Travel Day - Getting there

Getting to my hotel in Stockholm from Novato was a looooong travel day. I left my house in Novato via Uber at 11:15AM local time on May 22nd and checked into my hotel in Stockholm  at 6:15PM local time on May 23rd.

Total travel time - 22 hours

The flight from SFO to Copenhagen took 10 1/2 hours. It was a comfortable flight even though it was long. The food was good and the airline staff were pleasant and attentive. Two meals were served. Dinner about 2 hours after takeoff. Breakfast about 2 hours before landing in Copenhagen. Two cups of coffee with breakfast and I was good to go for the rest of my travel day. 

The flight from Copenhagen to Stockholm was about an hour and a half after a two hour layover. Again it was a reasonable flight with friendly and attentive staff.

Customs at ARN was absolutely the easiest I have ever been through. I got my checked bag and simply wheeled it and my backpack carry-on right through to the taxi station without stopping. Although I had the suspicion that my bag was looked at somewhere along the way. The zippers didn't seem to be in the same position as I had them in when I left Novato. I could be wrong.

I took the Arlanda Express train from the Stockholm airport to Stockholm Central station. It's a high speed rail that takes just 18 minutes at a top speed of 200km per hour. As I rode the train through the scenic country between ARN and Stockholm Central, a feeling of belonging enveloped me. After all, I was in the country of the majority of my ancestry. 

The one glitch in the trip was the taxi from Stockholm Central to my hotel, Unique Hotel at 7A Junfrugatan. $44. This for what Google Maps states is 2.6 km and should take 11 minutes. Sonia Holz tells me to save my receipt and I might be able to get some relief. 

After checking in and getting somewhat settled I set out to get a bite to eat and then get a good nights sleep. Less than a block from my hotel were a couple of restaurants. I choose the one serving burgers and sandwiches. I had a very good pastrami sandwich. The waiter proudly stated they were voted 3rd best burgers in all of Sweden with the top two being food trucks. Of course I'll return for a burger. I have a total of 11 days in Stockholm at this same hotel.

I came back to the hotel and lights were out at 9PM local time. Snore.