Ah. Sweden. For those that don’t know, I am descended from strong Swedish stock. Sure, I have some other nationalities rolling through my veins but due primarily to my very Swedish last name, I have always associated my heritage mostly as Swedish. So from the first minute our train passed the Swedish border it started to feel like home.
Kara and I were admittedly kind of excited to leave behind the cold and hungry times we had in Norway. The forecast was looking up and we were excited to explore a new city. Stockholm. Oh Stockholm. First off, it is beautiful. I love the water and so a city made up of many little islands is particularly exciting for me.
Street view of Stockholm
If you go to Stockholm, I guarantee you will spend a lot of time in the city’s old town: Gamla Stan. You want to see why?
The old town area feels like a step back in history. It is clean and charming and full of beautiful buildings and interesting street corners.
In this picture you can see how colorful the buildings are:
We loved Gamla Stan. It is it’s own little island located in the center of the city. You can walk to it from several bridges connecting the other islands making up Stockholm. Aside from all the picturesque views, Gamla Stan also houses the royal palace. We tried to tour the palace but when we were there the main area was closed to visitors so we just watched the changing of the guards instead. (You can see our little homemade video here.)
A few things you can gather from this video: 1. My blood sugar must have been very low considering the violent shaking of my hands. 2. We are very patriotic. and 3. My hair. I know–it is wild and I look like a orphan living in the time of Annie. I just wanted you to know that I know that you know. Okay, moving on.
Kara and I stayed in hostels while in Scandinavia. I only mention this because while in Stockholm we heard about a boat hostel. So we thought, we are here one night, why not give it a go?
Kara proudly posed outside of our tiny home for the night. Our room was on the bottom floor of the boat and gave us a tiny view out to the street.
It was a nice novelty to sleep on the ocean in a room smaller than my closet but in the end I really preferred this view:
Gamla Stan at dusk.
We did do more than hang out around old town. Although would you blame us if we didn’t? One of the things we did was eat. Oh, we ate in Sweden. Kara was determined the whole trip to eat a hot dog from a street vendor and finally we found our first one in Stockholm. It is safe to say that Chorizo dog was the single most blissful hot dog I have ever tasted in my life. We had two more the next day.
Soooo. good.
We went to the Vasa Museum. The Vasa is this really enormous ship that sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628. It wasn’t until the 1950’s that the ship was recovered from the ocean. Due to the unique quality of the water in the area, the ship survived without too much deterioration.
I would for sure recommend going to see this ship if you go to Stockholm. What I thought was most interesting was the detail of all the carvings on the ship. It is amazing how much artistry went into a military ship of the time.
The other interesting fact is that when the ship sailed, it would have been painted in crazy colorful hues. Seriously, our guide told us that every inch would have been painted. Here are some examples:
Can you imagine? Anyway, interesting stuff.
One of the complications of our visit was that the ferries and many boats were on strike. We managed to find one boat that was running and thus went on the only trip we could. We visited one of the islands in the archipelago.
Us on the boat.
We spent 2 hours on Fjaderholmarna which is a very small island that houses a few shops, artist’s workshops, and some places to eat food–but no hot dog stands, we looked. It is a very short walk around the island but it is a beautiful one.
I never quite got comfortable on this island due to the wild birds that made it clear they didn’t like me once I started taking pictures of them. I don’t like wild birds very much. Kara was much braver than I:
No way would I ever get close to that hole in the tree. Super creepy.
Our last few hours in Stockholm were spent looking for a souvenir. Now, I am not a big cheesy touristy souvenir person. But I had in my head that I wanted a great jacket that said Sweden on it (or something). You know, because I am SO Swedish. We went into pretty much every shop we could find but sadly, I could find nothing that I could bring myself to purchase. There is really no point to me telling you this except to warn you that the souvenir situation is dire. Stockholm can’t be perfect I guess…but it is pretty close.
Next time: A morning spent in our ancestor’s hometown.
Oh man. What I wouldn’t do for another one of those hot dogs right now?! Great update on Stockholm.
Nice description of Stockholm (it’s where I live)! Regarding jacket with Sweden on, I can imagine you didn’t find much. Even if we like Sweden, we are not that good at expressing it. Especially not on clothes – I suppose we are too shy for this. Only Sweden clothes I can think of seeing (apart from these traditional folk dresses) are these SWEDEN fotbool “t-shirts” which you can find in most “sports shops” – but then Swedes thinks in sports it’s ok to be expressive. If I’d ever see a jacket with Sweden on I promise I’ll let you know
Looking forward to the updates from your travelling!
Sweden is very picturesque. Love the colorful and decorative buildings (homes?).
OH I love these posts, I call my 11 year old daughter to the computer & we live vicariously through your travels, dreaming someday of the places we will go. That Chorzio Dog look FREAKIN AWESOME!
Hi im keana lee’s daughter, although i’m eleven i am obsessed with art!! you are sooo lucky you got to do this! i have no other sister but a baby brother so know i want to do this to with my baby brother when we’re older!! have fun!!!!
I love to read about your trip and especially to Sweden as that is where I live. I glad you had a nice time here and I hope you will come back one day.
Love /Maria
Oh my goodness – this is so beautiful!!!
Your whole trip has been amazing scenes and views. Can’t wait for the next installment.
I think you should be a professional traveler for a living and just regale us with your tales. I’d be satisfied to see the world through your eyes.
I’m really enjoying your travel posts. I have a giant postcard of the Vasa, from when my dad went to Stockholm for a conference when I was a little kid. He really loved that museum, too.
I really want to go to Sweden now. You are a great teller of tales, (meaning you tell stories well, not that you’re a liar). I’m loving the travel log.
okay, the saluting in the video? Very cute. Very stockholm
This is what I think Europe looks like when I think of Europe. Beautiful! I love your travel posts!
It looks such a nice place…as do the hot dogs!!
“Gamla Stan at dusk” is very beautiful and inspiring. I’m enjoying the photos as much as the story of your great trip!
sounds like you had a lot of fun! I am really impressed by the ship–I wish I had known about that when we were there. I need to consult more guidebooks or something!
Also, I have to comment on how cute and stylish you both look, not at all touristy
not that there’s anything wrong with being a tourist, just looking like one if you happen to value fashion like I do.
Such beautiful pictures! Thank you again for sharing.
Our homeland is absolutely stunning. No wonder we’re so elegant, charming and colorful!
Yay! Isn’t Stockholm gorgeous. One of my favorite cities in the world!
Thanks for stopping by Stockholm and for your report…
Stockholm is one of my favorite cities. I agree with you, for some reason when I went I felt like I fit in, like I belonged. Funny how that works. Love ya.
PS check out my blog.
Your cousin.
That last post was not ali it was Jon
You are making me want to watch ‘Fanny and Alexander’ again!! I love all things Swedish, and although I’m not Scandinavian, I’m Minnesotan, which is close enough, right?;)