My Copenhagen hostel has the audacity to charge for WiFi by the hour, so I’ll upload most of my pictures at a later point. Also? You can follow my adventures at 90 Days in Europe and Everlater!
Stockholm was my first religious pilgrimage. Birthplace of IKEA & H&M, I got to visit the country where it all began. I was practically shaking with anticipation as I dumped my bags at my hostel and asked reception to help me find the nearest shops. Religious fervor is a terrific adrenaline, I tell you. In addition, to H&M, Stockholm is also home of cult favorites Cheap Monday jeans and Acne. I’m not skinny enough for Cheap Monday, and my pocketbook isn’t big enough for Acne. But when visiting shrines shops, it’s ok to look and just touch. Even if you don’t get to bring everything home you want with you, it’s a worthy cross to bear. I did get a fabulous cape at Zara. Like Batman, but with style. Zara is actually Spanish, but that is neither here nor there.
So did I do anything but cavort around in shops that carry the exact same items that can be found in Chicago, New York and LA? Actually, yes.
My first full day I practically skipped with anticipation to take the ferry to Drottingholm, the best of the Swedish royal places.
“Does the next ferry leave at 12 pm?,” I asked.
“Yes,” he replied. “On May 1st.”
Well then.
So I visited Radhuset, which is where they hold the Nobel Ceremony on Dec. 10. In a complicated Scandinavian twist, they announce the awards in Oslo and hold the ceremony in Stockholm. Albert Nobel had roots in both countries, and it seems to be a point of tension that neither country owns it entirely. Thankfully, they award something called the Peace Prize, so now Obama can get in there and sort it all out. Interestingly enough, it also showcased the China setting they use at the ceremony. This setting must be quite a point of pride as I saw it four more times. If you meet a Swede, be sure to compliment them on the place setting. You’ll be a big hit, I assure you.
I also visited Gamla Stan, which is their old city, complete with cobbled streets, and every tourist shop possible. Gamla Stan also holds the official palace for royal family. It’s like a second place palace for those tourists who missed the May ferry for Drottingholm. I got to see the official state rooms and the crown jewels. And pick up multiple postcards of Prince Carl Phillip. While the crown jewels are a yawn compared to others, their royal family rates a 10 in looks. Their national gallery holds late nights on Tuesdays. Swedes aren’t apparently aware of this, as I was pretty much the only one there most of the time. Well and the guards who followed me around, convinced I was up to no good.
My hostelmates this time around were lovely Americans, Kelly and Bridget, and they introduced me to fellow travelers. This was a highlight, and renewed my faith in hostels. Jeremy, Jonathan and Jess worked hard to convince me that hostels were the only way to go, and the best way to meet interesting people. Jeremy, Jonathan and Jess aren’t aware of my limited and rudimentary people skills.
We were also informed by Oscar, a Swede, that New Zealand (home of Jonathan) is the world’s best place and Colorado second. This declaration being the result of New Zealand being the home of Jermaine and Colorado being home of South Park. Colorado represent! We bonded over the magnificence of Casa Bonita.
My new friends and I went the next day to Vasa Museum. Everyone recommended the Vasa Museum to me. EVERYONE. It didn’t disappoint. It is a ship they received from the 1600s that sunk in its initial sail around the harbor, as it was too top heavy. It was straight Pirate of the Carribeans with some of the best exhibits I’ve ever seen in a museum. We went back to Gamla Stan to pick up some boots Jess wanted. Then we literally couldn’t leave the island of Gamla Stan as the Russian president was visiting the palace, and they weren’t letting anyone off. Dmitri apparently required that tourists not be allowed to walk across bridges. Pedestrians walking across bridges are a horrible threat akin to traveling with more than 3 oz of liquids. Once we voted Dmitri off the island, I went to see a performance of Coppelia at the Operan, and then met everyone back up for drinks. Their performance of Coppelia was an awesome twist, and really well done.
I was determined to make my last full day count, so I made it to three museums and their gardens. Everyone said I must visit Skansen, an open air museum, but in the off season, it’s not that great. Similar to the Norsk Folkemuseum, it has all these houses or ways to show how Swedes lived thru the ages. It was deserted, and meh in the winter. They also had animals, who seemed miserable to me. The seals, or as my friend Bruce refers to them, the big fat sausages of the sea, were kept in this gross, dirty green water. I was ready to cause an international incident and lead them on a march to the sea, but Bruce assured me that as long as they’re wet and fed, I should save my international instances for another time. I also made it to the Nordiska Museum, which had great exhibits on the Swedish culture and history. I did a cultural driveway of the Nobel Museum too.
And that kids concludes the religious pilgrimage of this trip. I definitely recommend Stockholm if you get the chance. Currently in Copenhagen and Istanbul on Sunday. Hit me up with any recs. if you have them!
