Stockholm, Sweden

Monday, July 11th, 2022

One third water, one third parks, one third city

14 islands and 54 bridges.

After an Uber through town, got started on many miles by foot on a pedestrian street in the Norrmalm central and commercial area of Stockholm.

Stark and bland, Sergels Torg is the main square.

As the name gives away, Kungsträdgården was once the King's garden. Now it is a respite in central Stockholm.

Looking across Norrstrom to Helgeandsholmen and Gamla Stan.

 Stately buildings lining Norrstrom.

At the Nybroviken inlet.

Continuing north.

   

Bakery!

Food hall! Östermalms saluhall goes back to the 1880s.

Been to many a food hall around the globe.

None are as nice and refined as this one.

It was impeccable.

 

With high quality wares.

Heading back west.

Another dense and active world city.

  

Hötorgshallen is another food hall.

Newer, and 2 levels.

Pedestrian streets intersecting the hustle and bustle.

 

Centralstation.  Fantastic.

Over on another island, Stockholms Stadshus (city hall) dominates the skyline. It was built 1911-1923 with 8 million bricks.

The Nobel ceremony is held in its courtyard.

Heading south to another island, Riddarholem has been a seat of government for centuries.

Riddarholmskyrkan (Riddarholmen Church).

From 1290, it is the oldest preserved building in Stockholm.

Over to the island containing Gamla Stan.

This district is the oldest in Stockholm.

And the most touristy.

How's this for a lunch setting of Salmon and Cheese Pie?

S:ta Gertrude Tyska kyrkan

Very new. 1878.

Whew. No people.

That didn't last....

Continuing to walk every street.

Back at the often photographed Stortorget square. That is the Nobel price museum to the right.

Storkyrkan is the oldest church in Stockholm, 1306.

 

And...I'm joining the Swedish military.

Kungliga Slottet is the royal palace going back to 1697.

  

The interior is quite simple.

My own home is much nicer.

 

The Council Chamber/The Audience Chamber

Karl XI’s Gallery is a dining room for 170 of your closest friends.

Don Quixote Room / Lovisa Ulrika's Audience Chamber

A quaint sitting room.

  

Doesn't everyone have a church in their house?

 

Back outside to walk every street.

 

   

 

Too bad tourism is down....

   

Saffron and Honey

   

 

Southern part of Gamla Stan.

   

Boarding a ferry to go over to....

   

 

Djurgården

   

 

This area used to be the royal hunting grounds.

   

 Now it is an excellent collection of amusements, parks and museums.

 

That's right, I went to ABBA The Museum.

   

 

Let the jealousy begin.

   

It was actually well done, despite being crowded, even with timed tickets. The exhibits start with each band member bios.

   

Then how they met and winning the 1974 Eurovision contest for Waterloo.

It has their recording studio, actual props from album covers,

   

costumes and what they did after the split.

   

Skansen is the world's oldest (1891) open air museum covering 75 acres.  

 

They have buildings moved from all over Scandinavia, a zoo, rides, gardens and amusements.

   

   

 

Town center.

   

 

Seglora Church

  

Various farmsteads

  

Delsbo Farmstead, 1850s, with a yard surrounded with buildings as was common in northern Sweden.

 

Soldier's cottage from Smaland.

   

Eksharad Farmstead from Swedish mountains of Varmland.

Gersheden village hall built in 1908.

Lamb and pony shelters from Gotland Island

 

   

 

Skane Farmstead from fertile southern Sweden.

   

 Vala School from Vastergotland and a belfry.

   

 

Skogaholm Manor is typical of 18th century central Sweden manors.

   

   

   

Post office from Virserum, 1900 

Allotment huts for war gardens

 Ferry back to,

 

Gamla Stan

   

 

For dinner on Stortorget.

   

 

At Grillska Huset.

   

Outstanding Salmon.

   

Walking back north to my hotel.

   

 

Back through Sergels Torg.

   

 

Into Gallerian.

   

 

Yep. Had to go into an Ikea.

   

 

So much for getting back to the hotel.

   

Just kept finding stuff to look at.

 

Tuesday, July 12th, 2022

Forty minute walk to my first destination, passing through Sergels Torg.

   

 And some bold buildings.

   

 Admiring the water view along Nybroiken.

   

 Along the promenade.

   

 What a beautiful setting.

   

 Back on Djurgården to visit Vasamuseet, one of the most visited museums in Sweden.

   

 In August of 1628 the Vasa sent sail on her maiden voyage.

   

 

She sailed 1300m, capsized and sank.

   

 

The 7 level museum documents her history, the recovery and preservation.

   

 

She has over 300 carvings.

   

 

This model shows how they were painted.

   

 

A model showing the 1961 raising.

   

 

Having sunk deep enough to keep the wood preserved, she was kept wet after the initial rising.

   

Then sprayed with polyethylene glycol to displace the water gradually to prevent the wood from shrinking and cracking.

   

That polyethylene glycol gives the sheen.

   

 

Lower level display on preservation.

   

30 people were trapped and died and technology to recreate some of those victims.

   

That's a lot going on!

   

 

Life on a ship.

   

 

Strolling around enjoying the weather.

   

   

 

Back in central Stockholm looking across at Gamla Stan.

   

 

Lunch was in the Grand Hotel.

   

Verandan.  Regretted I didn't wear black socks with my sandals.  

   

 

Smörgåsbord!

 

 

645 krona, like $64.

       

It was exciting.

     

DK. It was once for the upper end of society.

   

 

Now they even let people like me in.

Heading back to the hotel.

   

One more look at Sergels.

   

And, um, Drottninggatan.

   

200kmh to the airport.

   

 

Over northern Sweden.

   

 

And a layover in Iceland (been there).