More Baltics! Stockholm and Visby, Sweden

August 4-6, 2024

$1 = 10.1 Swedish Krona (abbreviated SEK)

We enjoyed an overnight in Sweden – and were joined by nephew Sean and his fiancee, Hannah! (No, this was not previously arranged – their best deal on flights coincided with arriving the same day we docked).

Introducing Sean and Hannah! (At the ABBA museum – we’ll get back there later) (And not the best picture of Sean – but its a cute one of Hannah – so that wins).

Before the continuing family reunion, we had a Guru Walk. Stockholm has excellent public transportation with buses and ferries. The bus stop was about 1/2 mile from the ship (unfortunately up a hill), then we walked to the meeting site for the walking tour – and wandered into the Nobel Museum (adults 140SEK, students and Seniors 100) beforehand (and to get out of the rain). The museum lets you explore the history of the awards and the winners with a description of their discoveries.

2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine- Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman, without whose discoveries the last few years would have been so much worse.

Our walking tour – in the rain – was led by Erik the Viking (for Viking tours) and his daughter/assistant.

Guru walk guide Erik and his assistant describing the history of Stockholm and Sweden

First thing to learn – the term “viking” is actually a verb meaning to raid or pillage. Most of the Scandinavians were farmers, but about ten percent would go out and raid neighboring countries. And no – they did not wear helmets with horns on them. Stockholm was founded in 1252, and within thirty years was the largest city in Sweden, becoming the center of the Swedish empire. All of the early (wooden) structures were destroyed by fires – several times. In later centuries “insured” houses were marked by a phoenix, and the first the firefighters tried to save – even when the neighbors were much worse (and would soon spread the fire to the “insured” home). After a massive fire in 1625, most of the rebuilt portions of the city were constructed of stone or brick, and the city was redesigned with two large interacting boulevards.

After the walk, Sean and Hannah joined us for a beer by the water and a little more walking around to grab dinner. We found a place with room for six – with a decor that was “New Orleans Victorian”

Unfortunately forgot to get the name – but restaurant in the Slussen area with very distinctive decor

Sean and Hannah continued to enjoy the night when we returned to the ship. The next day would be museum day – and we had absolutely lovely weather. Getting from the cruise port to the main area of museums required a ferry ride. Two ferry terminals were near the ship – one literally next to its bow, the other about 500 feet away – but due to a canal between the ship and the terminal- it was over a mile walk. We lucked into the close by one for the way over to the ABBA museum (one of the stops listed on the outside of the ferry), where we would meet with Sean and Hannah for the day.

The ABBA museum (299SEK for adults, 260 for seniors and students) requires a timed ticket – so we had to cool our heels for about an hour and found the nearby Wrecks (Vrak) museum (185SEK pp, but you get a discount to the Vasa museum). The Vrak provides an educational tour that explains how some of the wrecks were recovered from the Baltics. Since the Baltic Sea is very low in oxygen, the wooden vessels are better preserved (unfortunately – we didn’t get many photos) allowing them to be recovered. With time covered, we returned to the ABBA experience.

Hannah and I make our entrance at the ABBA museum

At different times, Mary and I got up to be the “Fifth Member” and sang karaoke to “Mamma Mia” – no – I don’t have photos (there is a video somewhere on Facebook).

We grabbed some lunch nearby, then Hannah and Sean went on their way while the rest of us continued to the Vasa Museum (about 1/2 mile away).

The Vasa was to be the glory of the Empire of Sweden. Designed as an impressive warship with two levels for bronze cannons carrying 64 guns – most of them 24 pounders (for those not familiar with cannons – that means that each cannon ball weighed 24 lbs), and festooned with an impressive array of carvings. She set sail on August 10, 1628 – a breeze filled her sail – she listed heavily taking on water into the lower gun level – and sank 1400 yards after being launched. Her guns were salvaged in the 1700’s (after the development of the diving bell which allowed a person several minutes of air – long enough to dive down and get straps around the cannon so it could be winched up- which we learned at The Vrak). In the 1950’s, the entire ship was brought to the surface, each board preserved and placed in its original position.

Scale model of the Vasa – how it looked in all its glory

Unfortunately, we had to get back to the Serenade, so couldn’t continue on to the National Museum. We hopped on a ferry – unfortunately – to the one that landed within easy sight of the ship – but due to the waterway was over a mile walk. But we made it back with almost an hour to spare. And then on to Visby.

To me, Visby will always be the “City of Church Ruins” – because there are a lot of them. From the 13th-15th century – different communities raised money to build a church (as a way of showing “who loved God more)- eight of them in an area less than 2 square miles. Only one is still in use.