5th September 2019
Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, encompasses 14 islands and more than 50 bridges on an extensive Baltic Sea archipelago. The cobblestone streets and ochre-coloured buildings of Gamla Stan (the old town) are home to the 13th-century Storkyrkan Cathedral, the Kungliga Slottet Royal Palace and the Nobel Museum, which focuses on the Nobel Prize. Ferries and sightseeing boats shuttle passengers between the islands.
Early wake up this morning to watch the sail in, Stockholm being about 80 miles from the sea to the city a long way from the sea up a tortuous route between islands and rocks, only just navigable by cruise ships. Often ships berth on the coast and don’t make the passage. The sail in went past lots of extremely posh homes scattered along the shore, there is obviously lots of money hereabouts.
Rather wet this morning but it looks better up ahead.
Our plan for today is to catch the Big Red Hop-on-Hop-off tourist bus for a tour of the city and it’s attractions.
Glad to say the bus was not too crowded, it was just waiting as we went ashore and set off without delay. Rain all cleared up, with just scattered clouds with sunny periods and a lovely temperature.
Stockholm seems very smart and clean, and not too busy at all. The tour took in just about all the notable features including the Opera House, City Hall, Central Railway Station(?), Royal Palace, etc. etc.
City Hall
The smallest of Stockholms 14 islands is large enough for just one building and linked by 2 bridges
If we get back here in the future the Gamla Stan area of the old town looks well worth a visit when time allows.
Our only Hop-off however is at the Vasa Museum, time being a bit short.
Wow, that’s some exhibit. Filling a huge museum hall is what appears to be a complete 17th century Royal ship. Wow.
And it is pretty much exactly what it appears to be. The ship of 64 guns set off on it’s maiden voyage in 1628.
Gunport decorated with the Swedish lion
Almost immediately it was hit by a series of squalls, the ship listing under pressure from the wind dipped her lower gunports below water level, took on water and sank with the loss of about 50 lives, about a dozen skeletons in the museum were on display, 2 were discovered to be women.
Stern gallery carved decoration
Stern decoration including the Swedish Coat of Arms
The ship remained mostly untouched on the seabed until eventually salvaged in the middle of the last century and found to be almost intact. With just a few items of restoration she now forms the museums centre piece.
Model of the ship as it would have been in original colours
Back on another bus for a short run back to the Sapphire for a welcome drink and a little lunch, a cheeseburger seemed most suitable.
Early sailaway to retrace our route back to the Baltic and continue to Tallinn, Estonia. Early departure because it’s necessary for us to pass during daylight hours a point where the channel is only 100mtrs wide
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