We accompanied Jonas to the supermarket, and when I say supermarket I really mean SUPERmarket!
 

 

 

 
It was huge!  More like a Costco size with all kinds of interesting items and even free samples of Swedish meatballs, of course!
 

 
Mmm...cheddar cheese.
 

 
We went next door to a huge alcohol store because in Sweden that is the only type of store you can buy it from.  We found a couple of interesting wines at great prices to bring back to Italy.
 
Veronica and Siv were waiting for us to get home so we could leave again for Skansen! Skansen is an open air museum and zoo in Stockholm that turns into a large Christmas market in December that thousands and thousands of people go to visit.  We were dressed and ready for the cold!
 

 
We again took the fabulous metro system into town where we would then hop on a bus to get there.  Gotta love the metro!
 

 
From the bus there were great views of the city we were passing on our way to the island of Djurgården, where Skansen is located.
 

 

 

 
We didn't really know where to enter but ended up following everyone else walking in the same direction and sure enough, there was the entrance.
 

 
Just as you enter they have a miniature area where you can get a good look at the entire park.
 

 

 
We were meeting up with some friends of Veronica so while we waited we tried to warm up.  It was really cold out.
 

 
We walked through some of the areas that show life from the early 19th century.  This was a silversmith's house where they still were making things in the old way.
 

 
Apparently most of these houses are originals and were moved here and some date back to the 1600's!
 

 

 
They even had some Viking graffiti...
 

 
We finally reached the market area that was a little smaller than I expected but still large enough to take us a few hours to walk around.
 

 
They had many tasty things to sample and buy.
 

 

 

 

 
They even had carriage rides with a big beautiful horse effortlessly pulling people along.
 

 
We tried quite a few different things, they some very local and traditional food.  While Keith went to look for more we waited by a fire that even though was roasting fish was nice and warm.
 

 
Mmm...traditional Swedish pancake made from potatoes, with bacon, fried in fat and topped with lingonberry jam.  Yum!
 

 

 
It was so cold out.  It had been cold for a while in Sweden and even the ground was so cold it would seep up into the soles of your feet.  We tried to duck into a little tent full of others also trying to get warm around an open fire.
 

 
The market had quite a few crafts and a lot of interesting items, it was fun looking around at everything but we also all were starting to get very uncomfortably cold.
 

 

 
On our way out we got swept into the dance floor where a band was playing specifically to kids and they all were dancing circles around the tree, it was rather cute.
 

 

 

 
It was dusk and beautiful out although now very, very, VERY cold!
 

 
This wasn't even their winter yet!  I don't think I would survive too well here even if they do have amazing fish everything!
 
We went back into downtown Stockholm to a coffee house to warm up.  I sat next to beautiful Siv, Veronica's oldest daughter and took advantage of the chance to take a photo with her.
 

 
I imagined us having a huge pool of water underneath the table from all of us slowly thawing out.  Hot tea never tasted so good!
 

 
We did a little more shopping after finally warming up.  I caught this interesting street musician getting ready to do a show.  
 

 
Time to head home!  Jonas had been busy while we were gone and had dinner ready and waiting for us!  Now that is service!
 

 
Ahh...a nice glass of wine, great friends, life doesn't get much better than this!
 

 
Well, maybe it does.  Can you say poached salmon salad?  It was the perfect meal and so very good.
 

 
I'd hate to think what trouble Keith and Jonas would get themselves into in the kitchen if we lived a little closer to each other!  We shared a fabulous dinner and had another very enjoyable night.

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