AI and the right to protest

We witnessed two protest marches today. One was demanding a stop to the genocide of Palestinians, and the other was against the Islamic Republic in Iran. While I don’t agree with everything they may say and/or stand for, I agree completely with their right to protest about it. Unlike in the US, both protests were allowed to proceed and they were not riots. There was no looting or masked federal agents. No reporters were intentionally shot. Both were perfectly peaceful. A lot of the people protesting smiled.

In fact, both of them had quite the party atmosphere. The Iranian one even had catchy music, though I have no idea what the words meant.

Both demos went along the side of Kungsträdgården then headed up to the ugly palace. Both had a police escort, though I spotted quite a few of the demonstrators policing themselves.

We were down at Kungsträdgården having just gone on a Stromma tour of ‘Stockholm Highlights’. Ignoring the AI guide, it was fantastic. While, overall, the AI information was good, the really appalling pronunciations of Swedish words was painful. It made me sound perfect. I mean, for a start, I don’t say Vajin when I mean Vägen. And I refuse to condone the continual suggesting that Södermalm is actually Sodomum.

And it made a couple of errors. Of course, it started by saying to excuse it because it was still learning, but that’s no excuse for suggesting the Vasa (pronounced Vayza to rhyme with blazer) sank because of poor workmanship.

Anyway, leaving aside the annoying AI, the tour was excellent, as you’d expect from Stromma, though there was a little bit of annoyance while we stood in line waiting to board and a miserable German fellow decided he didn’t need the niceties of a queue and just pushed in ahead of us. I was saved the indignity of abusing him verbally because he let Mirinda in ahead of him when the line started to move forward.

Not me, mind. No Gary had to hobble on behind an old woman with two sticks who decided to push in front of me first. I realised I had the right to protest but decided it wasn’t really worth it.

That was a mere annoyance on an otherwise marvellous boat ride.

It was two and a half hours of watery pleasure. There were heaps of people along the shores, enjoying the sand, rocks and water, diving, swimming or just lying about. Some were in pretty isolated and seemingly inaccessible spots but the majority were in family or friend groups. It was joyful.

Eventually, back on land, we headed to Ricordi, an Italian restaurant, for an early dinner.

Mirinda has visited Ricordi a few times but it was a first for me. And can I just say that the food at Ricordi is excellent. Dinner was perfect. And the place looks well cute.

Of course, it was the first time that Mirinda had seen the place in full, vibrant colour. She was amazed for the entire meal. Her new eye is incredible.

That was about it for the day. We walked down to the bus stop and caught the number 2 back to the flat, then crashed for the rest of the day.

Okay, not exactly. We watched a movie (Pitch Perfect) then crashed.

Speaking of which, here’s a bit of the second demonstration. The big yellow banner is calling for regime change.

NB: International cuisine now stands at four: Spanish, Peruvian, French and Italian.

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