Posts from the ‘Scandinavia’ Category
7 reasons why Stockholm is super
There are at least seven reasons why I believe Stockholm, Sweden is a super place to visit.
- Skeppsholmen island, and the Moderna Museet (Museum of Modern Art)
- Djurgården, home of the Vasa Museet (remnants of the shipwrecked vessel Vasa), the Nordiska Museet (Nordic Museum), and a large green space
- Daytrip and ferry to Vaxholm in the archipelago
- Skogskyrkogården, UNESCO World Heritage Site and the final resting place for Greta Garbo
- Gamla Stan (Old Town)
- Sodermalm, for both the dirty edge and the hip and upcoming trends in art, style, design, and fashion
- Östermalm, and a trip to the Saluhall, for a look at what’s up with food from Sweden and Scandinavia
Yes, of course, Scandinavia is expensive. But then again, why would anyone visit if they knew and wanted to visit cheaper destinations in the first place, only to turn around and complain about how expensive the destination was when they visited?
Fact is: Stockholm is super.
If you have an opportunity, grab it and get yourself to Sweden, especially during the final weeks of spring to the first two weeks in summer. July and August could be problematic, as Stockholmers usually vacate the city for their cabins.
I made the two photos above on 26 June 2008. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com.
Daytrip to Vaxholm in Stockholm’s archipelago
One of the great attractions in Stockholm is its archipelago, a network of islands in the Baltic Sea, east from the city. An easy get-away from the city, Vaxholm is a favorite for many, accessible by bus, by car, or by ferry.
It is with the latter, the Waxholmsbolaget ferry service, that I set off on a day trip. The Official Roslagen site describes Vaxholm as:
Vaxholm, called the archipelago’s “capital”, is the gateway to Roslagen from Stockholm. The town is a hub for boats travelling to the central and northern archipelago – Roslagen’s archipelago. Vaxholm’s municipality includes about 70 islands.
Vaxholm has lots of trees, beautiful homes and cottages, all within easy reach of the water. Because of its proximity to Stockholm, Vaxholm is expensive. But if you’re looking for something different in the Stockholm area, Vaxholm is an ideal daytrip.
I made the photos above on 26 June 2008 with the Canon EOS450D camera, EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit-lens, and a circular polarizer. This post is published on Fotoeins Fotopress (fotoeins.com).
My other posts about Stockholm:
The colours of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s old town
Gamla Stan.
Stockholm’s Old Town.
Beautifully coloured buildings. Narrow alleys. Swedish signage.
Street signs, Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden – 25 June 2008
I love the mystery of trying to parse a different language, even when I’ve twisted my tongue into unrecognizably knotted grunts.
With the summer solstice in late-June, the days are long, and skies remain lit until the wee hours of the morning. You can walk through the streets of the old town by day, like other visitors who’ve come to enjoy the place. But I highly recommend you navigate the streets at night. By mid-evening, activities wind down, and eventually, you’ve basically the quiet streets all to yourself.
Please do yourself a favour — go to Stockholm in the summertime. Yes, it is more expensive compared to other European destinations. But, with highlights including Gamla Stan, Östermalm, Södermalm, Djurgården, Skogskyrkogården, and heading out into the archipelago (Vaxholm) by boat, you’re missing out if you skip this city.
I made the photos above on 25, 26, and 27 June 2008, just after the northern summer solstice. This post is published on Fotoeins Fotopress (fotoeins.com), and is making me long for Scandinavia once again.
With wonderful timing by JustTravelous, Yvonne writes about her recent trip to Sweden and shows us her love of Sweden in an Instagram diary.
Here are my other posts about Stockholm:
Say Hej! to Lisa in the Saluhall, Östermalm Stockholm
Curious about Scandinavia? Love food, too? Just as important, do you have some extra coinage to part, if your wallet hasn’t already emptied itself to the gods of accommodation? And frankly, just who is this god of accommodation to whom I should be pleading my case?
If your wallet has been fully appeased, it’s good then you’ve found yourself in Stockholm.
In search of some of the freshest and finest food products in the city, I found myself in Stockholm’s Östermalm neighbourhood at the end of June in 2008. I found the Saluhall Market Hall and stepped inside.
After gazing at the fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, bread, etc., I sat down at Lisa Elmqvist, a seafood restaurant about which I’d read favourably; Saluhall’s own description can be found here.
As children of the Canadian left-coast, my sister and I became familiar with a variety of seafood: abalone, clams, crab, eel, fresh- and saltwater fish, geoduck, octopus, oysters, prawns, scallops, squid. We’ve never lost the taste for fresh seafood, and I was looking forward to tasting what Scandinavia and the Baltic had on offer.
I ordered a starter and a main: two expensive but tremendously delicious plates, as you can see below.
Rundrökt ål med äggröra (smoked eel with scrambled eggs and rye bread).
Smörstekt gösfilé med gräddkokt skogssvamp (butter-fried pike perch with creamy wild mushrooms).
The light smokey eel, the fluffy eggs, and the robust nature of the bread combined perfectly in texture and flavour to make an ideal opening plate. The perch in cream sauce was a little heavier, but the fish was seasoned well, and was fried just right: an edge of crispiness on the outside, and tender (but cooked) on the inside.
I could’ve stayed at Lisa Elmqvist all afternoon, but I think my wallet would’ve complained more seriously. I said as much to my server, who smiled at me the entire time. With more to see and do in the city, I reluctantly said goodbye.
To reach the Saluhall, take the T-bana metro red-lines 13 or 14 to Östermalmstorg station. From the station, it’s a short walk to Östermalmstorg (Östermalm plaza or square); the Saluhall is at the southwest corner of the square.
Don’t forget to have a walk around the attractive Östermalm neighbourhood. Whether it’s T-bana or on foot, you’re not far from the centre proper (e.g., Hötorget) to the west, and Gamla Stan or the harbour to the south.
I made the photos above on 24 and 27 June 2008. This post appears originally on Fotoeins Fotopress (fotoeins.com).
Disclosure: No Connection, Unpaid, My Own Opinions. I have not received any compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are mentioned herein (cmp.ly/0).
As of posting, it’s a month to Christmas, and winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. Naturally, Laurel writes about the warm and tasty Starbucks’ Gingerbread Latté for FoodFriday.
P.S. 30 Nov 2011: by sheer force of good timing, Anne-Sophie Redisch recently posted an article describing the “slow food” to be found in the grand Saluhall. You should go read her post, too!
Greeting Greta Garbo, Skogskyrkogården Stockholm
The Skogskyrkogården, or Woodland Cemetery, is located about 15 minutes by metro, south from central Stockholm in Sweden. For its unique design, aesthetic character, and expanse both vertically and horizontally, the forest cemetery was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
I had read that Greta Garbo was buried here, and I wanted to find out for myself.
Born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson in Stockholm in 1905, Greta Garbo was discovered at the age of 17. She was honoured with four Academy Award nominations for her work which transitioned successfully from silent-films to “talkies” in what is now considered the “Golden Age” of filmmaking. Even now, she is considered one of the most beautiful women and one of the most important actresses ever to appear on the big screen. After only 27 films between 1924 and 1941, she retired to private life, away from celebrity spotlight. After her death in 1990 and subsequent legal issues, her cremated remains were buried in 1999 at Skogskyrkogården in the city where she was born.
In the 1955 biography “Garbo” by John Bainbridge, Garbo is quoted as saying:
I never said, ‘I want to be alone.’ I only said, ‘I want to be left alone.’ There is all the difference.
To reach the forest cemetery from Stockholm’s city centre, take the T-Bana green metro-line 18 southbound towards Farsta strand, and step out at the stop called “Skogskyrkogården”. There is no charge or fee to enter Skogskyrkogården. Garbo’s grave is located just south of the Skogskappellet, or Woodland Chapel.
The photo of Greta Garbo (by Clarence Sinclair Bull) is attributed to aclbraga on Flickr. I made the remaining photos above on 25 June 2008. This post is published on Fotoeins Fotopress (fotoeins.com).
