February 16, 2006
Stockholm: Initial impressions
The city stretches across fourteen small islands, and the wind running along the water gathers so much force that it drives you inside. (Hence my being in my hotel room killing ninety minutes with some old Joan Didion essays from the NYRB rather than out exploring further.)
Unlike, say, Berlin, where one can feel intimidated just walking down Unter der Linden, Stockholm and its buildings are incredibly well proportioned. It is undeniably lovely to walk along its streets.
There must be more hair salons per capita in Stockholm than in any other metropolitan area in the world.