Stockholm, Sweden

On Wednesday, May 21 we were in Stockholm, Sweden

Our last port before disembarkation and our last tour with Alla Tours is in Stockholm, Sweden.  We actually docked in Nynashamn, Sweden, as the Royal Princess is too large of a ship to navigate the archipelago of islands to reach Stockholm.  This was a disappointment as cruising into Stockholm through the archipelago is beautiful. We saw just a little of it.

Nynashamn is a tender port; the only tender port on this whole cruise.  The crew was very efficient and we all got off the boat quickly, ready to find our tour guide.

After meeting our guide, Sophia, and driver at the port, we were entertained by Sophia with information about life in Sweden during the hour bus drive to Stockholm. 

Once we arrived in Stockholm, our first stop was at Fjallgatan view point for a few photos of the city ahead of us.  Stockholm is a gorgeous city with many beautiful buildings, statues and structures

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We then proceeded to a tour inside city hall.  This was a very historic site and was a beautiful building. Built about 90 years ago, it is famous as the venue of the annual Nobel Prize award ceremony and banquet.

The Blue Hall is where the Nobel Prizes are awarded.  It is a huge room and not blue.  It was originally intended to be painted blue, but when the architect saw the beautiful red brick walls, he just couldn’t paint them.

The Blue Hall

Sophia, our guide

We moved on to other rooms, including the Council Chamber.

The exposed wood beam ceiling is quite nice and unusual.

The hallways are decorated with paintings and carvings.

We then entered the highlight of the city hall tour—the Golden Hall.  It is where the banquet is held after the Nobel Prizes are presented.  Quite the dining room.

The room is covered with over 18 million mosaic tiles.  Truly overwhelming!

Upon leaving the Golden Hall, we passed by a display of a place setting that is used for the Nobel Prize banquet.

On top of the tower of the city hall was the national emblem of Sweden, the Three Crowns.

We left City Hall and made our way to the Vasa Museum,  home of the Royal warship Vasa.

Tulips were blooming everywhere!

Vasa Musuem

The Vasa, built for King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in record time between 1626 and 1628, was the mightiest warship in the Swedish fleet, intended to strike fear into the hearts of enemies. However, the ship had a sad destiny: she sank in the Stockholm harbor only a few minutes after setting sail on her maiden voyage in 1628. 333 years after this disastrous event the Vasa was salvaged; now she is one of the very few 17th century ships still in existence, and certainly the one in the best state of preservation.

The aft of the ship is very ornate

What a crew member probably looked like

Sophia said that the water was brackish and did not contain the worm that ate wood and that is why it was in such good condition.  Only minor restoration was needed.

We then took a walking tour of the Old Town, known as Gamla Stan.  It is an amazingly well preserved 13^th century town.

We came upon Stockholm’s smallest statue.  People leave coins in hopes of some kind of good luck.

There were some nice buildings and interesting statues around Old Town and lots of narrow streets. 

Sophia pointed out the emblem above the house #5.  This indicated that the owners had paid a fee and if a fire broke out in the houses, this house would be one of the first the firemen would go to.  No emblem, then you take your chances that help would be coming.

At the end of the walk we had about an hour free time before boarding the bus for the drive back to the port.  Gwen and Jerry joined us as we searched out a little pub for a taste of the local brew for the guys and wine for the gals.

The bronze statue is Saint George and the dragon.

Our bus was waiting for us across from the Royal Palace.  There was a soldier guarding the entrance.

Royal Palace

And with that, our tour ended and we headed back to our ship.  The next day is a sea day and it will be a day of packing and saying goodbye to our new friends.  When we reach Copenhagen, we will be disembarking, but staying in Copenhagen for 3 days before flying home.