Around Stockholm, July 2023

July was a month of quiet, fractionally shorter days, people sailing boats through city waterways, Summer sales, rain, temporary outdoor bars, bouncing between hot days and cooler days, golden evening light and tick vaccination adverts.

Lots of small boats line Stockholm waterways during Summer, and many cruise along with Swedish flags attached to the back. Those buildings in the background are unusually tall for central Stockholm; a lack of overall height is something I really like about this city.

It's common to see semesterstängt (closed for the holidays) written on many doors and windows, as people close businesses to take their Summer breaks. Most employers offer a month off at this time of year, which means the city can feel quite deserted outside of tourist hotspots.

We often see poster man in various parts of the city with his cart. A familiar face among many unknown people.

People made the most of the sunshine by sunbathing along city shores and swimming in the water.

This may look like a tiny house nestled under a bridge but it's actually part of a nightclub.

Gamla Stan is full of tourists during Summer but you only have to go one or two streets either side of Västerlånggatan to avoid the crowds. Although, doing so means you don't catch the hunger inducing smell of cooking waffles!

The month ended with heavy rain. We felt relieved after a hot and dry Summer that left everything looking quite parched.

And that's all for July!