SWEDEN: Stockholm – Home of the ABBA Museum
Man did I have a close call before I even got to my hostel. I arrived by bus from the airport at the Central Station in Stockholm, and proceeded to walk off without my large pack. About five minutes later in a state of horror, I realized what I had done, and dashed back to the drop off point. The bus was still there. My pack was waiting for me, and all was well. Sweden was looking after me.
Prelude to the ABBA Museum since I knew you couldn’t wait. Those models were so lifelike. Much better than wax. It’s like turning back time. Oh God, it’s forty years! What’s amazing is the music is still alive. I know my daughter Dina likes ABBA, and the 25-year-olds from my old job know the group. It’s very upbeat stuff, and there was no way I was going to lose my luggage in the Land of ABBA.
Looks like more Gaudí, doesn’t it? It’s just the metro in Stockholm, and it’s fantastic how they kept the walls and ceiling organically shaped and cavern-like. Very cool.
On the way to my hostel, I encountered this and wondered exactly what the hell was going on. As it turns out, I blew into town on the heels of a very popular Royal Wedding so I headed over to my hostel to drop my gear and get back for the festivities.
My new hostel with blazing fast wifi is right across this bridge with that beautiful sailing ship parked out front. That ship is the most popular hostel in Stockholm. I was fortunate to have a roommate who came into town to see the best blues band in Sweden who are friends of his. They were playing on a boat cruising the harbor that very night.
Boats jockey for position to get a glimpse of the happy couple emerging from the Royal Chapel and departing in their horse-drawn carriage, after Sweden’s Prince Carl Philip marries reality star Sofia Hellqvist in a fairytale wedding. The former bikini model and cast member of the Swedish edition of the reality show “Paradise Hotel” met her husband to be in the Swedish seaside resort town of Bastad. Apparently, the Prince had to struggle a bit to get the wedding ring on his bride’s finger much to her amusement. It was pretty much a normal wedding except they cut the cake with a ceremonial sword.
Here comes the bride!
The New Princess Bride gives a thumbs up to the cheering crowd.
Here are some of the flower arrangements outside the Palace on the day after the wedding.
The Royal Chapel where they were married.
The Blues Cruise – I was the only American on the thing.
The Bildösund is a steamship built in 1911. There are many such vessels operating in Stockholm.
My roommate and blues enthusiast on the left talking to the bass player.
The Sven Zetterberg Blues Band – A truly fantastic band. That’s Sven on lead guitar. He really knew his stuff.
Sven was great on guitar, but this guy really shredded as well. There wasn’t a weak link in the chain.
Big wheel keeps on turning….
Royal Palace at night.
Going home after a day well spent.
The Old Town
Sorry, but I have no idea what this structure is. It is close to the St. Johannes Kirke, but that’s all I can tell you. I have a picture of the sign nearby, but my google searches yielded nothing. Be that as it may, I really like the little thing, and I hope you do as well. It looks like kind of a little rocket ship to God.
St. Johannes Kirke – One of the prettiest churches in Stockholm.
Mother Goose and her goslings.
What a tasty meal this was. Salmon, cod, and shrimps in a cream sauce with carrots and spinach surrounded by pureed potatoes. I had dill burps all day long, but it was worth it.
Next Stop ABBA!
Eurovision Contest Costumes & Nonstop Video Featuring The Award Ceremony & Abba Performing The Contest Winner – Agnetha and Ani-Frida singing the winning song, Waterloo.
Bjorn’s guitar from that performance.
Eurovision Award for Waterloo
Benny & Bjorn’s bands’ touring vehicles from pre ABBA days.
Sitting in the park with Benny, Ani-Freda, Agnetha, and Bjorn.
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The museum houses a lot of costumes as well as their gold records.
A definite feel-good experience.
ABBA in their prime.
The Vasa – 1628 – Sunk on the first day of its maiden voyage.
Gun Ports
A casualty of the Vasa – Facial reconstruction using the skull of the victim.
I went back to that great restaurant to have lunch again today. As I waited for the ferry over to the island, I turned around and saw Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick with their kids on holiday. I could have easily gotten a shot for the blog, but I didn’t have the heart to intrude upon their vacation. Even a discreet shot might have been detected since I was alone with them at the ferry stop.
Instead, I submit a photo taken by an interloper in NYC. In Sweden, they had a nanny in tow.
Matthew Broderick in his beloved role as Ferris Bueller. That line from the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” pretty much sums up my philosophy. As I prepare to enter my sixties, it becomes even more pressing and poignant. I suggest whatever your age to pay attention to these wise words.
Skansen Open-Air Museum
The Bollnäs House – It comes from Hälsingland and was built for festive occasions such as Christmas parties, weddings and funeral wakes. The building is double fronted with one half reserved for festivities and the other for everyday living.
The murals that decorate the interior of this room are from 1786.
Mechanic’s Workshop
Furniture Maker’s Workshop
The girl in the Bakery almost looks like a waxwork. If it weren’t for the blurred hand you wouldn’t know she was alive.
Some of Denmark’s indigenous farm animals.
Reindeer losing their winter coats and growing new antlers.
Brown Bear
Elk
Strange Scandinavian Dwellings.
Love those grass roofs.
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