Our arrival in Stockholm was a cold and snowy one!  This is down on the platform where all the train action takes place.

This is one of so many artistic displays within the Stockholm Centraal Train station. The lights were like mood lights and were constantly changing through various shades of blue and purple. 

Knowing we would be using the train a lot during this trip we decided to stay close to the station for the first night.  The Thon Partner Hotel Kungsbron did not disappoint. We had a spacious room with a hot water kettle and mini fridge along with complimentary coffee and tea fixings. The bathroom was a real treat with a private whirlpool tub and sauna! Breakfast was included as well. We did a little exploring in the western part of the city and enjoyed a tour of the Stockholm City Hall. 

 

   The weather was gorgeous.... sunny and crisp cold. Warm coffee was needed.

This is one of the many mosaic murals in the Golden Hall. It is floor to ceiling (more than 24 feet high!) and covers every inch of all the walls, nooks and crannies of the 60x144 foot room.

Later that evening, we hopped on the Arctic Circle overnight train that would take us North to Abisko. Along the way, we got a little bit of a daytime light show in the sky. 

Once we (finally!) got to the Abisko STF Turiststation (5 hours later than scheduled) and unpacked, we sampled some local fare before heading out for a Aurora hunt on snowmobiles! 

The next morning's adventure took us to the Saami Reindeer Farm.

After a few days of playing in the Arctic Circle snow, we headed back down to Stockholm to do some more exploring. It is a beautiful, bright, vibrant city full of museums, art, gorgeous architecture and culture.  I would love to return for the summer season.

All around the city you'll find these statues of lions. It's tradition dating back to ancient times. For Stockholm, it's their way to represent the strength and resilience of the city.