Stockholm *** Stokholm

STOCKHOLM 2010

 

Troll on a main street of Stockholm

I recently returned from a weekend trip to Stockholm, and it was fantastic! Everything was meticulously planned in advance, so everything went smoothly. The amusing part was when the night train, meant to transport us from the airport to our hotel, was unexpectedly canceled, and the chilly weather outside added an extra twist. Fortunately, the absence of rain made it bearable, and the kindness of the people around us made the situation more manageable. We navigated from one bus stop to another and eventually reached our destination within an hour—a journey that would have taken a mere 10 minutes by train!

Considering our budget constraints, we opted for a budget hotel booked online. The room we received wasn't quite what we had anticipated; despite reserving a double bed, we were greeted with bunk beds and no windows! Although I inquired about changing rooms, there was only one alternative available, and it offered minimal improvement, so we decided to stick with our original accommodations. Surprisingly, after a restful night's sleep, I realized that the room wasn't all that bad. It was clean, the mattress was comfortable, and the complimentary breakfast was excellent, which alleviated any lingering complaints I had.

In retrospect, I would say that hotels in Paris and London are certainly more budget-friendly compared to those in Stockholm.

The highlight of this tour was undoubtedly the Terra Cotta soldiers at the history museum. Additionally, I highly recommend visiting the Medieval museum, which offers free admission and boasts a captivating atmosphere. The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses represent one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. The museum showcases life-size terracotta figures of warriors and horses meticulously arranged in battle formations, serving as the centerpiece of its exhibits. 

First Emperor (Terracota warrior exhibition)

Terra Cotta Warrior exhbition

In 1989, a spherical building was unveiled in Stockholm. Despite residing in Stockholm for a year, it remained undiscovered to me—truly captivating, I must admit. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate, and we endured a dreary, mist-laden day while exploring the Globe. Nevertheless, the encounter paralleled the allure of the London Eye. From atop, the entire city seemed to lie within arm's reach, an awe-inspiring sight. Furthermore, navigating the spherical route aboard the spherical-type machine added an exhilarating dimension to the experience.

View from the top of the Globen

Dining and imbibing in Stockholm come at a premium, comparable to the prices in cities like London, Dublin, Paris, and others. We stumbled upon a couple of extraordinary restaurants that I would wholeheartedly recommend to others: Jennson Bofhouse and the Mongolian-Asian buffet.

During our visit to Drottningholm, I couldn't help but think that the experience would have been even more emotionally stirring in the summer, with its expansive lime tree alley, among other features. Moreover, I find it intriguing that the royal couple resides permanently in the castle. Drottningholm Palace holds a distinguished spot on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Renowned for its impeccable preservation, it stands as the foremost example of a royal castle erected in the 1600s in Sweden, emblematic of the architectural styles prevalent across Europe during that era.

I greatly admire the transport system in Sweden; it's far more user-friendly than those in London and Paris, in my opinion. It encompasses buses, trams, various types of underground and above-ground trains, and more. With just one ticket, you can access them all.

Visiting the Butterfly House (Fjarilhuset) during wintertime was a fascinating experience—it maintained a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius inside!

Owl Butterfly (Caligo eurilochus)

So they are born :)

The Vasa Museum left a lasting impression with its life-sized ship. As it slowly decays, scientists continue their diligent efforts to preserve the timber and iron nails within it.

Naturally, there were countless activities I would have loved to explore further, so I am definitely planning to return! Sweden feels like a second home to me—I'm familiar with the people, culture, and I even speak Swedish, which I learned during my au pair year there several years ago. My affection for Sweden knows no bounds!

Have you been in Sweden? What experience did you have?

  

Saabusin just parasjagu Rootsist, ega sa pole Rootsis käinud? Üks tore nädalavahetus seljataga. Korralik eeltöö ja reisikava oli tehtud, seega kõik läks libedalt. Noh välja arvatud siis kui ikka nii libedalt ei läinud. Jõudsime Stokholmi suht hilja ja öine rong, millega hotelli pidime minema, ei eksisteerinudki.Väljas oli suht külm, aga õnneks ei sadanud. Öises Stokholmis seigeldes selgus, et kõik inimesed on sõbralikud ja abivalmid. Sõitsime ühest bussijaamast teise kuniks jõudsimegi kohale. Sõit, mis pidi võtma 10 minutit oli 1 tunni pikkune :D. Vahva oli :). Ööbimisele me väga palju raha kulutada ei raatsinud ja seetõttu otsisin odavama hotelli internetist. Kohale minnes saime halvema toa kui alguses võtsin - meie kaheinimese voodi asemel oli toas narivoodi :D. Küsisin, kas neil on asendustuba, aga ainult 1 oli ja see polnud ka väga parem, siis jäime ikka esialgsete plaanide juurde. Tegelikult polnud viga - tuba oli väga puhas, lõhnas värskelt ja madratsid olid super mugavad. Lisaks kõigele muule oli rikkalik hommikusöök igal hommikul. Ei ole põhjust virisemiseks :)! Hotellid Pariisis, Londonis ja Islandis on odavamad :P.

Läksime Stokholmi, et vaadata Stokholmi ajaloomuuseumis rändnäitust Hiina Terrakota sõduritest. See on üks 20. sajandi kõige tähtsamaid väljakaevamisi. Ja elusuuruses kujud sõdalastest ja hobustest olid väga põnevad. Jäime väga rahule ja tegime palju pilte - jah seal muuseumis võib pildistada!

Teine põnev asi oli "Gloobus". 1989 aastal ehitatud ümmargune klaashoone. Sealt saab alla linnale vaadata. Meil oli udune ilm seekord, aga gloobuses sõit kõrgustesse ja alla oli omaette väga põnev

(olime selles pisikeses ümaras väliliftis, need 2 tükki mis paistavad).

Väljas söömine on sama kallis kui teistes Euroopa suurriikides, nii et meile üllatust ei tulnud, kui hindu nägime. Kõige rohkem meeldis Jennson Bofhouse ja Mongoolia-Aasia buffee.

Külastasime ka Rootsi kuninglikku paleed Drottingholmis. Suursugune. Palee kuulub UNESCO maailmapärandisse ja on ehitatud 17. sajandil. Suvel oleks seal kindlasti mõnus aias jalutada - neil on hästi suured ja liigirohked aiad. Aga seeski oli põnev.

Rootsi ühistransport on väga mugav ja lihtne.

Läheks sinna, ikka veel ja veel :)! Rootsi on mõnus! Rootsi on kodune - oskan keelt ja tunnen kombeid - elasin seal pea aasta aega kui aupairina töötasin.

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