My second day of returning started very early in the morning after a long night of travel. The bus brought us to Stockholm just after seven o’clock. Even though I had several hours to wait for my hotel room, returning to city life brought more than one pleasant joy and a well-deserved rest.
Morning Stockholm and Waiting for Accommodation
The bus journey brought mixed feelings. On one hand, it went by relatively quickly and offered comfort; on the other hand, it was long, uncomfortable, and most importantly, cold due to the intense air conditioning. We arrived in Stockholm shortly after seven in the morning. However, my hotel didn’t offer check-in until 4:00 PM. Fortunately, I was able to leave my luggage at the reception at least. Afterwards, I started wandering around the city’s surroundings. I felt very dirty and smelly after the entire trek. It wasn’t pleasant at all among the well-groomed and smiling locals. Therefore, I was incredibly looking forward to a shower and clean clothes.
Lunch at COOP and Bottle Deposits in Sweden
Around 11:30 AM, I stopped at the COOP supermarket. Again, I grabbed a cold salad from the Picadeli bar and treated myself to a delicious lunch. I really stuffed myself. At that moment, however, I realized I was in a kind of strange darkness or mental slump from extreme fatigue. Besides that, I threw away an empty water bottle. It had a great size and shape, which I regretted afterwards. Moreover, it had a deposit, something we’re not used to in the Czech Republic. So, I decided not to throw away the second bottle from lunch. I want to return it tomorrow when I go to buy the tube of smoked reindeer cheese at home, which we were issued on the trek.
Observing City Life and Well-Deserved Rest
While walking around the city, I observed the local hustle and bustle. Many people in Stockholm ride bicycles or electric scooters from brands like Bolt. Plus, a lot of bikes have electric assistance. New cars, often electric too, cruise the streets. I had never seen so many Volkswagen ID. Buzz electric cars in my life as I did in Sweden. I also encountered two young women laden with many dogs, which was apparently a local dog-walking service. But I was already very tired. Although my watch didn’t record any sleep on the bus, some rest must have occurred because I closed my eyes for a moment. So, I moved to the hotel lobby and waited until two o’clock. As soon as I finally got my keys at 4:00 PM, I collected my luggage and headed to my room. The room was unusually small, a double, but otherwise perfectly fine. I immediately treated myself to a long shower. I had to lather and wash several times before I felt truly clean. I put on clean clothes and headed back to COOP for another Picadeli salad. In short, it’s stronger than me! I also bought the planned tube of smoked reindeer cheese right away. Then, back in the room, I hung my tent out to dry. I got into bed around eight in the evening and slept until morning. How do you handle the transition from wild nature back to the urban rush? Do you also have an irresistible craving for a specific food after completing a long trek? Write me your experiences in the comments below the article!
Day’s Summary
- Highlight of the day: A long shower after the trek, clean clothes, and another visit to the Picadeli salad bar.
- Interesting encounters: Two girls walking a large group of dogs on the streets of Stockholm.
