Sweden

I could not have asked for a better time in Stockholm: gorgeous weather, wonderful sights, and great food.  Stockholm is divided into the old town and the new town. The new town boasts the Royal Palace, Parliament, and a myriad of old churches and various other sights. The new town holds shopping malls and Sweden's business and financial center.  I really liked Stockholm because it is a wonderful city, but not as touristy as the likes of Paris etc.  Stockholm is also an interesting city as it sits in the Swedish archipelago, and is therefore a series of islands. It has many harbors, and a bustling cruise ship industry.  The easiest way to get around the city is the ferries that run around the harbor.  Stockholm also has an interesting lack of suburbs. You either live in greater Stockholm, or you live in a rural lakeside cabin. A twenty minute boat ride outside the city lands you in a very rustic series of islands with a totally different feel.  It is a nice contrast to have so close to the bustling city.  Swedes are very into summer lake homes, and apparently nearly everyone has one somewhere in the country.  They embrace the summer lakeside lifestyle.  After spending a day in Stockholm I took a 2 hour ferry  to a remote archipelago island called Grinda. Grinda has roughly 80 residents, and lots of livestock.  The only, and I mean only, amenities on the island are two restaurants.  I had lunch there and then took a hike around the island on one of the trails in the nature preserve.

My dining experience in Stockholm was easily the best I have encountered on my trip thus far.  The first night I had amazing Swedish Meatballs (although not as great as my Swedish Grandmother can make them).  The second night I had cheek of Ox with a Bearnaise sauce and puréed  potatoes, which was probably the best meal I have every had.

Old Town Stockholm from the top of the Town Hall Tower.

Guard at the Royal Palace

Changing of the Guards at the Royal Palace.  Very impressive show including about 50 soldiers and a royal band. 

The winding street of old town.

The Nybroplan area of the New town.  A very ritzy part of Stockholm with residents including Elin Nordegren (Former wife of Tiger Woods).

The 1626 Swedish warship "Vasa".  The Vasa was built to be the most impressive warship of its day, mainly by the addition of a second cannon deck.  However, the extra weight of the cannons did not work well for the balance of the ship.  On its maiden voyage it made it a whole 20 minuted before capsizing and sinking to the bottom of the Stockholm Harbor.  And there it layed until the 1950s when a huge effort was undertaken to raise the ship from its watery grave.  Today the massive ship resides in its own museum in Stockholm.  The brackish water of the harbor preserved the ship extremely well, and obviously it had no damage from war.  It is regarded as the best preserved ship of its kind, which is easy to believe.

View from the island of Grinda, This is not that far from Stockholm, yet feels like a totally different world.  (Click to enlarge, its much more impressive)

One of two restaurants on Grinda.