This place though...

So for our first ten days in Sweden we stayed in an AirBnB in an area of Stockholm called Nacka. At the end of our street was a little park, with a hill going up above the lake. Esther had been there pretty much every day since we got there, and apparently the park was pretty amazing. Apart from the usual slide, climbing frame, swings, etc., it had two big trampolines, which instantly promoted it to Best Park Ever, for the kids.

I finally made it up there a couple of days before we were due to leave. Of course, it instantly became vitally important to the children that I play on the trampoline with them. Of course, this ended with all three children ending up in tears because a 193cm 100kg (6'4" 15st10lb for my metrically challenged English readers) man has no place being on a trampoline with three small children, no matter how much he loves them and desperately wants to avoid hurting them.

I'd say we learned our lesson, but the next evening we went again, and the children begged and begged me to go on with them, and I stood firm for a little while, even reminding them that it ended with everyone crying last time, but my refusal just ended up with them crying, so it didn't seem to do a lot of good. In the face of crying children, I caved and got on and bounced with them very carefully, but they still all got hurt and ended up crying with twisted ankles and bumped heads on the way home.

The third night (our last in the house) I actually learned my lesson and didn't give in, even when they cried. Instead I walked up to the top of the hill the park is on. And wow, was I ever rewarded for my resolve this time.

I am really bad at photography. I think this is well established by now

I couldn't do it any kind of justice with my phone camera of course, and this is one time even words won't do it. To people used to the area it was probably a fairly ordinary but nice enough evening. To me though it was just amazing. The colours were beautiful, and looking out over the forest in the last pink light of the evening was spectacular. The lakes were so serene, and mirrored the colour of the sky with a calm faithfulness. I could look over and see the buildings in central Stockholm as well, shining in the evening light. It was just such a beautiful, peaceful moment. 

This country is beautiful.