Stockholm - a grand city

Stockholm is one of the finest capitals of Europe. Very statuesque and royal. And on a sunny day, it is really glorious to see the beautiful buildings surrounded by water bathed in the glow of the sun.

Stockholm is also one of those cities which conjures up a lot of images in your mind before you visit. I was certainly not disappointed on the 2 occasions I was lucky to visit.

There is much to see and do in Stockholm, so plan your visit carefully. It is located on 14 islands but unlike Bombay, they did not reclaim land. Instead they chose to connect the islands with bridges. The city originally rose to prominence as a result of the Baltic trade of the Hanseatic League. Stockholm developed strong economic and cultural linkages with Lübeck, Hamburg, Gdańsk, Visby, Reval, and Riga.

Gamla Stan is the old town which dates back to the 13th century and is located on the central island. It is home to the Palace where the King has his offices, the Nobel Museum, the Stockholm Cathedral and the Riddarholm church.

The City Hall is a very impressive building and it is where the dinner for the Nobel Laureates is held.

The Vasa museum and Skansen open air museums are also must sees. Am going to check them out in December when I visit.

Walking on the rooftops is another unique activity that I did not have the chance to do and doubt very much if I can do it in winter.

However am pleased just to walk around this beautiful city and soak in the vibes or take a cruise in the gorgeous archipelago. I look forward to my next visit in December.

The view from the City Hall

The City Hall

Hanseatic architecture

The Nobel Museum

The Dala Horse (Dalecarlian horse) is a symbol of Sweden

The Royal Palace

You must cruise in the archipelago and appreciate Stockholm from the water 

Gotland - Sweden's largest island

Gotland is Sweden's largest island and Visby its capital, is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Gotland is unique as it is different from mainland Sweden. It has different flora and the very fertile soil permits vegetation like kiwis, mulberries and almonds to grow. Though we personally didn't see any kiwi fruit trees, we saw loads of apple trees.

"Visby is an outstanding example of a Northern European walled Hanseatic town which has in a unique way preserved its townscape and its extremely valuable buildings, which in form and function clearly reflect this significant human settlement." From the grounds cited by the World Heritage Committee for inclusion in the World Heritage list.

The city is enclosed by a ring wall which is approximately 3.5 km in length. The wall is built of limestone, has three main entrances and over 50 towers, and is surrounded by moats. It was built not only to protect the city from its enemies but also to wall it off from the surrounding countryside. Within the walls are old stone buildings, churches and streets dating back to hundreds of years.

Throughout the ages, merchants, industrialists, Vikings, kings and members of the nobility have visited this medieval city. Membership of the Hanseatic League made Visby enormously wealthy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, Visby became one of the foremost cities of the Baltic area.

The townscape is dominated by magnificent buildings of stone. Almost 200 stone buildings dating from the Middle Ages have been completely or partly preserved. At several places in the city, trading houses, with their impressive stepped gables, vaulted cellars and gothic-inspired façades, stand to this day. 

We visited the Lummelunda Cave which is famous for its stalactites, created by drops of water falling from cold underground nooks and crannies, and runs for several kilometres right into the rock.

Visby is so pretty that it now specialises as a wedding destination. Whilst we were having tea amongst the ruins of St. Clemens, we saw a bridal couple walk in to take a few pictures.

We also visited Slite which is home to Cementa, one of the world’s largest cement works and one of the biggest employers on this part of the island. Here there are plenty of shops, a port, a holiday village and good bathing just a stone’s throw from the centre.

Gotland and Visby in particular, makes for a very interesting weekend trip or even a summer holiday getaway.

The picturesque town of Visby

The sheep is the mascot of Gotland.

We saw so many of these statues all over the place.

The limestone formations in the Lummelunda Cave

The botanical garden

The ruins of St Clemens

A tribute to Olof Palme

The Cathedral

An impressive facade which dominates the landscape

Are these post boxes or not? Am confused.

The drawbridge at the Northern wall of the gate.

The ancient stone wall that rings the city

View from the highest point in Visby

We caught the sunrise at the harbour

View of the port from the top of Cementa at Slite

Cementa

Beautiful flowers at the organic restaurant that we had lunch at.



Bergen - a Hanseatic city

Bergen is a city on the western coast of Norway. It was one of the most important cities in the Hanseatic League. Today it is famous as the launch point of any cruise on the famous Norwegian fjords.

Approach into Bergen was quite an experience. From the air, it is such a beautiful place that one is transported into a fantasy world.

The airport is a tiny one and there is a direct bus that takes you to the city centre. I had very limited time in Bergen before taking the cruise to the fjords the next morning. So to acquaint myself with the city, I decided to do a walking tour arranged by the Tourist Information Centre. The tourist centre itself was housed in a beautiful old building with colourful frescoes depicting the history and culture of the people from Bergen. Their primary occupation was fishing, preservation of cod and boat building.

Bergen's first buildings were erected along the old Hanseatic wharf, Bryggen, which has been a lively and important part of the city through the centuries. This site, which features on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, comprises the remains of the old harbour buildings and is one of the best known medieval city settlements in Norway.


The Hanseatic merchants dominated Bryggen for 400 years. The area has been ravaged by fire repeatedly. Walking through the narrow alleyways and dark external galleries is like travelling back in time. At Bryggen the Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene, the Hanseatic assembly rooms, give an intimate picture of the life of a Hanseatic merchant.

Bryggens Museum based on the archaeological excavations of Bryggen, illustrates commerce, handicrafts and daily life in the Middle Ages. Next to the museum lies the twelfth century St. Mary’s Church, the oldest building in Bergen. Bryggen also houses the Theta Museum of the Resistance Movement during the Occupation of Norway during World War II.
Source: http://www.visitnorway.com/

The boarding point for the Fjord cruises.

The famous hanseatic buildings along the wharf.

An old building in the Hanseatic area.

The Fish Market is another important landmark and a must visit attraction. You can try out different kinds of salmon and pick up some fish for your lunch or picnic.

By taking the short ride with the Fløibanen Funicular from the city centre to the top of the Fløien Mountain (320 metres above sea level), you have a golden opportunity to view the city, the mountains, the fjords and the sea.

Overall, it is a small compact city which can be covered in a short while.

Norwegians love their trolls!

I love these narrow streets.

A sense of spookiness permeates this cozy drinking den. In 1849, a famous Norwegian bandit (Gjest Baardsen, the "Robin Hood" of Norway) drank himself to death here. Drinkers have reported sightings of a young serving wench in 17th-century costume who takes drink orders from patrons and then disappears without bringing the desired quaffs.

http://www.nileguide.com/destination/bergen-norway-308/bars-and-clubs/dyvekes-vinkjeller/886754

The fountain with the city of Bergen as a backdrop.