Stockholm

We were in Stockholm for the weekend. Stockholm. I wonder how to describe it. The new town has the makings of a cosmopolitan city where there are shopping malls, restaurants and boutiques. The old town has the seventeenth century buildings with small shops lining the streets. The streets in the Old Town or Gamla Stan are cobbled and there are very few cars.

Both of them are linked merely by a few bridges. A few minutes walk and you enter a different atmosphere.

We spent less than forty-eight hours in Stockholm. But that was enough for one special incident to take place.

We were all on the bus trying to get to Drottningholm Palace. That is where the Swedish Royalty spend their summer. So there we were, a group fo tourists looking out of the window for signs that were were on track. Then there was this Swedish lady with a little girl on board the bus sitting opposite us. Seeing that we had some confused looks on our faces, she asked if we needed some assistance. I thought we were managing alright and so I declined. But Boon Chuong asked her how do we get to Drottningholm palace and she gave us some instructions. And we said our thanks soon as she alighted.

I wonder. Was it rude of me to decline her assistance? I mean, she was thoughtful enough to offer her help to us strangers.....??? After that, I felt bad Even though I knew the way, I probably should have asked her again so that she would not look so embarrassed?

Wondering......