Day 15 - Linkoping to Stockholm

Definitely behind on the posts now, but want to get this up to date as its nice to have a travel record for the future!

Today, I have to admit, was another not so great day.  It started out okay with breakfast at the hotel and then we got packed up and on the road to try to make it to Stockholm by 2pm.  Just as we got in the car it started to downpour! I've never seen rain like that.  Rob has a video of it which I hope he puts up on his blog: www.foggytravels.com.

We got on the highway and headed north.  Everyone was a bit cranky today because our sleeping habits have not been great. The drive was uneventful, but we were running late.  We figured the best thing to do was get to our hotel and drop the luggage and then drive to the rental car place and then make our way back to the hotel.  The trouble was that we didn't know how far the rental car place was from our hotel!

We arrived at the Radisson Blu Royal Park at 10 mins to 2pm.  We got unloaded and because we were in such a hurry, we just put our luggage into the storage and told the desk clerk that we were here and could he please try to find us a room with one large bed instead of 2 twins.  The Fougner car had stopped at the airport to get the lost bag so we told the guy that they were enroute too.

When we typed in the address for the rental car drop off, it was close...thank goodness.  Off we zoomed and with a fluke wrong turn we ended up in the right place for the car return, which was in the underground parking area of the Sheraton Hotel.  We dropped off the keys at the Sheraton front desk and then headed to the concierge to get some help with finding our hotel.

Unfortunately, it turns out that our hotel is a long long way from downtown.  It was not on any of the maps of the area so finding our way back was going to be a challenge...and we had 2 kids, the stroller and the car seats to contend with.

A taxi seemed excessive, so the very nice concierge guy gave us transit directions.  It turns out that we had to take the commuter train to a certain stop, and then the bus from there.

The commuter train only leaves so often as well, and the tickets were not cheap.  We finally make our way onto the train and arrive at the station where we are to catch the bus.  Apparently the walk wasn't too long, but with no map, we didn't want to risk getting lost.

As we exit the train station, we see our bus go by...and its really hot out I should mention, so everyone is hot and tired and cranky at this stage.

We wait for a long time and don't see another bus, so finally we catch a taxi and get dropped off at the hotel.  It has now been over 2 hours to just drop off the darn rental car...the girls are going a little bonkers...and I'm at my limit too.

We go to check in and the guy tells me that they have no rooms with 1 large bed...after he gives me a lesson on the widths of the twin beds in europe (after which I felt like clawing his eyes out) and tells me basically that we are not as important as his group arriving tomorrow (after which I felt like wringing his neck), we head to our room and discover no air conditioning and a hot room.

We were to go for dinner this night with relatives on my mom's side who live just north of Stockholm.  When we get in touch with mom, we are told that we have about 20 mins to get ready before heading out again.  I have to admit, we were just all at the limit by this stage.  After showering and dressing 4 people, in a hotel room that is scorching hot...we are not really a happy group.

Eventually the stress of it all and the rush to catch the bus (which we were not excited about getting on after spending the last 2 hours commuting out of downtown), I finally lose my cool and pull the plug.  The girls have not napped, we have not napped...its a recipe for disaster.  The Fougner clan head out for dinner and we go back to the room to chill out and have some much needed down time.

After a couple of hours of trying to nap, we finally give up and decide to head out for dinner.  We decide to take a cab, not wanting to face transit again.  This was a big mistake.  Its hugely expensive and we are a long way out.  The cabbie also takes a wrong turn and has to back track, and then in the end he charges us extra for the kids seats that he forced us to use.  I gave him a piece of my mind much to Dave's chagrin!

Our dinner was lovely, it was the best part of the day...its just too bad that it was so hot.  We ate at VAPIANO which is this great pizza/pasta restaurant.  You get a card as you enter, and you go up and order from all the various bars...and then you charge it to your card.  When you're finished, you take your card to the check out and pay.  The food was amazing...and it definitely seemed to be a hot spot for young people and families too.

After dinner we decide to brave the train again, we arrive just before one is leaving, so the timing is good...when we arrive at our stop, we head up to the bus stop and its not too long before one comes along.  After what seems like forever, the bus stops and the driver tells us all to get out.  Dave and I look at each other and then back at the driver in dismay.  "Where are we?" I ask.  We are nowhere near our hotel from what we can tell.  Apparently the train station attendant had given us the wrong instructions and we had taken the bus in the other direction.  We couldn't believe it!  The next driver coming on was nice enough not to kick us off and let us ride in the other direction to our hotel.  I think it was after 11pm by the time we got back.

What a day...we decide that we have to find another hotel as staying this far out and commuting in and out just want work for us.

After this incredibly long and arduous day we head up to our scorching hot room and go to bed....after rearranging all the furniture to suit us and the children!