Stockholm, Sweden

            Tuesday, 14 May 2013 – We had sat our alarm for 6:00 AM, but Sally didn’t sleep well and woke up at 1:30 AM.  Still awake at 4:40 AM, she went to the top deck.  The sun was already up, the sky was clear, but the wind was cold.  We were passing small islands and buoys that marked the channel for ships passing through.  Houses, often fairly large, became more frequent as we came closer to Stockholm.  Later, we learned that Stockholm is built on 14 islands, and thousands of islands are part of Sweden.  We heard the exact number (a huge one) of islands help to form Sweden.  Since we were supposed to meet with our excursion group at 8:15, we hurried for breakfast at the La Paloma Buffet by 7:00 AM a little before it opened – but part of it opened early.


            By the time we boarded the bus, the weather had changed from sunny to rainy.  There weren’t enough English-speakers to fill a bus, so our bus consisted of English-speakers (with Gulda for our guide) and another group of Italian-speakers, with their tour guide.  While in the bus, the two guides took turns pointing out places of interest, but with rivulets of rain running down the windows, decent pictures were out of the question.  Following a drive around Stockholm, we stopped at the historic City Hall with its Golden Room decorated with 20 million pieces of gilded mosaic tile. (The Nobel Peace Prize is celebrated at the City Hall.)  Then we traveled to the center of town to visit the Royal Palace.  Afterwards, we continued on foot through the old town (not easy walking on the cobblestones) and were given 1.5 hours of free time for lunch and/or shopping.  By then, the sun was trying to shine and it was warmer.  Since we are prone to getting lost, we decided to join another couple and their daughter.  We ended up having lunch at Kaffegille I Gamla Stan AB, where we ordered Irish coffee, French onion soup and meatballs.  (Although the menus didn’t call them “Swedish” meat balls, of course they had to be.)  Except for the onion soup, which was disappointing, the rest of the food was excellent.  One of the others ordered reindeer meat; we were tempted to try it, but it sounded like too much food.  (We haven’t figured out just how much money that meal cost us, with the money conversion, etc.)


Stockholm Statue

            

 Lunch at Kaffegille

          Immediately after finishing lunch, we re-boarded our bus and continued on to the Vasa Ship Museum.  The Vasa, the pride of the King of Sweden, sank in 1628 in the harbor on its maiden voyage, and was only hauled out of the water and restored about 15 years ago.  It is remarkably preserved, though now also restored.  Very unique, even beautiful in its way, with ornate carving, it sits in the museum that was built around it.

            Although our dinner table for eight is half empty, we enjoy interesting conversation with York and Gabi.   Afterward, on our way to the Grand Bar Rhapsody for dancing, we ran into Susan and Chris (of Scotland) and talked for several minutes.  By the time we made it to the bar at 8:15, the band had already gone on break.  Since we were both extremely tired, we returned to our cabin for an early night.