Viking Homelands: Stockholm Finale (9/8-9/2018)

Saturday, September 8, 2018 (continued)
Once the boat from Drottningholm arrived at the dock in Stockholm, we caught the Hop On Hop Off Bus to go to the Vasa Museum. But at the Royal Opera, the driver announced he was going on break. We went to take the next bus that was leaving, but Fernando figured out that if we walked a block over, we could skip the Södermalm loop part of the trip and head directly to Djurgården. I had a picture of Stockholm in my mind, but it was missing an island! So I slowed us up a bit until I saw the map and understood the bus route.

Statue (1868, by Johan Peter Molin) of Karl XII,
who ruled during the Great Northern War,
when Sweden had to protect itself from an
alliance of Denmark-Norway, Poland, and Russia

Behind the trees, replicas of the masts of the ship
Vasa rise above the museum to show how tall it was

The massive Nordic Museum (1888-1907, by
Isak Gustaf Clason in Dutch-Danish Renaissance style)
includes both a museum and library, based on the
collection of Artur Hazelius, who also founded
the open-air museum Skansen

Statue (1905, by Teodor Lundberg) of Orpheus (KSS)

Fernando and Josefina point out the Josefina
"Beach Club" and Restaurant

Gate (by Fredrik Blom) for the
Galärvarvskyrkogården/Shipyard Cemetery

Estoniamonumentet/Estonia Ferry Disaster Memorial
for the victims of the M/S Estonia that sunk in 1994
when its bow visor became unlocked and opened,
allowing water into the ship during a stormy voyage
from Tallinn to Stockholm

Vasamuseets trädgård/Vasa Museum's garden with flowers,
herbs, and vegetables that were grown in the 1600s

Yikes! Messed up again, although we had double-checked the hours of the Vasa Museum. Now it was closing at 17:00, and we had 10 minutes!
The Vasa was a warship, built in 1626-1628 in Stockholm, that was to be a symbol of Sweden's power and prestige. Ordered by Gustav Adolf, he demanded that it be taller than designed for a better vantage from which to fire weapons. It had cannons on two decks, at least twice the usual number of heavy cannons. On its maiden voyage in 1628, the Vasa opened all the gun ports so that a salute could be fired. The sails were raised and ship took off in a light breeze. In a gust of wind, it leaned left, but when the wind stopped the ship was able to right itself. However, when passing a gap in the bluffs, a stronger wind caused the ship to lean to the left enough that water poured into the lower gun ports. There in front of crowds of people, the Vasa sank.

The Vasa from the front

The double levels of gun ports (KSS)

A model of the ship under full sail

Research lab

The ship could not be raised with the technology of the time. It was not until 1961 when the Vasa could at last be lifted out of the water. It was housed in a temporary facility that allowed the public to view the ship while it was being conserved. There was much mud and debris to be removed. In 1987 they began to construct a permanent building, and the ship was towed into it in 1988. The museum was completed in 1990, designed by Marianne Dahlbäck and Göran Månsson.

"Next to God, the welfare of the Kingdom depends on its fleet" (KSS)

Relief map of the battles being waged in 1628 (KSS)

The shipyard was run by Margareta Nilsdotter, who assumed
responsibility when her husband died in 1627 (KSS)

Exhibit: Why the Vasa Sank (KSS)

Models of the detailed, and painted, wood carvings that
decorated the back/stern of the ship

The stern of the Vasa (KSS)

The stern of the model

At 17:00 we were herded out of the museum. We went to catch the Hop On Hop Off Bus.

Colchicum autumnale/Autumn Crocus (KSS)

In Stockholm there are two companies that run a Hop On Hop Off Bus, and one accepted the Stockholm Card and one did not. The "red" bus arrived, and we acted as if we did not know it was the wrong bus, and the driver said we could not use the card on his bus. But then he asked where we were going, and told us to go ahead and take his bus. We were very grateful, and were even more thankful when we learned that the "green" bus had already stopped running for the day!
We were able to go right to the hotel in Haymarket.

Now the sun is shining on the Concert Hall

Orpheus Emerging from the Underworld
(c 1936, by Carl Milles)

The Hotel Haymarket (1882, in Art Deco style)
in the former PUB department store where
Greta Garbo worked 1920-1922

The market was closing down

Flower bouquets at the market

I do not know what the style is of the interior of the hotel!

Hotel room bathroom

Tile art in the shower

We had tried to find a fish restaurant that was recommended by fellow passengers on the boat back from Drottningholm, but it was closed. We went across the street to Pyttirian for dinner.

Pytt i Panna/Hash classic-style

Lobster Roll

Sunday, September 9, 2018
We has a leisurely breakfast, checked out, and went to catch the Hop On Hop Off Bus that was to begin service at 10:00. There was a bus company representative at the stop, who said that we could walk to the bus terminal before the first bus would appear. So we walked the nine or so blocks, found the bus terminal, and purchased the tickets for the Flygbussarna motor coach to the Arlanda Airport, which is 25 miles away. It turned out that we got off at a different terminal than Fernando and Josefina, so we were not able to say goodbye properly! They were flying to Spain.
Having been forewarned by Fernando and Josefina, we ate something before boarding our 13:40 Icelandic flight to Rekjavik, arriving at 15:00 local time. In Reykjavik we bought a sandwich and drinks to take on the 16:50 flight directly to Cleveland. At least the connection was convenient!
Once in Cleveland by 19:15, we had to go through passport control and customs. Brynne was there to pick us up, and we were soon home.