Who needs London anyway?

I went to Stockholm this weekend to hang out with my awesome brother. He's bought a flat there and since he has no driving license I had to come to the rescue so he could get some furniture for his pretty place. So we rented a car and went to a massive retail area where they have everything you can possibly need for a home. They also have the second largest IKEA in the world. We spent many many many hours there. And by the end of the weekend his place is actually starting to look like a place where someone can live! Mission accomplished!

Yesterday my train didn't leave until 1.30pm so after I had had breakfast I took the subway into the city and walked around a bit. It made me realise that I had actually spent the weekend in Stockholm! Since my brother now lives in a suburb we weren't actually in the city of Stockholm, and in order to feel like you've been in Stockholm you need (well, I do anyway) to walk past parliament and along the shopping street of Drottningatan (Queens Street). It's kind of like when you get to Piccadilly Circus in London and you realise that you're actually in London. What hit me as I was walking through the heart of Stockholm was how much nicer it is than London. There's more water, lots of more water. Which is pretty in any city. There's lots of shops, which is good. But there's not that much people! It's not super crowded on the streets (okay, I was there on a Monday during work hours, but think Oxford Street, think Monday. It's still crowded.). And you can breathe the air, there's not a lid of heavy smog hanging above your head. And traffic noise isn't screaming in your ears. I kind of fell in love with Stockholm all over again yesterday for all these reasons.

Who needs London? Some of the people there are amazing (don't worry, I haven't forgotten you!), but the city itself? I can't say I miss it.