Sunshine in Stockholm

Arriving in Stockholm after 24+ hours of travel is beyond a relief. Smelly and sticky from the hectic terminal change at heathrow thanks to a strong headwind delaying our plane, we made our connection, but our bags?!?! No where to be seen!!
It's confirmed with the baggage counter the bikes and luggage are still in London. Not too much of problem, we give them our accommodation details so the bikes will be delivered to the hostel tonight, fingers crossed.
Nothing left to do but jump on a bus to Stockholm central.
As we pull out of the airport I'm instantly blown away by how green it is. Everywhere I look is bursting at the seams with tall pines, branches tightly tucked as if still blanketed with invisible snow or flower sprinkled meadows in yellows, blues and whites.
As we get closer to Stockholm we notice an interesting phenomenon, people everywhere are taking their shirts off! Dotting the countless parks are girls in bikinis laying about chatting and men reclined on benches squinting into the sun.

It's hard no to notice the bikes everywhere as we walk the streets of Stockholm. A good majority of which are girls no helmets hair and summer dresses flowing in the breeze. Riding single speed, step-through frames with sweeping bars.

We stop for a sandwich at a bakery and stare out the window on to the street scene. It's alive with hustle and bustle of well dressed Stockholmians going about their business.
After lunch we rub shoulders with the hordes of tourists in the Gamla Stan, the old city. The tiny cobble stone lanes a shelter from the now scorching sun. A little too touristy for our tastes - think, The Rocks in Sydney, we head over the bridge to Sodermalm and check in to the hostel.
When we get to our room with a picturesque window overlooking the park we both collapse in to our bunk beds for a much urned snooze.

I'm woken an hour or two later by the sound of Swedes conversing as they stroll past in the golden afternoon sun and birds chirping excitedly.
I drag myself out of bed and check at reception for the luggage, still nothing.

With Miriam still sound asleep I go for a stroll in the park that the hostel borders. I discover more shirtless sun bakers and hordes of picnickers enjoying the beautiful afternoon.
At first it looks like some type of festival and the crowd rivals a heaving Bondi. But it's just a beautiful summers day in Stockholm.