Week 22, 25.July.09 - 31.July.09

Got myself checked-in to the hostel (fortunately only needed to try two places for availability this time!), then started hitting the sites -- and there are many in Stockholm! First stop was a visit to the Nationalmuseum (no typo, this is how it's spelled); awesome collection of paintings and sculptures like the ivory relief by Magnus Stenbock (1710), and Edward Hall's "Skyglobe" (1929).

The Nationalmuseum, as I learned, also had one of the world's most famous art thefts in recent history (I decided against trying to bring home the globe). Next went over to Gamla Stan island (Central Stockholm is an archipelago of some 14 different islands) for a visit to Kungliga Slottet, Royal Palace. From the outside, I must say the Palace was thoroughly unimpressive (how could royalty think this was beautiful??), but the elaborate interior apartments more than made up for this.

Adjacent to the Palace were the Treasury, Hall of State and the Royal Armoury - the latter of which I really liked with the historical exhibits and artifacts of the past kings & queens.

Quick stop for lunch (hot dog, mashed potatoes & fried onions wrapped in a pita - actually pretty damn tasty!) in Kungstradgarden, then over to Riddarholmen Island for a tour of the Riddarholmskyrkan (Riddarholmen Church) and the various tombs such as Gustav II Adolf and Count Torstenssof.

Riddarholmskyrkan is ultra medieval looking (built in the 1200's) - really liked this one!

After crossing back to the mainland, I got signed up for an historical canal tour on a tourist boat... normally not the thing I'd probably do, but since I bought the Stockholm Card for free entrance to museums & sites including this boat trip, decided to get my money's worth! It was actually pretty entertaining to look at sites not easily viewed from land,

and included was an audio guide with some added history of the city. So I definitely got to see enough for one day, now going to head out and checkout Stockholm nightlife!

26.July.09
I am about to turn-in, after another full day of sightseeing. First stop this morning was to Djurgardend Island and a visit to Skansen open-air museum (the world's first, est. 1891). It was really pretty cool how it is setup - sort of a miniature Sweden with buildings architecture & animals/artifacts in the north of the museum similar to what one finds in the north of Sweden, the same for East, West, South, etc.

The historical buildings in the open-air setting reminded me a lot of Greenfield Village back in D-Town!

They also have a pretty decent aquarium on-site.

So although I could've spent the whole day at Skansen, decided to move on and check-out the Nordiskamuseet (Swedish Cultural History) and Vasamuseet, housing the Vasa warship which sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628 (and raised ~300 years later). Really interesting story about the history - it sunk due to all the gun portals being open for the inaugural firing, when a huge wind gust toppled it to one side and filled up with water.

I then crossed over to Skeppsholmen Island for visits to Modernamuseet (very cool) and adjacent Arkitekturmuseet (not so cool). Now after a pretty late night at Olssons Video Bar last night, looking forward to an early sleep!

27.July.09
Chilling out and people watching right now in the park next to the Observatoriemuseet, across the street from the hostel. Had a really good morning visiting Stadshuset (City Hall), getting a chance to walk down the staircase in the Blue Hall like those Nobel Prize Laureates (but without all that work!),

followed by a stop over to Gamla Stand and visit to Nobelmuseet for a more thorough tour of the Nobel Prize history.

After viewing the Changing of the Guard in front of Kungliga Slottet, visited Storkyrkan, Stockholm Cathedral, which has a great history (consecrated in 1306) and amazing details in the sculptures and paintings.

After, stopped by Cityterminalen to buy my bus ticket tomorrow to Orebro, meeting up with Alfred and Anton!

28.July.09
Orebro, Sweden
Just getting ready to crash on Alfred's couch here in Orebro; today marking 5 months of traveling so far. Arrived here earlier today on the bus from Stockholm, where Anton & Alfred were waiting for me at the bus terminal - the first stop we made, of course, was to the store for beer! Stocked-up then proceeded to Alfred's apartment where several games of Hearts were played out on the balcony - great sunny day it turned out here, as it was raining when I left Stockholm. Went to dinner at a local place (well, actually every place here is "local", Orebro isn't on the mainstream tourist circuit) with more beers,

then back to Alfred's for more of the same - even though we didn't do much today, it was a lot of fun hanging out and reliving memories of the Trans-Siberian! But unfortunately, Anton's had too much to drink ("I really don't like to... in fact I hate this... but I must because I'm Finnish"!), and I have to listen to him puking on the couch next to me!

29.July.09
I just boarded the train here in Orebro, heading up to Gavle with onward connection for the overnight to Kiruna. Today has been a struggle - way too hungover! I can say the same for Alfred and Anton (especially Anton), yet we were able to get out and tour Orebro for a few hours. After some breakfast we went to a Modern Art gallery with some cool displays. And Orebro has some "Open Art" event going on, so there are works spread out all over town, like our second stop to the Orebro Castle. One section had art on display, but walking around to the other side got to visit inside the Northwest Tower, dating back to 1364 AD, with some cool displays on-hand.

After we visited the Wadkoping open-air museum with cool colonial-style houses and shops (really liked the Blacksmith dude). Wandered around through Orebro park which I thought was great, then back to toward the station for lunch & a much-needed coffee. Definitely had a great visit, I'll have to be sure to repay the hospitality when they visit after I return home!

30.July.09
Kiruna, Sweden
It has been a fairly uneventful visit so far today up here in Kiruna, about 175 km north of the Arctic Circle. I'm super tired, b/c other than the really nice views of Northern Sweden with the Falu red painted houses & barns everywhere,

the train ride last night was pretty awful! In a cabin with 5 other guys so it was crowded, plus pretty damn cold, but the really bad part was the train seemingly whipping around curves & turns... not sure if the route up through Sweden winds much more than the Trans-Siberian, or if it was just moving that much faster (or a combination), but I don't recall having any trouble falling asleep those 4 nights across Siberia aboard the train -- last night I was literally getting rolled around my bed! Of course, it didn't help that the shade was broken so wouldn't stay down all the way & light started coming in around 2 AM. When I arrived in Kiruna this morning with a few hours sleep under my belt, got checked-in to the hostel and wandered around this tiny town a bit, stopped at the Town Hall and Kiruna Kyrkan (Kiruna Church),

and Jarnvagsparken (nice park with mini-waterfalls). Had a coffee at an outside cafe enjoying the really nice weather before heading back for some dinner (cooking dinner tonight - restaurants here are no joke $$$!). Now relaxing a bit before I head out to see if there's any more excitement at night around here!

31.July.09
Narvik, Norway
I must say, Narvik is a pretty cool town! I just returned from having some pints with a few of the folks also in the hostel here, we went to see a (really good) live band playing in a courtyard outside a pub.

The scenery here in Narvik is spectacular - nestled between the snow-capped mountains and the Arctic Ocean, the views of the women are also pretty nice! Speaking of nice views, the train ride over from Kiruna today afforded plenty - winding along the side of, and tunnels through, mountains towering over rivers leading out to the Fjords...

If it weren't so darn expensive, I'd like to stay a lot longer.. so far, I'm definitely a fan of Norway!