Stockholm

April 7 - 10, 2006

Swedish greetings

A young, Swedish björn wishing you Hej.
(photo of a brown bear at Skansen)

I heart Sweden

Stockholm is a breathtaking beauty.

It is a city composed of 14 islands, and water is everywhere.

Here is the Stadshuset (the City Hall).

The Stadhuset is where the Nobel Prize banquet is held.

The building was designed to look like an Italian Renaissance piazza. It was supposed to be painted blue after construction, but the architect changed his mind when he liked the look of the red bricks in the sun.

From the city hall plaza, here's a view of the Riddarfjärden, translated literally as the Knight Fjord. It is a bay of lake Mälaren in central Stockholm.

Walking down the tree-lined Narvavägen street.

For a panoramic view of the city centre, here is the view from the cliffs of Söder.

There's the Stadhuset again.

That's ice on the water (in mid-April!)

And here's one more look.

Just bright and beautiful.

Exploring town

Here's a church.

In a rushed effort to modernize Stockholm in the 1960's Sergels Torg was built. This is a two-level area of calamity, concrete and commerce.

Even on an overcast day, the city reflected beautifully on me.

Here's half of the Riksdagshuset (the Parliamet Building). Sweden has an open system of government, clearly represented by this major pedestrian thoroughfare, which separates this older parliamentary building from the modern half across the street.

I liked the different architectural styles and colours.

Here's a military marching band crossing the Norrbro.

The back of the Parliament building.

The marching band followed me to the Kungliga Slottet, the Royal Palace.

An old time ship in front of the Royal Palace.

A cape fit for a king.

Walking down Gamla Stan, an island designed as a cultural landmark. The buildings are centuries old, draped in ivy, and surrounded by quiet squares.

Here's a view from the island. By the way, Gamla Stan means "the Old Town", and it was on this island that Stockholm was born in the 13th century.

It's 13h00 at Gamla Stan.

A family on a stroll in one of the squares at Gamla Stan.

Another view from Gamla Stan.

More Gamla Stan.

Design

Lagom is Swedish meaning "just enough" and it summarizes the Swedish ideas of fairness, equality and modesty. This philosophy is visible in Swedish design. On the streets of Stockholm, I saw mundane, everyday street fixtures elevated to painfully beautiful works of art for everyone to enjoy.

Look at these bright-eyed creatures at the children's park. They have light bulbs for eye!

Underground art

Here is the T-Centralen station of the Tunnelbana, the Stockholm metro system. The walls are made to look like that of a cave.

Solna Centrum station, with its radical 1970's art about the environment.

I like the art. A forest against the red skies, on the caves of the metro, underneath Stockholm.

Great minds gone underground.
At the Östermalm station.

Efficient tourism

Skansen is the first open air museum and zoo in Sweden and is located on the island Djurgården, Stockholm. It shows the way of life in different parts of Sweden throughout history. The park mimics Sweden, with the north part of the park resembling the North of Sweden, and the south part representing the South of Sweden.

Here's what I saw:

Swedish runes

Swedish fire.

A traditional farm.

I'm not too sure what this is ... a maypole perhaps?

A wise, Swedish owl.

I believe this is a Swedish storage hut.

Here are Swedish bison.

Looking into the Djurgårdsbrunnsviken, still with ice.

The oldest building at Skansen. The 14th century Norwegian storage hut.

Here is a close up of the hut.

Swedish moose taking a rest.

A Swedish barn.

Here's another barn.

I'm not too sure what this is.

Here's a Swedish windmill.

Skogaholm Manor house was built in 1680, and moved here to Skansen from Närke.

Nordic cultures

The Nordiska Museet (Nordic Museum) is devoted to the cultural history of Sweden.

Entering the museum you are greeted by the massive pink and gold statue of Gustav Vasa, 1496-1560, King of Sweden from 1523. (The King is carved in oak.)

Here is an exhibit on Norwegian and Swedish cultures.

According to this exhibit, Norwegians have backpacks, boots, Norwegian patterned sweaters and oil.

And then the Swedes have their Volvos, boats, sports gear, crispbreads, and wooden horses.

Old ship

At the Vasamuseet, the maritime museum, you can find the Vasa warship, which sunk on her maiden voyage in 1628.