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Stockholm is dramatically situated at a point where Lake Malaren meets the Baltic Sea. Founded as a fortress in the mid 13th century, the site became a town spreading to nearby islands and the mainland. It is the capital of Sweden. Sweden is no newcomer to war. After reading many historical articles it appears they were always fighting to keep there own government or trying to overtake a nearby country. Important Definitions - Medieval According to Webster - pl.n. 1. The period in European history between antiquity and the Renaissance, often dated from A.D. 476 to 1453. According to Daley - 1. Half way between bad and good! History has not an exact date for the beginning of time in Stockholm. Snorre Sturlasson (1178-1241) describes an island formed by pilings known as Stocksundet. Documents clearly show the city existed in 1252. The old city area we visited was stunning. The old city - Gamla Stan - is an island smaller than Hilton Head. In fact many of the cities in Scandinavia are often a combination of many islands. One should get a map of the region and study it to see the area.
The streets are wide, many buildings appear old, activity is high all day long in the new city.
Di is standing in the middle of a street more captivating and longer than the Magnificent Mile in Chicago! Temperature was around 66, no rain but mostly cloudy. We stopped for refreshments both coming and going! Everybody speaks English!
Bridges connect the islands to the mainland. We are about to enter Gamla Stan - the center of the Medieval City.
Riddarholmskyrkan Steeple can be seen from miles away
The Grand Hotel is the most elegant accommodation in the area. We priced a room and decided it was far more than our heirs could afford!
Parliament Building
I should have taken a shot of this guard yawning. He is much more relaxed than any guards I have ever seen. Once in a while he would walk to his left, then to his right and back again. Of course the rear entrance has little activity but his attention was not very disciplined.
Sculpture of St. George and the Dragon by Bernt Notke (1489). It represents the King battling a serpent. As you might know art was a common language. Many different tongues always present communication issues but art often is the common denominator. It commemorates Sten Sture's victory over the Danes in a battle in 1471. The Swedes battled constantly with the Danes and others for centuries.
The day turned sunny. Look at the tile streets. Just as in Rome, flat shoes are essential!
Many of the buildings are narrow and tall. Taxes are based on the area so two windows pays less than three. Colored buildings seemed coordinated and random at the same time. We sat in the park and enjoyed a rest of mind and feet!
Strotorget - this square is in the heart of the "city between the bridges". It was the scene of the Stockholm bloodbath in 1520. This is a famous well dating from 1778, a popular place to get a drink for ages! The square is a gathering place. The Church with the steeple has a late Gothic interior. It is near the center of the old city. It also holds the sculpture of St. George and the Dragon.
Tyska is the name -- Terri Tyska Daley does this mean you are not Polish?
Atop of the obelisk stands Gustav III's statue, sculpted in 1799
We stood by the road as the Royal Cavalry road by.
This is the front entrance of the Palace.
Inside the walls of the Palace we watched the changing of the guard. The music played with drums and horns on horseback was awesome. I am surprised the horses didn't stampede!
The courtyard was quite able to handle the troops!
Come on, wake up, this is serious, only the guard in the back of the castle can sleep!
Now this is their version of a stromboli for ONE! Di had a salad and both of us could not finish but 1/2 of this ham, cheese and herb stromboli! I must try to make one puff up like this. It was fantastic but way more than one could eat!
Riddarholmskyrkan built in the 13th Century. Notice the external burial vault on the left with the green and gold dome. Photos from 8/4 - Stockholm Sweden day 2 |
