to city) was out for the weekend due to track maintenance.  However we used it later in the week.

My next brilliant idea (from a comment on Trip Advisor) was to book on the executive floor of the Hilton ( Aah! Happy memories from my working days).  This meant we had included in the tariff, access to the exec lounge as well as breakfast, snacks and coffee and tea during the day and at night drinks and canapés. Therefore we only had to cater for ourselves at lunch.  On top of this, the Hotel was having a special for a three night stay ( for bookings made direct with them) so we were happy little vegemites.

Our Swedish hotel was so conveniently located and we had a great corner room.

Interior entry to room - same as the hallway for all the rooms. Looks like a sauna doesn't it?

We had to remember the room door opened out into the passageway and not into the room and of course Skum was fire extinguisher- not the way the hotel greeted us as we opened our door each day.

IKEA ( or equivalent) featured prominently in the wardrobe of the Hotel

Our bathroom was very swish but so much white and so many mirrors.....

After an early checkin, we went onto what I thought we should see while in Stockholm. ( Bad idea after Palace of Versailles in particular, but overall not my best idea of the trip.)

Jonathan was funny,  the costumes and props were interesting but the visit was not exactly a highlight for us.

I know with all these photos, it's a bit hard to tell the real Abba folk from the pretenders.......

Going to Abba did have its side benefits - very side benefits.  I have discovered that I could be exactly what the Salvation Army is seeking to boost their coffers.

J and I did a karaoke while we were at the Museum ( all included in the admission price). You then access "your" recording made under the hot lights of the booth on the internet is a code ( that will forever remain secret). 

Fortunately the Yabba  (as I started to call it) Museum understands that most people sound horrible ( I listened to people before us and they were 100 times worse than me!) so the playback has a very loud blast of the Abba group and the volume for the "wanna bees" at a low ( but not low enough) level.

In any case, I'm positive if I offered my services to the Salvos with my audition tape, I would be a major fund raiser for them.

It was very strange to come to terms with Stockholm becoming dark early but this in no way diminishes its beauty as a city.