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The Vasa - Stockholm - Dredged Up After 300 Years on the Floor of Stockholm Harbor |
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We recently visited Stockholm as part of a cruise through the Baltic region. It was Mark's first visit to the lovely city, and a return trip for Sharon after about 13 years. We got up around 8am and watched off our balcony as our ship threaded the 1000 islands in the Stockholm Archipelago. In fact, about 4 hours outside of Stockholm our ship had to pick up a special pilot to do the navigating since the waters are so shallow. There are many beautiful houses on the Archipelago, and you might even see another ship on your way!
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After finally docking in Stockholm, we took a taxi with some fellow travelers directly to the Vasa Museet in order to beat the ship tours. The Vasa Museet houses the incredible Vasa ship, in amazing shape, even though it was raised from the bottom of the harbour in Stockholm after resting there for more than 300 years. The King who ordered the construction of the Vasa, in a moment of pride (and remember, pride goeth before the fall, or in this case, before sinking) ordered an extra gun deck to be built on the ship...after the construction had begun. The Vasa ended up too top heavy, and sank to the bottom of the harbour just a few moments into its maiden voyage.
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After visiting the Vasa Museet, we walked to Djugardsfaren pier to take high speed ferry to Gamla Stan. It was lovely on the water watching Gamla Stan approach in the shining sun.
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We then took a walk though Gamla Stan, on our way to having lunch in Stortorget and then visiting the Nobel Museum. Afterwards, we visited the Royal Apartments at Kunlingla Slot (Royal Palace), walked to Opera House, and then the Grand Hotel. While it had been threatening rain for the last few hours of our day in Stockholm, it held off until we finished our day and were on the way back in a shuttle bus to our ship. We both definitely concluded that Stockholm (and Sweden in general) is worth a return trip, this time land-based.
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