Stockholm, Sweden

We arrived at Nynashamn, a small village 45 minutes south of Stockholm.  It is a bustling ferry port, and the Swedes have designed a pier that can be used for mega-liners like ours.  The ship comes in, ties lines to a anchoring buoy and the shore, then the pier jackknifes out to meet the ship.  It takes about 30-40 minutes to get it into place.  

We took one of the ship’s buses into Stockholm and ventured off on our own.  They dropped us off at the Opera House, right in front of the Parliament building, and within walking distance of the Royal Palace.

Parliament Building

Despite normally quitting operation on the 1st of October, the hop-on, hop-off boats were operating, so we took a cruise around Stockholm.  It was great weather when we started.

Panoramic View of Stockholm waterfront

This is the Nordicka Museum.

Right next to it is a museum dedicated to the Viking Ship Vasa which sank on it’s maiden voyage in 1628.  It was found several years ago and they raised it to discover how well preserved it was.  It is now on display.

Tivoli Gardens has a branch in Stockholm.  Grona Lund is right on the waterfront. 

We cruised on down to one of the islands south of downtown, Sodermalm. On the working waterfront were ferry terminals, and a cruise terminal where we caught up with AidaMar, the cruise ship which had been with us in Russia.

This is a view of Skeppsholmen, an island in the center of the harbor that houses the Modern Art Museum, a Christmas Market and this tall ship.

Stockholm Cathedral

We ended up back where we started, just in front of the Royal Palace, and the steps leading up to the Stockholm Cathedral.  

We boarded the Hop-on/Hop-off bus and continued our tour.  As we were waiting, many of the buses that went by smelled like French fries because they are using bio-diesel, made from corn and used cooking grease.  The tour pointed out that Stockholm hopes to be a totally carbon emission free city in about 5 years and they are building a tram down town, in addition to the metro and bus system they have.  Bicycle have access everywhere.

tree-lined street with bike paths

We passed the Concert Hall.  It is here that the Nobel prizes are given out each December.  They do the formal ceremony here, then everyone goes to dinner at City Hall.

Right in front of the Concert Hall they have an outdoor market.

One of the big things the bus companies tout for tourists is the “coolest” bar in Stockholm, the Ice Bar where they keep the temp at  -5 below.  Since our ship has its own ice bar, nobody on Getaway was signing up for it.  Right next to that hotel they have a structure that looks like ice crystals, a new waterfront Congress center.

We got off the bus and continued to explore on our own.  Here’s a view from directly in front of the Parliament building, looking across at the Grand Hotel.

Right next to this park they had a couple of fishing boats with unique net systems for catching salmon.  I wonder whether this would qualify for dip netting?

There is an arch way and a pedestrian walkway between the Ost and Est Wing of Parliament (that’s West and East). The people get to be middle of the road between the politicians.

As we entered Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town, 
we got a good view of Riddarholm Church.

Gamla Stan is a warren of cobblestone streets, filled with everything that attracts tourists.  We wandered around for awhile.

side alley

a cafe with some unique seating

Stockholm Cathedral from Old Town

Before we left Gamla Stan we found this round building.  We later saw a map of Parliament buildings, this is apparently an office building.

As we crossed over the bridge back into the main part of town, we could get a good look at the spire of City Hall.  They give tours of city hall, and allow people to climb the tower.  

Right as we entered into a downtown shopping district, there was this cute statue.  I’ll have to do a bit more research and find out its significance.

Throughout the shopping areas, we kept coming across moose.  

Here’s Scott and a friend.

Sweden is famous for a lot of innovation.  Skype was created by Swedes; so was IKEA.  We saw Volvos everywhere, but this one stood out.

Bicycles are everywhere… on the sidewalks, on the side of the roads… or here, going past a construction area, flanked by buses and trucks!

Driving back to the ship, much of the area south of Stockholm looked like the birch forests of Alaska.  

They have a few more pine trees though.

Gateway at the pier

We got back to the ship just as the Scottish Viking ferry was pulling in.

And just in time for sunset.  

the view aft from our balcony