Archipelagoes and Ancient Ships

  Stockholm, Sweden
Saturday, June 30, 2007

We slept in late this morning. Very very late. it was after 10 by the time we got moving and after 11 before we got out the door.

We had a very frustrating... morning... trying to find the place where we could book our ferry to go to Helsinki. First we asked our hostel lady person and she said it was at the Central Station. Right, easy enough, and the guide book says there is an info place there too. Two birds with one stone right?

Stockholm Streets

So we walk down to the central station and have a look. Nothing, no sign. We ask around. Some people say it's upstairs, some say there is nothing at all in the building like that... right. Frustrated. The guide book talks heaps about this info centre that's not too too far away. More walking. Eventually find the place, but not quite where the guidebook says it is. Bad guidebook. very very bad! Info place gives us more maps and says the ferry place is back at the central station, first place on your right. Grrrr.

Back at the central station, no sign of it. We ask at the Train ticket office. Says it's upstairs. Right, so we go upstairs. Not much there... and no ferry place. Ask around there, turns out it's across the street! FOUND IT! now wasn't that easy?

The Royal Palace

Next stop, a museum! Apparently there is a really well preseved ship there that they found on the bottom of the harbour! Cool! Except we got side tracked on the way by the polka swedish band of which half of the band members were blind, aslo by the sidewalk photo exhibit by Steven Bloom for WWF! Soooo cool, and then by the people on a Segway tour of Stockholm. Not disabled, just lazy. Loved the bike helmets though. Wayne, you should show them how it's done. These guys didn't even go half as fast as you!

Sidewalk Segways

Right, so we finally make it to the museum! The ship was amazing! We watched a 30 min film about how they found, refloated and restored the ship (English subtitles). The museum was focused around the boat, but contained all sorted of things about life at the time and how that affected the people that would have been part of the creation or operation of the boat. Even some recreations of faces from skeletons they found.

Nordik Museum

The ship was called the Vasa and was built in 1628 as one of four boats commissioned by King Gustav Adolf of Sweden. It sank moments after it departed on its maiden voyage due to lack of ballast. A heavy wind managed to tip her over far enough that she took on water through her gun ports and she sank with a loss of 30 - 50 lives out of about 450 on board. She was under water for 333 years before she was refloated and it took 20 years to restore her and retrieve all of the artifacts. The whole boat was spectacularly carved with scenes from Greek and Roman mythology, as well as Biblical figures and relevant imagery to the Swedish Empire. When the gun ports opened, they all had lion heads carved into them that displayed themselves to the enemy. The bowsprit was supported by a huge lion rampant and the stern was carved with dozens of figures and the crest of Sweden and the Swedish Royal family. Understandibly, the King was a little cheezed.

The Vasa

After the museum, it was getting late and we were starving, so we headed back to the hostel. On the way, we managed to run into a street market run by middle eastern guys. With recently aquired middle eastern bartering skills, we managed to score a bunch of fruit and Avocados for a good price! So dinner became more gourmet with a can of sauce, free pasta from the hostel, avocados and fresh strawberries for dessert! mmmmm.

We met some more interesting characters in our hostel. There are heaps of Aussies here, most of them very strange. Any way, we were pretty beat so settled in for some blog catching up and trip planning. We've got two more days here in Stockholm before moving on. More to see tomorrow!

Sidewalk Photo Show

All our best from Sweden

Dan and Gabrielle