Free time in Scandinavia - THREAD 2 OF 2 - COMPLETE!
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**Colexis Mom** · 08-19-2005, 07:45 PM

Another great update Cheryl

The palace looks amazing

And how great you got to see the changing of the guard

More please

**chezp** · 08-20-2005, 06:18 AM

Thursday 7 July – part two: the Crown Jewels fail to impress and “what’s that on the water?”

Once we’d finished finding our way though all the groups and got out of the Royal Palace, we wandered across to the nearby Cathedral – Storkykan – on the way there, while trying to find the entrance to the Cathedral, we came across the main square in the Old Town – Storteget – which was truly beautiful and reminiscent of ones in Mediterranean countries like Italy or perhaps the grand square (La Grand Place) in Brussels:

We made it into the Cathedral at 11.00, just as they were starting Mass. We were told that we could still go in, just so long as we didn’t take any photos or wander around, so in we went to soak up the ambience. This cathedral dates back 700 years and houses some beautiful works of art. We only stayed there a couple of minutes, as I really did feel like I was intruding and, despite what we’d been told when we walked in, I noticed that some people were wandering around, which I didn’t think was an acceptable way to behave.

From there, we walked down Slottsbacken, the main road past the Royal Palace, linking the seafront with Gamla Stan.

We walked about halfway along and went into the Treasury, which is home to the Swedish Crown Jewels, stopping on the way to get a photo of the Royal Palace interior – we were allowed to take photos here and this is a shot looking towards the Royal Chapel.

Now maybe I’m biased, but having seen the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, perhaps I was expecting more, but let’s just say that I’m glad we didn’t pay specifically for this experience. There were only two rooms of jewels and we spent no more than 10 minutes in there. In fact, once we had seen everything, I turned to Mark and said “is that it?”

I think that sums it up really.

A few doors down was the Royal Armoury, an interesting display of military wares. This was free, but again, there wasn’t much to it, although there was more to see in here than there had been in the Treasury.

From there, it was down to the waterside to see the Royal Palace from the front and the first sight that struck me was one on the water….

I don’t know if you can make it out, but there’s a Viking Ship out there!

It turns out it’s a ship that takes tourists on a cruise around Stockholm. We didn’t get a chance to go out on it, but it was a great sight.

But my attention was soon back on the Royal Palace. They were doing a lot of work in the front gardens, so these photos had to be carefully staged:

Then it was around to the third side of the Royal Palace and in to see Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities, which includes statues bought home by King Gustav III from his journey to Rome. The way they’d laid out the corridors, just full of marble, was pretty impressive, but again it took us no more than 10 minutes to go round this and again, I couldn’t take any photos in here.

The only part of the Royal Palace worth seeing was the Royal apartments that we visited first. The rest turned out to be a bit of a waste of time.

Next: something to take the weight off our feet

**DopeyGirl** · 08-20-2005, 02:29 PM

I saw the viking ship!!!

How cool was that?! Too bad you guys didn't get a chance to go on, but at least you did get to see it and get a picture!

More please!!!

**DrDolphin** · 08-20-2005, 04:21 PM

Great update Cheryl!! Sorry the crown jewels didn't impress.... can't wait to read more.

**Colexis Mom** · 08-20-2005, 07:17 PM

What a beautiful area

More please

LSUtigerfan · 08-21-2005, 11:56 AM

Catching up once again...great trip report!

I'm loving the pictures!

**chezp** · 08-21-2005, 01:05 PM

Thursday 7 July – part three: something to take the weight off our feet

I was contemplating taking the free tour of the Parliament building that I had seen advertised last night and so we headed that way, getting some more photos on the way:

Note the face and finger in the water!

Another view of the Royal Palace

A different view of the Cathedral

The City Hall

The new Parliament building

When we got there, it was just before midday and perfect timing I thought, as I believed that the tour was at midday, but no, it was at 12.30. We checked how long it was and were told that it was an hour. That seemed like a long tour and our feet were already getting weary, plus we’d have half an hour to wait for the tour, so we went back outside to decide our next move.

I browsed through what was available to us as Stockholm card holders and realised that we could take a free 45 minute boat tour of the canals of Stockholm. Well, that would give us a chance to rest our feet, so that quickly became our preferred option.

The next trip was due to leave at 12.30, which sounded perfect to us, so we headed for the boat dock, taking a photo along the way of Gamla Stan:

We got to the boat with about 10 minutes to spare, got our tickets. While we were getting our tickets, we overheard the guy in front of guy of us asking if there was an Internet café nearby or somewhere that he could go online. We realised from his voice that he was British and, after he left, we did wonder why on earth he needed the Internet so desperately. As there was a national rugby match that day, we put it down to that…..

Thinking no more of it, we got in line and were soon boarding. I think we made a good choice with the time of this cruise, as the one before seemed to be packed and the one after seemed to have a similar number of people in line as well. This was a really relaxing way to see Stockholm and brought it home to you that the city is on a series of islands – 29 of them I believe from memory. Hence, this is why they call it the Venice of the North. An apt name indeed.

Once the trip was over, the next priorities were a restroom stop, drink and food – strictly in that order. I did find some toilets as we came off the boat, but they had a charge attached to them.

No way!

I thought that sort of thing went out with the ark! Actually I thought that the only nation which charged you to use their toilets was the French. Obviously I was wrong on that count!

Next: the news we’d dreaded hearing for so long

**Colexis Mom** · 08-21-2005, 01:51 PM

Another great update Cheryl

lauren-roxy · 08-21-2005, 09:20 PM

Great updates Cheryl!! I can't believe they charge to use the facilities!!

Great photos as always! Can't wait to read more, although I know the next news was very terrible.

**DopeyGirl** · 08-21-2005, 10:05 PM

[ QUOTE ]

Note the face and finger in the water!

[/ QUOTE ]

OK . . . now THAT would be FREAKY to see!!!

What the heck was that? More modern art? Gulliver?

Stockholm looks like it is just beautiful!!! Great pics!!!

Even though I know what's coming next (which was just so absolutely terrible and sad

), I am still looking forward to hearing more about the trip!!!

**David's Mom** · 08-22-2005, 11:36 AM

Just caught up again. Fabulous report and great pictures. More please.

**DrDolphin** · 08-22-2005, 01:12 PM

Great photos Cheryl - Stockholm is lovely!!!

**chezp** · 08-22-2005, 01:50 PM

Thursday 7 July – part four: the news we’d dreaded hearing for so long

We found ourselves back in the same area as last night where we had enjoyed such a good meal, so Pickwicks pub it was again for lunch. I went for the shrimp salad, while Mark went for the black olive and feta cheese one.

The guy who’d served us last night was there and stopped by straight away. At first, he told us that we would have to make do with the woman who was serving us, but then a couple of minutes later, he appeared and told us he was taking over, because she had too many tables to deal with. That was fine by us!

We’d had good service from him last night and I was sure we would again and so it proved to be.

He even took the joke really well, when Mark told him that his salad hadn’t actually contained any olives. Actually, it was no joke – it really didn’t!

That was fine though and our server even offered to put the olives with the dessert!

Again, we decided to share this time – we had vanilla ice cream, fruit and kahlua. I had the ice cream and Mark had the fruit, taking his first taste of kahlua! I did try to warn him that it was potent stuff, but I don’t know if he believed me until he sampled it for himself.

It was while here that we learnt about the bomb attacks in London.

Our server asked if we were from London and we explained that we were from near there. He then asked if we had heard the news and at first, I thought he meant about us winning the right to host the 2012 Olympics, but his face was far too serious for that. I just felt my blood run cold, as he explained that there had been a series of bombs on the underground and on buses. He thought that it was five underground stations and six buses, which is what the early reports that day had said.

Of course, we were thinking hundreds of people dead or even perhaps thousands, knowing how crowded the tube and the buses are in the morning rush-hour. To have that many attacks would surely mean that many casualties. The news certainly dampened our spirits and I couldn’t get thoughts of what was happening at home out of my mind all day long. Having said that, it also made me all the more determined to enjoy the time we had left in Stockholm. After all, things like this just go to prove how precious life is and how you need to make the most out of every moment. I was determined we’d do just that.

With that resolve, we went to go and find the ferry over to the Museum area of the city and this was where the fun started! We headed first for the waterfront by the Palace, but no, that wasn’t where we got it from.

“The quayside over there”, we were told. OK, no problem. We could see where that was, so off we headed.

When we got there, we couldn’t see where we got the boat from, so we asked and it turned out that it was the quay over.

By now, I was beginning to think that we’d never get there.

We did ask if there was an alternative boat to get to the museums, but no, there wasn’t, as the next one from this quay didn’t go until 4.30 and it was just coming up to 3.00. I don’t think we’ll wait that long.

We finally found our way to the right place and got there to just see a boat putting away.

OK, no problem, we still had to buy tickets and I had some photos taking time.

Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern – the Royal Dramatic Theatre

When the ferry got there, we were the first ones on it. I knew exactly where I wanted to go – right at the front of the boat, so that we could watch our progress and that’s the seat I got.

It was a very pleasant ride over, although a few too many kids for my taste, all getting excited about going to Grona Lund amusement park.

Next: a sight to take your breath away

lauren-roxy · 08-22-2005, 02:35 PM

Very beautiful photos Cheryl!!! So sorry you had to learn the news about London that way, but you are so right in that you really must live each day to it's fullest. I can't wait to read more, this report is so interesting!!!