Interview with Anna Östman (Stockholm Spotter)

Spotted By Locals
September 4, 2009
4 min read

Today we have an interview with Anna Östman, Spotter for our Stockholm cityblog

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m 30 something, work as a teacher and have lived in Stockholm for about ten years. That were the basics.

Originally I’m from a small town about 200 km north of the capital. I have lived in a few different cities/towns around Sweden and must say that Stockholm is the best place to live in this country. For me at least.

I teach English and social studies at a school in one of the western suburbs of Stockholm. Mostly secondary school so I have the high maintenance teenagers to deal with every day. To relax from them I tend to do some baking at home at night. Which I bring to work since I enjoy the making more than the eating. My co-workers like that very much.

How do you like being a Spotter?
One of the best thing being a Spotter is finding out about the places the other Spotters have written about. They have told me about places I hadn’t been to before or even heard of. Even if Stockholm is fairly small compared to other big cities in the world there are still so many places to discover and experience.

Why Stockholm?
Stockholm is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The closeness to water and the mix of old and new buildings make the city very colourful. I really like the differences between the areas in the city. Since the city is fairly small it’s possible to visit most of the areas in one day and experience their different vibes. And then you can just take your pick where you want to hang out more.

Don’t miss the parks if you visit the city in the summer or go swimming at Långholmen or Fredhäll. It’s really amazing that you can go swimming in the city centre. Unfortunately the swimming season is coming to an end now. But still, get as close to the water as possible even in the cooler seasons. Just a walk along the water side is fantastic.

I would avoid Drottninggatan and the area around Sergels torg and Kungsträdgården. Especially during the summer. Sure, this is where you find most shops and the big department stores, but it is so crowded. If you want to find the more interesting shops, bars and restaurants you need to leave this part of the city.

Which prejudices about Stockholm are true? Which ones are not?
It’s true that people in Stockholm are stressed and can be a bit rude. But at the same time they are very helpful and most often try their best to give directions or something else that a tourist in need might want help with.

What do you know about Stockholm what no tourist will know?
I know that I can take the blue busses, number 1-4, to see the most of the city and don’t have to pay for the expensive sight seeing busses. If you’re not too shy you can ask other passengers about what you see. These busses cover most parts of the city centre and is a great way to get around. Much more fun than taking the tube since you don’t see anything when you’re under ground.

What is the most popular neighborhood to live in Stockholm at this moment?
It’s easy for me to say Södermalm since that’s where I live. But I truly do think this is the most interesting area. But I’m not sure if my part of Södermalm (Skanstull) is the most interesting though. Whenever I go to Hornstull I always think that it’s such a nice area. Here you find lots of nice cafés and restaurants and it’s close to the water.

But I think that some of the areas just outside the city centre are blooming too now. For example around Telefonplan you find a great restaurant, Landet, and Konstfack (University College of Arts Crafts and Design). Hopefully more of the outskirts will grow and become more and more interesting.

Can you describe a perfect day in your city?
I would start the day with breakfast at Wallin’s cafe. For some reason it feels more luxurious having breakfast out than having lunch or dinner at a restaurant. If it’s sunny I would take one of the blue busses (because I don’t have a bike) to Långholmen and hang out there with my friends for a couple of hours. If I have the energy I would walk back home along Årstaviken from Hornstull to Skanstull. On my way home I would pick up a great hummus-lunch at Reggev. Then a nap before it’s time for drinks and dinner.

If it’s a bit colder or rainy I would bring my friends to visit Kulturhuset where you can always find some interesting exhibitions. After that we will go to Centralbadet for a couple of relaxing hours in the hot tub and steam room.

When the evening comes we will go to Snotty’s for a couple of drinks before it’s time to eat. Dinner will be eaten at Roxy of course. A perfect day must include dinner at this fantastic restaurant, you won’t, or can’t, be disappointed. If there is any energy left after eating we will probably go to Imperiet for another glass of wine before it’s time to go home.

Check out the other interviews with our Spotters

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