Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. This enchanting metropolis encompasses fourteen islands connected by 50+ bridges, creating a picturesque and unique atmosphere. Over 2.5 million people live in the metropolitan area. From Berlin, we traveled to Stockholm.
Stockholm, Sweden
One of Stockholm’s greatest charms is its waterfront location. There are leisurely boat tours to admire the city’s skyline from a different perspective, or many people simply relax by the water’s edge and soak up the ambiance. Bicycling, kayaking and paddle boarding are also popular activities.
The Royal Palace is a magnificent 18th century building that serves as the official residence of the Swedish royal family. There are 1,430 rooms in the palace with sculptures, paintings and tapestries that decorate the interior.
A visit to Stockholm wouldn’t be complete without exploring Gamla Stan, the city’s historic center.
We wandered through the cobblestone streets, admired the colorful buildings, and soaked up the medieval charm. The blue/purple flowers are globe thistle. There were so many shops, restaurants and bars.
We thoroughly enjoyed lunch at a small restaurant/bar that served a traditional meal of Swedish meatballs, pickled cucumber, mashed potatoes and lingon berries. It was a warm day and air conditioning would have been very welcome.
The Stockholm City Hall is a multi-function building. Construction was completed in 1923.
The Blue Hall, with its straight walls and arcades, incorporates elements of a formal courtyard. This is where banquets are held after the annual Noble Prize award ceremony.
The walls are covered in decorative mosaics, primarily in gold.
Vasa Museum houses the restored 64-gun warship, Vasa, that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. It only sailed 1,400 yards before meeting its fate. The Vasa was dangerously unstable, with too much weight, primarily cannons, in the upper structure of the hull. Rumors were that the King had too much imput in the design, as opposed to engineers. The ship was retrieved from the bottom of the sea in 1961 and can be seen from six levels.
Numerous skeletons were found at the site. Re-creations of what the sailors would have looked like based on the skeletons were on display.
Back on the ship we observed blue-green algae or cyanobacteria in the ocean. Even though it’s a normal part of the annual cycle of the Baltic Sea, it’s become a worsening problem because of agricultural runoff. Nutrient loading with phosphorus and nitrogen are the main culprits. Cyanobacteria is dangerous to humans and animals. Most of the contributing countries are working on reducing nutrient loading.
We sailed through the thousands of islands that make up Sweden. The views were absolutely stunning. We watched a storm roll through, enjoying lightning in the distance.
