Stockholm, Sweden.

Training began in March, perhaps a little too soon, perhaps too much too often for a brand new runner or perhaps, as I keep hearing it was IF not WHEN, being the reason behind the injury that stopped me doing what I had worked so hard to do.

Whatever the reason I had an amazing weekend in Stockholm and was proud to support the people that got the best view of this beautiful city, the ones running 21 km around it!

Dom and I landed at an airfield that looked the size of the one you’d find in Thames and took a 2 hour bus ride into the city in peak traffic. After a quick map check we made it to our hotel located perfectly located, only a short walk to the city centre. We wandered through the city centre over to the start point of the half marathon to pick up Dom’s information pack. Thankfully wearing my big black glasses to hide a few sneaky tears creeping up – in case you haven’t gathered I was devastated to not be picking up my own pack.

View towards downtown Stockholm

My first impressions of the city (which were confirmed right throughout our time here) is that the Swedes have good jeans and great genes. I had heard it was a stylish city and for me it definitely wins the prize for its particular style not really diverse but still right up my alley.

We dined on Italian on our first night, me sympathetically carbo loading with Dom, be rude to leave him doing it by himself! After a short stroll we headed back to our hotel to our teensy single beds for a good night’s sleep before the big day.

Our second and third nights were spent at City Backpackers, literally 100 meters down the road where the rest of our runner friends and supporters were staying. At check in we met our friends then headed back to the start line to scope it out and so others could pick up their packs. As a group we strolled over to the island Gamla Stan weaving through the cobbled streets and headed over to check out the town hall for a look.

City Hall

The half marathon started after 4pm in the afternoon so we soon got back to the hostel for everyone to gear up and make their way to the start line. 

Dom Graeme Nat Kitaj

Over 16,000 people ran that day – the sea of people took nearly an hour to all begin the race as they crossed the start line in stages. We waited at the 12 & 19 km mark so we could see all the people we knew halfway and again nearing the end.

Support Crew

Everyone put in such an awesome effort, I’m most proud of Dom for doing it in a super fast hour and 45 minutes bang on his target!

Winner!

After the race was over it cold down pretty fast and there was a great need for beers and food! Our group, 30 strong, headed to an Asian restaurant where the food was just above average but at least the beers were over 3% not like the sort you get in your 7/11.

Smiles all round

Some of the ladies x

The restaurant soon turned into a night club as the host had promised (I thought he would wait till I finished my dinner first).  We all had a good boozy night out and a fun filled walk home filled with cell phone music and side of the road sausage stands.

Sunday morning we set off in search of a cafe said to have really good coffee by a man in the group that knew his beans. The walk turned out to be longer than expected but we got another good look through Gamla Stan and also Sodermalm where we arrived at our destination. As it turned out the girl behind the counter was a Kiwi! The flat whites were destined to be good.

In the afternoon the rest of our friends had to head back to London, thankfully we still had another day in Stockholm before setting off to our next destination. We hired bikes from City backpackers for a cheap 50 Krona. Biking always gives a better perspective of any city, it is quick, you see a lot, go at your own pace and stop whenever and wherever you like.

Checkin' out the view

Stockholm is very pretty and green, lots of old buildings and lovely islands to explore. While on our travels we came upon a boat shed by a river with a small coffee & danish shop in it. We had a romantic stop which was swiftly ruined by cheeky ducks forcing me to dine alone, standing up, over away on the side of the road.

Date spot

View from date spot

Add a danish and coffee

Perfect...

Until this cheeky guy came along and ruined it!

We biked back over to Sodermalm, the trendy part of Stockholm and stopped for a well deserved beer after putting up with Dom trying to run me off my bike most of the afternoon. 

Well deserved beer

Plenty of these on our travels

Dom being a menace, a complete menace

Chillin' on the bike

Good spot to look out over Stockholm

Tempted to swap the pushbike for this one

Dinner was made in the hostel before turning in for the night excited for to following day, part 2 of our trip… Copenhagen. 

Portugal

With summer being a big fat disappointment in London, Portugal could have been terrible and so long as their was sunshine I would have loved it.

It wasn't terrible at all, it was amazing and if you can get to Portugal ever, then get there! In all hindsight if I'd known how much I loved Lagos I wouldn't have spent my first day in Faro.

Here is how it went...

Some Church in Faro

We flew from London, Stansted into Faro and arrived about half 11pm. After a long day we were both shattered so hit the hard beds in our hostel.

We were up early to get as much into our three days in Portugal as possible. First stop was fueling up. Everyone in this country seems to sleep in till about 11am so we spent a while wandering the old town and decided on cakes for breakfast as none of the chefs were at work yet.

A bus took us to the beach in Faro and I witnessed my first topless sunbather, she was about 65 but she was rocking out with her... Boobs out! This is completely normal for Portugal but if you are a guy rest easy knowing that there are also plenty of young fake breasts to rate as well.

First beer opened before midday, it was already hot so a crispy cold 1pound 50 Super Bock was perfect!

Super Bock goodness!

Faro Beach

Happy to finally be on the beach

View of Faro town from near the beach

Waiting for the bus from the beach back into Faro

Bus aren't as frequent as London that's for sure

Enjoying more Super Bock in Faro

What else is there to do in 30+ heat...

We spent the day on the beach drinking and enjoying the Vitamin D injection then caught the bus to Lagos... The two and a half hour bus ride that is! Good time to get a nap and see the country side though.

We arrived at our hostel JJ's Yard, I highly recommend staying here if you don't mind the Aussies and quite like your nights out! By the time J had given us the low down on Lagos (little bit unnecessary as Dom was already experienced on that topic) it was 10pm and we were starved. We searched out a local restaurant for  delicious fresh seafood for dinner... I nearly fell asleep face in my plate, no partying this night... Guess its been a while since I've spent a day in the sun and forgot what it takes out of you.

Sunday morning, finally I get to go to the beaches I have been Google imaging for the past 3 months! Not before an epic and massive 4euro breakfast at Odeon cafe (another must do if you find yourself in Lagos).

Odeon Cafe... Don't miss it

Watching some quality Family Guy at breakfast

He loves travelling with me, he always gets 1/2 my breaky

 Beach after beach all along this beautiful coast each one closed in by these massive orange cliffs. Pretty much the beaches in Lagos are like some West Auckland beaches shot on Instagram! The water is blue & clear, the sand is soft and sun is hot, so easy to loose your self and sense of time here.

Lagos!

One of the many of these beaches

A bridge across the clifftops

I was impressed with this beach little did I know they got better

View from the top

Our beach for the day

Dom exploring the cave

Danger!

At the top of the beaches

After a many hours baking in the sun we walked along the cliffs a couple of kms towards the bar at the end where we sat and enjoyed the views... and the beers.

Pit stop along the way...

With a beer of course

At the bar at the end of the peninsula still smiling after walking there

We followed the road back into town and went back down to one of the beaches a bit closer with a bar and awaited the happy hours Mojitos.

Happy Mojito Hour Everyone

Loving bars by the beach

Lagos town reminds me a lot of the towns we visited in Croatia, smaller though and some what friendlier, plus Portugal is only a 2.5 hour flight compared to the 4+ over to Croatia.

Conveniently our friends who were also travelling Portugal were staying the Sunday night in the same hostel as us so after some take away Pizza for dinner in the Square with some local kids for entertainment, we went to meet up with them for bad cocktails and nasty shots, on the up side, cheap beers!

Cabonara Pizza, yumm

Such good Pizza from Luigi

 For all the dizzy spells I had the night before I surprisingly woke up without a hangover! Another epic breakfast (nothing on Odean though really) at a place called The Independent then we were off to get as much sun as possible.

Melancholy kicks in as we board another long bus ride back to Faro to catch our flight home... Except the flight is delayed as the plane going to Ireland was faulty so Ryanir gave them ours and we had to wait for one to come in so we could get home... Finally back in my bed after 4am. Exhausted but tanned.

Finally on the plane! A very sleepy Dom.

I can see how people that are traveling get stuck in Lagos, perhaps an option on the way back home next year?..... But then I might not make it home.

Until next time Lagos.

With Love x