My (Helena's) new job in Stockholm County Council involves a lot of travelling - in the county. Yesterday I managed to visit three different areas of Stockholm. Now I'm taking you around Stockholm in one day, to three areas of the city where I hang out quite often. Have you been to these areas? Do you have any relation to them?
Medborgarplatsen in the South
I started with a morning meeting at Medborgarplatsen in Söder. This area is very familiar to me. I worked here for six years at what was then called the Centre for Public Health. There are many places I like here, such as the beer hall Kvarnen, which serves real Swedish home cooking. I have learnt to eat dishes like cabbage dumplings and cabbage pudding!
I also like the restaurant Snaps, and perhaps especially the cool grey house in which the restaurant is located. In the 17th century, the building was apparently located on a sloping, leafy lake plot facing Fatbursjön (the current car park under Medborgarplatsen) ...!
New Karolinska and Torsplan
The next meeting was at the New Karolinska Hospital (NKS) in Solna. I've also spent a lot of time here. I have both studied and worked in the old building called Norrbacka, which is "behind" NKS. I've also worked in the building called Widerströmska, which is on the grounds of the Karolinska Institute.
But it almost doesn't matter that I'm a bit at home here - each time the place has been rebuilt and changed. Not to mention the area around Torsplan! The high-rise buildings are springing up like mushrooms, and the Norra Tornen - two tall (16 floors or more) residential buildings with a gym, cinema room, relaxation area and sauna - are also planned here.
Hantverkargatan on Kungsholmen
I ended Friday with a meeting on Hantverkargatan on Kungsholmen. This is where the Landsting House is located. When the building (one of Stockholm's few classicist buildings) was completed in 1834, it was the 'Garrison Hospital', but since 1972 it has been the headquarters of the Stockholm County Council.
I also attend meetings here from time to time, but just yesterday it was at another address on Hantverkargatan, because the county council has several addresses there. Now I am curious to hear if you have any relation to these places!
Lennart says:
Nice Stockholm pictures!
01 April 2017 - 6:56
Helena says:
I'm glad you like my "everyday pictures" 🙂 .
01 April 2017 - 10:04
Seija Viitamäki-Carlsson says:
Many places I also have a relationship with. Lived in Söder a long time ago, worked at KS a long time ago. Like this picture series, gladly more new insights into the new, unknown Stockholm.
01 April 2017 - 8:55
Helena says:
There is a lot going on in Stockholm and changes here and there. Not least around KS! Funny that you like the picture series 🙂
01 April 2017 - 10:05
4000mil says:
I lived at Medborgarplatsen in 2000-2003. So yes, I have a pretty strong relationship with this place! 🙂
01 April 2017 - 9:21
Helena says:
Then you might feel even more at home there than I do! Medis is nice I think!
01 April 2017 - 10:06
Husis blog says:
Neither I nor the owners have any relation to these places or Stockholm. The owners always try to make one trip to Stockholm a year and most recently they were spinning around Medborgarplatsen like real tourists who didn't know where they were going?
01 April 2017 - 9:45
Helena says:
It is part of being a tourist to wander around a bit 😉 Medis is a nice area I think!
01 April 2017 - 10:06
Ama de casa says:
I know the places and have been there (it would be strange otherwise as I lived in the Stockholm area for 25 years 😉 ), but I do not have a direct relationship with them.
Haha! Of course, when you see certain things, you immediately think of someone in the blog world. Like that cranes immediately give an association to BP 😀.
01 April 2017 - 11:40
Helena says:
Yes, haha, that's it. Kind of like how Ama comes to mind when you see the "little train" or talk about Ullared... 😉 ...
01 April 2017 - 16:11
Ditte says:
I'm often around Medis on Söder and even better towards SOFO where there are many cosy cafés and restaurants. Snaps here to and when they open it is really spring. Kvarnen is always walkable, so even today with bar lunches. Södra Sällskapet on Åsögatan (junction with Götgatan) is also an excellent lunch restaurant.
I have visited New Korolinska with friends who work there, but have no "relationship" with it. However, I do have a relationship with the old Torsplan.
I am on Hantverkargatan from time to time but it is not exactly my "hoods" but bus no. 4 passes by so sometimes there is a drop out.
And one advantage of Stockholm, among many, is that every neighbourhood has its own character.
Thanks for the ride!
01 April 2017 - 11:54
Helena says:
The South is nice! I didn't know about the Southern Society. Thanks for the tips! I agree that the different neighbourhoods have different character, and I like that too! 🙂
01 April 2017 - 16:13
Mr Steve says:
It was nice to follow you on a trip to Stockholm. The city is just amazingly beautiful, especially in summer.
During the years 1972-97 when I lived in Uppsala, I visited Stockholm quite often without creating any particular relationship with any neighbourhood. I mostly felt like a visitor/tourist. Much has since changed beyond recognition and when I have visited the city later, the disgusting traffic situation has unfortunately become the lasting impression. But, I guess I have to blame myself when I took the car to the city.
I'm glad you got BP's obsession with construction cranes.
01 April 2017 - 12:48
Helena says:
Yes, Stockholm is changing. A lot in some places, while other places may not change much at all. A car in the city is no fun! We often walk, and otherwise it's the bus or metro. We never take the car into town.
01 April 2017 - 16:15
Across the board says:
Stockholm is nice, but I'm not a city person, I'm more comfortable here under my cork tree where I can smell the flowers.
01 April 2017 - 15:42
Helena says:
It is important to find where you feel comfortable! I like Stockholm, but on the other hand, we have it calm and nice in the boat 🙂.
01 April 2017 - 16:16
åsa in åsele says:
Medborgarplatsen in Söder... I've been to the cinema there 🙂.
Söderhallarna... mmm 🙂
My sister lived second-hand for several years, moving around Stockholm and its neighbourhood.
01 April 2017 - 15:55
Helena says:
It can be hard to move around, but the advantage is on the other hand that you get to know several different areas! 🙂
01 April 2017 - 16:17
Matts Torebring says:
In the early 70's, when I was in my big truck, usually pulling a long trailer, it was not easy all the time in the city. I only remember that one single day, I drove "35 miles inside the city". Such a day could be anything from Bromma, Sundbyberg, Vällingby, Nacka, Solna, Sveavägen, Birger Jarls gatan, Hornsgatan, Hammarby Fabriks Väg, Enskede and many, many more places. The closest I got to Karolinska was on the E4 motorway.
The only tool I had was a thick black book, the Taxi Map. That you made it?
01 April 2017 - 19:07
Helena says:
Phew, that sounds sweaty! And yes, I sometimes think about the fact that you used to manage without a GPS ... And without internet! 😉
02 April 2017 - 7:52
BP says:
Hahaha! So much fun that you took the absolutely wonderful crane picture for me. Imagine that so many nice blog friends think of me when they see cranes. Love it! Oh thank you so much for the link too.
Since I have worked on S:t Eriksgatan/Norra Stationsgatan, I have documented the development of NKS from the beginning. How the fine Norra Station building was demolished and how NKS "grew". Too bad we then moved the office to Odenplan.
Medborgarplatsen with The English Shop in Söderhallarna and Snaps as a watering hole during the summer - yes, we are often there and enjoy the outdoor terrace.
Hantverkargatan - no, I'm not as at home there.
01 April 2017 - 19:29
Helena says:
Great that you liked the crane picture! 🙂 Yes, I remember that you worked in the neighbourhood of these constructions. Interesting to follow because it really changes all the time!
02 April 2017 - 7:54
Tia says:
Medis, a must on a hot summer evening when visiting the big city...??
Karolinska that changes and makes you confused about where you are because it looks different every visit...cycling past there (and your home we came across last autumn) on the way to my sister's after a visit to the big city...??♀️??
Hantverksgatan... we seem to have missed it completely. The map in my head doesn't even know which way the compass should point. ?
01 April 2017 - 20:58
Helena says:
KS is really confusing with the constant change! I heard that from people in one of the waiting rooms too! Some arrived too late because they didn't find it and others couldn't find the car parks ...
02 April 2017 - 7:57
Solan says:
No relations at all, but keeps track of all new construction. It will be fun to come home again after winter storage. Karro will be visited, there is a lot going on there. But I don't miss the city centre, now it's BudgetBromma/Sumpan that feels most fun...
01 April 2017 - 22:50
Helena says:
Sumpan is always nice and has almost become even nicer lately. Have fun!!!
02 April 2017 - 7:58
Role o Carina says:
Stockholm is nice in the summer, but it's been a long time since we were there!
We like it better in the countryside by some nice lake to fish, swim 🙂 ðŸ™'
Have fun and enjoy the spring sun.....:-)
02 April 2017 - 12:10
Inga Magnusson says:
Fun with a tour of Stockholm! A lot is changing now, saw the model in Kulturhuset where they show what is planned. Of course, I do not have any connection to so many places. KS of course where we hung out for a period when the son was sick and hospitalised. Medborgarplatsen where we hung out sometimes when the youngest son lived at Mariatorget for a few years, Hantverkargatan 34 which I visited regularly for 3 years as a board member of a student union. By the way, I had hoped to take a trip out and look at your houseboat during my last visit to Stockholm, but I didn't have time.
04 April 2017 - 8:44