Kaknästornet

So as Kristy and I are getting down to our last few weeks in Stockholm, we're struggling a little bit to figure out new places to go, and interesting things to see. Personally, I just like being here. I like riding the bus and the tube, and just walking around. It's interesting for me just to people watch, and there is so much to look at as far as buildings, and monuments, and statues, etc. But, Kristy told me to do some research, and figure out some things I wanted to do. So, I did a little research, and found the Kaknästornet TV & Radio tower. It's the tallest building in Stockholm, although it's not really a building. It's a cement pillar with a gift shop at the base, and a restaurant, cafe/bar, and observation deck at the top. So Friday afternoon we set out for this place, not exactly sure where to find it. We (OK, Kristy) knew the general area that it was in, but we were playing it by ear in finding it. We got off at the tube stop we suspected it would be near, and just started walking. We found the Swedish Television and Swedish Radio buildings, so we knew we were close. But the buildings around there were just tall enough that you couldn't see the tower. We finally came around a corner and saw it in the distance. We decided we would just walk it, and started across this vast open park which separated us from the tower. The park was covered with ice and little ponds created by melting snow, which made the walk kind of treacherous. More of a pain in the arss than anything else. We got close to the tower, and had to cut through the woods to get there. We finally arrived, and there was almost no cars in the parking lot. We entered by walking down a corridor and into the gift shop where you pay to take the elevator to the top. We got to the top, and the view was great, even though the sky was overcast. It was evening, and the sun hadn't set. So I told Kristy that if we went and got a drink and/or something to eat, it would probably allow the sun enough time to set, giving us a nice view of the lights of Stockholm in every direction. So we continued around the interior viewing area taking pictures, and made our way out onto the outdoor observation deck for a few more pictures. It was a great view, and I was surprised at how many cruise ships we could see coming and going from up there. We had seen the cruise ship that docks in the area they call Slussen on a couple of occasions, including New Years. But we must have seen 5 or 6 other ships coming and going from other ports. So after that, Kristy and I walked down a couple of floors and found the restaurant. We were seated at a table next to the window, and were immediately happy we decided to have dinner. We got a beer, and each ordered the Swedish Steak, which is a steak with an egg on top. I had thought about going with the ever safe meatballs, because I've been burned before by taking a chance on something unfamiliar. But I decided to take a chance, and I was glad I did. Everything was great. The company was great, which goes without saying, and on top of that, the beer was ice cold, and the food was awesome. And, in a crazy twist, the people at the table next to us had just gotten engaged either moments before we got there, or moments after we arrived. After dinner, we climbed back up to the observation deck for more pictures. When we decided that we had had enough, we caught the bus into downtown Stockholm to catch the tube. Even the bus ride from the tower to the tube was cool. It was one of those rides that really helped us make a connection as far as where we were in Stockholm. We came to a spot I recognized, and it helped to complete a part of the mental map in my head. All in all, Kristy and I both agreed that this was a great adventure. We experienced a lot of very different things, without venturing very far. It was fun exploring a new area with my new watch on. My other watch stayed home. 

Buh bye.