Spending time in a new place is an incredible reminder of how much our communities, neighborhoods, streets and buildings shape us and our daily experiences. As a result, I was able to take in the traditions of Sweden, have an incredible Scandinavian breakfast every day at a leisurely pace, take a moment to get ready and travel to one area of the city each day. There was also a lot of taking breaks, grabbing coffee or pastries, and chatting. During these two weeks, I had the following moments of appreciation. A functioning bus system is revolutionary. It is incredible how easy it is to live in, move around and experience a city with a well-connected rail network, but adding a comfortable, reliable and inexpensive bus system is what makes transit work. We stayed just outside of downtown and could get most anywhere we wanted by taking the No. 2 bus, which had a stop just outside our hotel. Public spaces that are comfortable for everyone are rare and a delight. Stockholm has parks, public squares and wide sidewalks with shade trees and structures, a place to grab a drink, fresh produce and flower vendors, benches in the shade and the sun, beautiful gardens and play features for kids. There was a place for my dad to sit and people watch, my mom to admire the gardens, me to gaze at beautiful buildings and for my sister and husband to get a drink and relax. It is incredible how a comfortable and engaging place for everyone seems to be a rarity for us, but it is available in each neighborhood in Stockholm. Dense places can be more livable than traditional neighborhoods — and having a grocery store next door is the best thing in the world! Nestled into a mid-rise community with multi-family housing catering to all ages and family stages, our hotel was part of a complete community. We had a grocery store on the hotel’s ground floor, a school across the courtyard and street (different ages), a soccer pitch in our backyard, six restaurants within two blocks and three 5
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