Today we breakfasted with the view of Stockholm’s Old Town, the Gamla Stan, from the deck, after which we headed by Zodiac to the city. Some of us then went to the Vasa Museum, with an option of also visiting the open-air museum of Skansen. Others travelled by coach to the art museums of Millesgarden and Waldemarsudde.
The Vasa did not disappoint. The magnificent wooden ship sank on its maiden voyage in Stockholm harbor in 1628 and was not raised again until 1961. Its level of preservation is astonishing, and the views of its exterior and exterior structures are fascinating. The museum was purpose-built for the vessel and it is easily identifiable by the masts crowning it, which are supposed to be the same height as those of the Vasa were when she set out on her ill-fated journey. Skansen was the world’s first open-air museum and it has been described as a “miniature Sweden”, in that historical buildings from all over the country have been moved there over the years since its founding in 1891. It has old farmhouses and churches and also a Sami camp from the north of the country. It even has a zoo, so that visitors can experience the range of animals that live in Sweden.
Those of us who went to the art museums were not disappointed either. Millesgarden was the former home and studio of the famous Swedish sculptor Carl Milles and his wife Olga, and has a terraced garden (with great views of Stockholm and the sea) full of monumental replicas of sculptural pieces by both Milles himself and other artists. Waldemarsudde houses the private collection of the artist-Prince Eugen. Many of the works here are by the prince himself, and we were particularly impressed by his paintings of moody-looking clouds, but he also collected works by contemporary Swedish artists who later became very well known, such as Anders Zorn. We even spotted some drawings and paintings by other famous non-Swedish artists, such as Derain and Picasso.
The highlight of the afternoon and evening for many of us was a guided rooftop walk over Stockholm. The views were breathtaking but we felt perfectly safe on the narrow rooftop paths in our safety harness. Others preferred to explore the city at ground level, either independently or with guides. Some took a leisurely Walking and Sweets Tasting Tour through the Gamla Stan, while others enjoyed a guided stroll around the area of the old Cathedral and Royal Armory.
Many of us travelled back by Zodiac to Stockholm that night to sample its atmospheric bars and restaurants, or just for a walk, so that we could make the most of this wonderful city before we left for Finland early the next morning.
