I went to Stockholm a few times in my business career. I can honestly say I don’t remember anything except an amazing boozy harbour cruise at mid-summer. But charging into meetings and dashing around in cabs left me with no sense of the city.

How different to rent a city bike for two days, to have a cyclist as a guide, to take in the cold crisp air of autumn, or to wander on foot around the old city in the dark of the morning and feel the light slowly brighten the buildings.

Now I have much more of a sense of place, and a better understanding of how islands, boats, buildings, water and autumn colour interact.

Hardly surprising that this is regarded as a city with a high quality of life. I hope you enjoy my photogallery as well as some of the other posts that will follow.