Is it cold enough yet?

Stockholm is beautiful! Just imagine the sun is shining bright, buildings are clean and painted in pastel colours along the sparkling lakes that surround each of the 40 islands of Stockholm. What do you see yourself wearing on such a picturesque day? Bet its not 4 layers with a beanie and gloves...

Well we said Swedwen was beautiful, not perfect.


Our first attraction was the City Hall. This is where the Nobel Prize awards are held every December in the presence of royalty and VIPs. The many rooms were dressed with gold mosaics, huge hanging taperstries centuries old and red brick (even though its called the Blue hall). And of course the blonde Swedish tour guide in her wreath of flowers - it is Midsummer Day Eve - wasn't an eyesore in this grand building.

A short while later we were standing outside one of the Royal Palaces for the changing of the guards.
Forty-five minutes later the marching band finally wound up the ceremonial extravaganza, driving the crowd of tourists into a pushing, snap-happy frenzy. Luckily both of us can hold our own against old spanish ladies, but it was a narrow escape.

Probably the most amazing sight was the Warboat, the Vasa. It was resurrected after 333years of sitting at the bottom of Stockholms harbour. We thought that the Vikings would have taught the Swedes a thing or two about boat making throughout history. This boat however was the largest and grandest ever made in its time - but like the Titanic sunk on its maiden voyage. In fact, the Vasa didn't even out last the ceremony held in its honour. It sank before ever making it out to sea - after a grand total of 1031 metres.

The end of our first day in Stockholm finished in the Absolut ice bar. The cold summer's day (about 15 degrees max) just wasn't enough for us, apparently. Luckily the cups made of ice, the ice tables and chairs, and the ice sculptures managed to distract us from the minus 5 temperatures inside the bar. The vodka might have helped as well :)