Monday, June 20, 2016 | Language: Swedish | Currency: Swedish Krona 

It was a scenic sail-in to Stockholm in the afternoon of Edie’s last day on board. Stockholm is a city of water. Founded by seafaring tradesmen in the 13th century, the center of the Swedish capital stretches across 14 islands on the Baltic Sea.

But the best view of the city isn’t from the water, it’s from the air – 141 feet in the air to be exact. That’s right, we signed up to walk from the sidewalks to the rooftops. Slanted rooftops, at that. We met our guide in Stockholm’s Gamla Stan, or Old Town and had a brief tour of the narrow alleyways and cobblestone squares lined with shops and galleries. We stopped in the backyard of the Finnish Church, to be introduced to Stockholm’s smallest statue, “Little boy looking at the moon.” Usually just called Järnpojke or Iron Boy. It is said to bring good luck to anyone who caresses the boy’s head. Immediately one person in our group reached out to rub his head, as our guide continued, “He will bring good luck for you to become pregnant.” As quick as she jumped and as hard as she tried, she couldn’t get that head rub back off of her hand. Climbing to the attic of the Old Parliament building, our group of 12 were suited up in harnesses and helmets. On the roof, we were secured by the harness to a narrow, metal track running the perimeter of the roof. Walking single file behind our guide, we slid the safety leash along the track, each of us looking like we were walking a dog. As we became more comfortable on the rooftop, we relaxed enough to take in the 360° views that overlook the city. We were treated to a view of a jumble of copper and shingled roofs, chimneys and church spires that cannot be easily seen, or appreciated from ground level. We saw the cast-iron spire of Riddarholmen’s old church, built by Franciscan monks in the 1200s; the Royal Palace; the fortress of Gamla Stan; the three golden crowns of the Nobel Prize shining on the tower of the City Hall; and the 18th-century prison, which was converted into a hotel. The clouds rolled in creating a gloomy and drizzling backdrop. But before we were done, the sun was setting casting a golden glow,  and we were treated to a rainbow streaked across the sky.

Once back on terra firma, we topped off the evening with a lovely dinner at Märten Trotzig, complete with ligonberry mojitos, asparagus soup, lemon bread, herring and char.