Soothing (but spectacular) Stockholm

Stockholm's unique personality

IT doesn't take long for one to appreciate the unique personality of Stockholm.

As one saunters through the centuries-old cobblestone walks, watches the seagulls gracefully scouring the lakeside, smiles back at the friendly people leisurely sipping espressos in the outdoor cafes, or simply enjoys the cool autumn breeze in the city's many parks and gardens, one discovers a balm for one's frayed nerves.

It was one of the rare times we enjoyed our abnormal sleeping patterns. Afflicted by jet lag, we woke before 5 a.m. and, as the veil of dawn was lifted, sat by our hotel window and enjoyed the beautiful scenery outside. Later in the day, the last rays of twilight provided us a quite different treat—cascading colors on the same landscape. Ah, truly an emotionally soothing balm.

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There are so many things to do in Stockholm. One can wander along the quaysides, where each part of the city looks across water at another part. One can have lunch in one of the exotic restaurants in the old city or picnic in the vast park of Djurgarden, and imagine oneself with the 13th-century Swedes as one loses one's way in the narrow, cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan (Old Town). In the afternoon, one can take a leisurely stroll past the Royal Palace and the Opera and then cap the walking tour with a cup of fine cappuccino at the veranda of the 18th-century Grand Hotel.

Founded in the middle of the 13th century, Stockholm has been Sweden's capital since 1436. It is clean city where one would have to walk more than a mile to find a single piece of trash. No, environmental pollution does not seem to be a problem here. One can stand in the middle of the street for a full hour and not be bothered by any smell of pollution in the air. The water in the rivers and lakes, which are abundant in the city, is clean enough for one to fish salmon from or enjoy a good summer swim in, or, in some parts, even drink.

The city teems with attractions and sights, from palaces and parks to museums and art-laden subway stations. And everywhere, the stressed traveler can find relief.

Much of what used to be private gardens such as the Humlegarden and Kungstragarden are open to the public. One will certainly admire the elegance of these gardens, with the manicured greenery and refreshing fountains.

Grand and awesome is the Djurgarden, a royal hunting ground until the 18th century. One can picnic in its vast grounds or enjoy lunch in one of its beautiful, all-glass restaurants that look like glass sculptures in the middle of a forest.

We came to Stockholm as recipients of a continuing medical education grant from AstraZeneca Philippines to attend the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology. Our delegation consisted of heart specialists from various parts of the Philippines—Greg Patacsil, Nelson Abelardo, Lito Durante, Ric Rangel, Benjie Encarnacion, Jim Pacifico, Vic Guanzon, Pat Palmes and myself.

We took KL 880 of the KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines from Manila to Amsterdam (stopping at Bangkok), then KL 1109 to Stockholm. The 10 p.m. departure from Manila was quite convenient. We had time to finish all our appointments for the day. I was in my clinic at the Manila Doctors' Hospital until 7 p.m., ate dinner with my family, and got to the airport with time to spare.

It was a long trip but the excellent service of the friendly cabin crew made it enjoyable. The meals served were a gastronomic delight. That, and sipping a glass of fine wine while watching Bruce Willis and Julia Roberts in the in-flight movie, moved me to tell myself, "This is the life!"

A lot of our time was spent attending the sessions at the congress venue. Our travel coordinators, Dawn Aberilla and Efren Mazo, made sure we did that. But they also organized a well-prepared itinerary to make sure that we had a chance to enjoy the city during the lunch breaks and in the evenings. The sun was up until close to 9 p.m. so we had a few hours after the last afternoon session to see the sights.

The inner city of Stockholm is built upon 14 islands connected by more than 50 bridges. The whole Stockholm archipelago consists of over 24,000 islands. From the air, the islands, with the intricate network of lakes, canals and rivulets, were a sight to behold. This is why many have come to call Stockholm the Venice of the Nordic region. Oh, but Venice is Venice, and Stockholm is Stockholm, with its unique personality.