22.9.16

Stockholm (1)


Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. Some 1.4 million people live in the urban area. It’s situated on a number of islands and on the coastline with the lake “Mälaren” on one side and an archipelago leading to the Baltic Sea on the other. As we can see there is water all over the place. Large cruising vessels and ferries can reach the very city centre.

Here are some photos where we can see e.g. the “Grand Hotel”, the Parliament building, the Royal Opera and the “Dramaten” (the Royal Dramatic Theatre) …

… the Royal Castle…

… the Town Hall…

… the Vasa Museum (housing the 17th century ship Vasa), the amusement park “Gröna Lund”, the full-rigged 1888 ship, “af Chapman” (now a youth hostel) and the Nordic Museum.

Outside the “Moderna Museet” there are works by Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely and Alexander Calder and inside by Picasso, Dali, Matisse, Rauschenberg, Duchamp, Louise Bourgeois, Wifredo Lam….

The central little islands, the “Gamla Stan” (the old town) have kept a number of old buildings and narrow alleys.

This is also where you find the Stockholm Cathedral (“Storkyrkan”). Among the inside treasures there is a 15th century statue of “Saint George and the Dragon”.

Some other old buildings, partly wooden, can be found on the southern banks (“Söder”). This area has been and is still to a high degree linked to the local artistic life.



It’s possible to go bathing on the banks. The exceptional mid-September splendid weather of course helps. 

Some views of the differently decorated subway...


…remembering that biking is an alternative and a very popular way to get around. 

8 comments:

Elizabeth at Eiffel Tells said...

A perfect size for a beautiful and enchanted city. Thanks for the tour.

French Girl in Seattle said...

What a great city! Beautiful sights galore, glorious architecture, a lively old town, museums, artistic neighborhoods, a great public transportation system, and more. Damn you, Peter Olson. Another European city I will have to add to my ever-expanding "must visit" list. I forgive you, but only if you share a list of favorite restaurants (and their specialties.) Next time, share some food shots, will you? ;-) Veronique

Gunn said...

Inspirerende og fantastiske foto.
Jeg får lyst til å reise dit nå med det samme.
For her var det mye som jeg ikke har sett.
Flott by, og Gamla Stan er vakker hele året!

claude said...

Tout comme le précédent excellent reportage !
Un grand merci pour cette belle visite et pour la précédent aussi.

Cezar and Léia said...

We loved this city!❤❤❤

Shammickite said...

Stockholm (and more of Sweden) is definitely on my list of places to visit! Thank you for the tour. I really want to see the Vasa. I remember when she was salvaged and then moved to the Vasa museum.

Anonymous said...

It was the longest speech I had ever heard Persson make. I couldn't quite understand why he told me before the others. I had always thought he didn't take me any more seriously than the others do. But now, of course, I wanted us to go on talking. So I went over to the sofa and indicated with a very ladylike gesture that he was to be seated next to me. When he sat down, his tall frame folded up like a pocketknife. He rested his elbows on his knees, and I could see he didn't know what to say next.

"Is Stockholm a beautiful city?" I asked politely,
"To me it is the most beautiful city in the world," he answered. "Green ice floes sail about in the Malar, and the sky is as white as a sheet that has just been washed. That is in the winter, but our winter is very long."
"Our business is in the Vastra Langgata. That is the most modern business center in Stockholm. It is just by the Royal Palace," Persson added proudly.

"I wanted to ask you a favour, Mlle. Clary," I heard Persson saying. "I should like so much," he faltered, "to keep the broadside about the Rights of Man, the one M. Clary brought home. I know, mademoiselle, that it is a presumptuous request."
It was indeed. Papa had always kept the broadside on his little bedside table, and after his death I had taken it for myself.
"I shall always treasure it and revere it, mademoiselle," said Persson.
Then I teased him for the last time. "So you've become a Republican, monsieur?"
And once more he wouldn't say. "I am a Swede, mademoiselle," he replied, "and Sweden is a monarchy."
"You may keep the broadside, monsieur," I said, "and show it to your friends in Sweden."

Dialogue between Mlle. Desiree Clary, the future Queen of Sweden and young M. Persson, an apprentice of the silk trade in the Marseille shop of M.Clary, Desiree's father.
I read this book when I was about 11 years old. And so I learned for the first time about Sweden and its capital.
Desiree, a novel by Annemarie Selinko, published in 1953.

Thank you so much for this fantastic post! Your photos are to die for.
Maria

lyliane six said...

Une belle ville que j'ai vu l’hiver sous la neige mais que je vais aller voir en été.