Baltic Cruise Day 16 - Stockholm and ABBA
My head is still spinning from everything that has happened today and I will do my best to remember everything now.
I woke up early, obviously from excitement and was amazed that we were already making our way past tiny islands. The day was crystal clear and the water was, according to the TV, mirror calm. For another two hours we made our way inland past islands and spits of land. We are told that 4,000 islands make up the country of Sweden.
After reading the Princess Patter, we were surprised to learn that they had changed our dock and I frantically sent a message to Scherwood, whom we were meeting today. We were finally able to get a hold of her and agreed to meet at the ABBA Museum.
There was an ICA (a grocery store) across from the dock, which was totally open to foot traffic, so we went over there and got some money from the ATM, then grabbed a taxi and headed for Djurgarden Island. He took right to the museum and there was Scherwood waiting for us. She never left our side the rest of the day and it was thanks to her that we had such an incredible time in her city.
We had purchased our tickets back in March, so we went into the electronic will call machine and got our tickets, wandered through the ABBA store and then went out to have some coffee while we waited our time for the museum. It was packed, beyond packed, but that didn’t matter for at the moment, it was all ABBA, everywhere you looked and everything you heard. There were karaoke booths and you could sing along. There was an interactive attraction in which you could sing Mamma Mia with the group. There was a booth in which you could put your head on the body of one of the girls and style their clothes.
The cases were filled with mementos, keepsakes, articles, toys, cards, just like any good fandom. People were in awe, but we knew it’s what any fan would do or collect. I just wonder who volunteered his or her collection(s) for this. There was a movie theatre showing the ABBA movie (not Mamma Mia), which was barely referred to at all.
In all, we spent about two and a half hours in the museum itself and I’m not going to tell you what was spent in the ABBA shop. It was a little embarrassing…
Then it was time for some lunch, so we hopped a ferry for Old Town. As we were walking to the ferry, we were able to check out Tivoli Grona Lund. From the looks of some of those rides, I would have been doing a lot more than mere groaning! Scherwood said that her sister actually was injured on one of the rides, a really scary looking roller coaster. She admitted that the rides were a little too much for her these days, but that she might just have to go back.
A short ten-minute ride and then we headed out on foot towards a restaurant that Scherwood thought we might like. It was much like many of the smaller restaurants in that you order and pay at the counter, then you bring your food back to the table, as opposed to sitting and being waited on. We had scored a table, so I sat with the bags and fended off chair stealing folks. Chris had a fabulous shrimp sandwich (there had to be a pound of bay shrimp on the sandwich), Scherwood had a bowl of broccoli soup, and I had a toasted ham and cheese (and tomato) sandwich. It proved to be just what we needed to fuel on the second part of our day, exploring old town.
Everywhere you looked, it was postcard perfect! Every scene and every angle seemed to be begging for a photo. We took many, but, again, I will have to wait until we get home to post anything. We saw the royal palace, where Chris is chastised for getting too close. We saw the Stockholm Cathedral, the Nobel Museum, the Parliament House and then Scherwood suggested that we might have a better look at the city on a Ho-Ho (Hop on, Hop off) bus. The weather was brilliant, so that’s what we did. There is just something about looking at a city on the open top deck of a double decker bus that makes everything great.
In this fashion, we were able to see much more of the city than we ever could have on food. We went through the downtown area, where the only ‘skyscrapers’ exist. They are the King’s Towers. The funniest restaurant we saw was The Mamas and the Tapas. We even passed within a mile of the ship on our route around the city. There was so much to see that we only drove past, we decided that we would definitely be coming back here for a longer stay. We have totally fallen ender the charm of this city and its people.
All too soon, it was time to climb into a taxi and head back to the ship. Like the taxi driver this morning, this one got lost, but because the flat fare was $20 (or 199 Kronas) it was all good. We got back to discover he really preferred cash, so I went into the ICA store and got some money. Then we ended up doing a bit of shopping there, some honey, jam, cookies, some golden kiwi for the room, and some savory filled crackers.
We got back to the ship with about 15 minutes to spare, but then we had to wait as I am guessing someone’s tour ran a bit long. By 5:30 the ship had pulled up its lines and we were headed back out into the channel, just in time for dinner. It was so lovely to watch the island slip by.
Sadly, Dennis and Mary didn’t join us. He had a fall yesterday and hit his head rather hard. He was checked over by a doctor and they said he didn’t have a concussion, but Ken, who has known Dennis for over twenty years, said that he was really struggling on the tour that morning. Mostly he just sat on the bus and Mary went around with the group. His head on collision was just a year ago and while trying to recover from that, he got shingles, which he hasn’t beaten yet. Combined with everything, I think it was true determination that got him on the ship.
It was Italian night and the menu reflected all things Italian.
I had a lovely prosciutto and melon app, some minestrone soup, saltimbocca and for dessert a glass of lemoncello.
Chris had the eggplant parmesan app, a different bean soup, a salad, spaghetti and meatballs, then lemoncello, with a lemoncello sorbet.
Back in the cabin, Chris sat for a long time watching the islands disappear. He said over and over today that he wants to come back to Stockholm and I would agree. We had a fabulous time, thanks to lovely weather, a WONDERFUL guide who truly loves her city and country, and, well, everything. I’d say that Princess was saving the best for last, but I am reminded to not count Amsterdam out of the running yet.
So, so ABBAsolutely fabulous!
I woke up early, obviously from excitement and was amazed that we were already making our way past tiny islands. The day was crystal clear and the water was, according to the TV, mirror calm. For another two hours we made our way inland past islands and spits of land. We are told that 4,000 islands make up the country of Sweden.
After reading the Princess Patter, we were surprised to learn that they had changed our dock and I frantically sent a message to Scherwood, whom we were meeting today. We were finally able to get a hold of her and agreed to meet at the ABBA Museum.
There was an ICA (a grocery store) across from the dock, which was totally open to foot traffic, so we went over there and got some money from the ATM, then grabbed a taxi and headed for Djurgarden Island. He took right to the museum and there was Scherwood waiting for us. She never left our side the rest of the day and it was thanks to her that we had such an incredible time in her city.
We had purchased our tickets back in March, so we went into the electronic will call machine and got our tickets, wandered through the ABBA store and then went out to have some coffee while we waited our time for the museum. It was packed, beyond packed, but that didn’t matter for at the moment, it was all ABBA, everywhere you looked and everything you heard. There were karaoke booths and you could sing along. There was an interactive attraction in which you could sing Mamma Mia with the group. There was a booth in which you could put your head on the body of one of the girls and style their clothes.
The cases were filled with mementos, keepsakes, articles, toys, cards, just like any good fandom. People were in awe, but we knew it’s what any fan would do or collect. I just wonder who volunteered his or her collection(s) for this. There was a movie theatre showing the ABBA movie (not Mamma Mia), which was barely referred to at all.
In all, we spent about two and a half hours in the museum itself and I’m not going to tell you what was spent in the ABBA shop. It was a little embarrassing…
Then it was time for some lunch, so we hopped a ferry for Old Town. As we were walking to the ferry, we were able to check out Tivoli Grona Lund. From the looks of some of those rides, I would have been doing a lot more than mere groaning! Scherwood said that her sister actually was injured on one of the rides, a really scary looking roller coaster. She admitted that the rides were a little too much for her these days, but that she might just have to go back.
A short ten-minute ride and then we headed out on foot towards a restaurant that Scherwood thought we might like. It was much like many of the smaller restaurants in that you order and pay at the counter, then you bring your food back to the table, as opposed to sitting and being waited on. We had scored a table, so I sat with the bags and fended off chair stealing folks. Chris had a fabulous shrimp sandwich (there had to be a pound of bay shrimp on the sandwich), Scherwood had a bowl of broccoli soup, and I had a toasted ham and cheese (and tomato) sandwich. It proved to be just what we needed to fuel on the second part of our day, exploring old town.
Everywhere you looked, it was postcard perfect! Every scene and every angle seemed to be begging for a photo. We took many, but, again, I will have to wait until we get home to post anything. We saw the royal palace, where Chris is chastised for getting too close. We saw the Stockholm Cathedral, the Nobel Museum, the Parliament House and then Scherwood suggested that we might have a better look at the city on a Ho-Ho (Hop on, Hop off) bus. The weather was brilliant, so that’s what we did. There is just something about looking at a city on the open top deck of a double decker bus that makes everything great.
In this fashion, we were able to see much more of the city than we ever could have on food. We went through the downtown area, where the only ‘skyscrapers’ exist. They are the King’s Towers. The funniest restaurant we saw was The Mamas and the Tapas. We even passed within a mile of the ship on our route around the city. There was so much to see that we only drove past, we decided that we would definitely be coming back here for a longer stay. We have totally fallen ender the charm of this city and its people.
All too soon, it was time to climb into a taxi and head back to the ship. Like the taxi driver this morning, this one got lost, but because the flat fare was $20 (or 199 Kronas) it was all good. We got back to discover he really preferred cash, so I went into the ICA store and got some money. Then we ended up doing a bit of shopping there, some honey, jam, cookies, some golden kiwi for the room, and some savory filled crackers.
We got back to the ship with about 15 minutes to spare, but then we had to wait as I am guessing someone’s tour ran a bit long. By 5:30 the ship had pulled up its lines and we were headed back out into the channel, just in time for dinner. It was so lovely to watch the island slip by.
Sadly, Dennis and Mary didn’t join us. He had a fall yesterday and hit his head rather hard. He was checked over by a doctor and they said he didn’t have a concussion, but Ken, who has known Dennis for over twenty years, said that he was really struggling on the tour that morning. Mostly he just sat on the bus and Mary went around with the group. His head on collision was just a year ago and while trying to recover from that, he got shingles, which he hasn’t beaten yet. Combined with everything, I think it was true determination that got him on the ship.
It was Italian night and the menu reflected all things Italian.
I had a lovely prosciutto and melon app, some minestrone soup, saltimbocca and for dessert a glass of lemoncello.
Chris had the eggplant parmesan app, a different bean soup, a salad, spaghetti and meatballs, then lemoncello, with a lemoncello sorbet.
Back in the cabin, Chris sat for a long time watching the islands disappear. He said over and over today that he wants to come back to Stockholm and I would agree. We had a fabulous time, thanks to lovely weather, a WONDERFUL guide who truly loves her city and country, and, well, everything. I’d say that Princess was saving the best for last, but I am reminded to not count Amsterdam out of the running yet.
So, so ABBAsolutely fabulous!