Stockholm Explorations August 5-6, 2006

August 5

Krista (pronounced Sheesta) is about a 20 minute subway ride from the central station. We transferred over and took another train to a stop that was a short bus ride away from the Karolinska University Hospital. We didn’t have to wait long after registering and I was taken back to see a doctor who after a short chat, six x-rays and consulting with an orthopedic surgeon the diagnosis is that I have pulled or torn my medial collateral ligament or possibly might have a torn meniscus. Either one is not too bad and can be treated the problem is with both it means a considerable time off my feet. The good news was that the doctor said it was unlikely I would do additional damage by walking. We plan to continue on to northern Sweden and Norway and then decide what to do based on how the knee feels in about three weeks.

After the doctor we caught a bus that we were told would take us to the central station. It almost did, that is it made a stop that was a few blocks away. Unfortunately for us we didn’t know to get off there and ended up riding around the whole bus route and back to the stop closest to the station. We then caught another bus that took us to within a couple of blocks. This is part of the fun of not knowing a town.

From there we went to see something that I have wanted to see for years. It’s a ship called the Vassa. This vessel is unique in history for a couple of reasons; One it rolled over and sank within hours of being launched because of poor design and ballasting and two it was salvaged almost intact three hundred years later in 1961. The ship is housed in a special building and is an amazing sight. The Vassa was ordered built by King Gustav II and was launched in 1628. It was meant to be a statement of Sweden’s might and was not only heavily armed but also ornately decorated. The state of preservation is amazing due to the cold water and mud. They have invested hundreds of thousands of hours of restoration and the work goes on still today. We spent several hours in the museum and thoroughly enjoyed it.

We then walked a short distance to Skansen; the world’s original open air museum. This is a park like setting that covers a hill not far from the middle of Stockholm. Exhibits consist of farms, an old village, a zoo, several houses of famous or near famous Swedes and several gardens. It is a peaceful area in the middle of a bustling city and a nice place to take younger children. Speaking of younger children, Holly and I believe that Stockholm must have more children under the age of five than almost any other city or the parents take them out on the streets more. There are kids everywhere and we have seen lots of parent(s) with multiple young children. Maybe it’s the glorious weather we have had the last few days that has them out and about.

We hopped a ferry to Gamla Stan (old town) and found a place to eat our late lunch along one of the narrow lanes that make up this section of the city. A great meal (Holly’s official birthday dinner) and great service to boot. After dinner we wandered around not really knowing where we were going when we came to the old town square. Here we found a beautiful ornate fountain / well where the townspeople once drew their water and the Alfred Nobel Museum. We may go back to tour this museum Monday or Tuesday.

We found the subway again made the transfers we needed and managed to get home without getting lost. That was the end of a long and tiring day.

August 6

We took advantage of the laundry facilities here at the hotel early this morning before it got crowded had a late breakfast and then headed for the train.

First order of business was to get our reservations for the train on Wednesday when we head north. We’re excited about this part of the trip as it will take us north of the Artic Circle which is a first for us.

Reservations made and two trains later we were at the National Historic Museum which is in a part of town named Ostermalm. This is another museum that is very well done. It starts in prehistoric times and has a really comprehensive section dedicated to the Vikings as well as later periods. We spent a couple of hours here before finding a place to eat at a small sidewalk café in Ostermalm. Holly wanted traditional but we settled for modern trendy after walking for a ways and not finding much of anything open in this section of town.

We made our way back to Krista took in another movie and then shopped for knee supports. We found a couple that I bought and will give them a try in hopes of minimizing the problem. Another busy day but one well spent.