Stockholm, Sweden

The Baltic Sea has been incredibly smooth. It’s difficult to tell the difference between sailing and being moored at the dock. Sailing through the archipelago toward our destination in the early 

From our verandah

morning was beautiful. The wooded islands and the lovely water were a picture. We arrived in Stockholm about 8 AM, and were given permission to leave the ship. I really didn’t realize we had arrived. 

Two of Stockholm's many canals

We opted for the Hop On Hop Off tour again. Here there is the option of including boat trips since Stockholm consists of 14 islands. The two day pass will serve us well, except the last trips are at 4:30. We have an overnight here so we would have to find our own way back to the ship if we decide to stay in the city late.

The warship Vasa

The boat first took us to the Vasa Museum. The warship Vasa sank on her maiden voyage in Stockholm harbor over 300 years ago. In the 1950’s the ship was discovered to be nearly intact beneath the waters. The scientists and workers, urged on by the king who was an archeologist himself, raised the ship and a structure was built to 
house it. For years it had to be sprayed with a chemical mixture to keep it from drying out. The treatment was successful and it now stands in its museum.  I remember seeing this many years ago while it was still being treated so it was very nice for me to see the project completed. It’s a fascinating look at life long ago.

A square in the old city (Gamla Stan)

We “hopped on” again and rode a boat to Gamla Stan, the “old city” of Stockholm. Most of the streets are closed to vehicular traffic so one can wander the narrow, twisting lanes with ease and duck into many small and interesting shops. We happened upon a lovely square and took our lunch at an outdoor cafe. The day was bright and sunny.

Reboarding the boat we sailed to a port in the commercial center of the city and began our walk around that area. There are plenty of “high end” stores with all the famous labels. Stopping at NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) one of the largest department stores I got some information from the tourist bureau there about transportation to Milles Gården, one of places I recommend that Craig see in this city. I did some shopping in the area filled with Swedish crafts. Continuing on we walked up Drottninggatan, “the Queen’s Street,” closed to pedestrian traffic and filled with shoppers. We arrived at Åhlens, the largest department store so Craig could pick up a few things. While there a tremendous clap of thunder signaled the end of the bright and sunny day, the heavens opened and the rain poured down. We headed back to a dock so we could pick up the boat to return to our ship and call it a day for Stockholm. 

Instead of painting the town we remained on board, dined in the Rembrandt Dining Room, and went to a B. B. King Blues Show in the theater. 

Milles sculpture

Our second day in Stockholm dawned sunny and clear. Following breakfast we took the tender in to shore. We lost our parking place, evidently, and had to “repark” in the middle of the harbor. This makes life a little more difficult. One must go to the Queen’s Lounge and receive a “tender ticket” and wait until one’s number is called. Then the journey begins to the lowest level of the ship where a tender (which is in actuality a life boat) is bobbing in the water along side the ship. After many warnings to “watch your step,” you board the vessel and sit crammed in like unto sardines and head for shore. 

Milles sculpture

Milles sculpture

We took a Hoho (Hop on Hop off) boat to the commercial center, walked to T Centralen, the central subway hub (“T” representing Tunnelbana, i.e. tunnel train) and boarded a train to begin our journey to Milles Gården. Carl Milles was a Swedish sculptor who lived in the US for several years and taught at Cranbrook Academy in Michigan. His sculptures appear as nymphs in the fountain at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. He also created the large Native American figure in the city hall in St. Paul, MN. He is noted for his ability to balance his figures on one, seemingly small, point.  This location in Stockholm was his Swedish home which he gave to the city along with castings of many of his works as well as studies for those works. I think it is one of the most charming museums.

Milles Sculpture