Day 91 Back in Helsinki

The cruise back from Stockholm to Helsinki was a comfortable one. Except that the weather was not too good outside, all cloudy and rainy, so there was not much to see on the deck.



Looking at the water, with ice floating on it, I really wonder how long I can survive if I were forced into the water. Probably not for long.



It's quite amazing, really, this cruise. When you are on it, it barely feels like you are on a boat, it just feels like you are in a really really huge hotel, with casinos, restaurants, a huge tax-free store, and bedrooms. You feel quite safe there, like you're not in waters, I guess that's what passengers in Titantic felt, until it hit an iceberg and sinked.

Day 90 Last day in Stockholm

Remember yesterday I said that I wanted to go to Skeppsholmen, but the museum was closed and my shoes were soaking wet and uncomfortable, so I decided I wouldn't go? Well, weather in Stockholm today was really grand: sunny, blue sky, nice breeze, pavements all dry. I decided that I should give Skeppsholmen another shot.

I always feel like when you are meant to be in a place, then you will be there eventually, whether you plan it or not. And if some invisible force doesn't allow you to do something, then no matter how you plan it, you still couldn't do it. Like the St. Petersburg trip, cancelled because of the bombing. My visit to Skeppsholmen, I thought I would leave Stockholm without going there, but I think I am meant to be there sometime, someday.

Okay, enough of the reflections, here are some pictures of the beautiful Skeppsholmen!
(Photo: Ever tried whistling to swans? I think this one here bob its head when I whistle to it! I'm not kidding!)

Then I visited one of their museums on the island, called the moderna museum.

(Photo: And my God, that place is so gorgeous! I seriously thought of staying on Skeppsholmen forever, and get a job in that museum as a caretaker or something!)

(Photo: their cakes, pastries and food there look really delicious, I had a coffee and a toffee/chocolate cake. They were just amazing!)


This picture here says it all. Blue sky, white clouds, nice breeze, chilling next to the sea, drinking coffee, sunbathing, whistling to swans ... I will definitely return to Stockholm. It is just a matter of time, I would be there again some day. Stockholm, don't change too much before my next visit! I love you the way you are now!

Day 89 Snowing in Stockholm!

Today I woke up and the weather was not so sunny and dry anymore. It was snowing: meaning, slushie all over the place, wet shoes, wet feet, wet hair, wet clothes, wet pants ... wet wet wet wet wet....

I decided that, in spite of the weather, I would go and explore another island, called Skeppsholm. But by the time I arrived on that island, my feet were not only wet, but cold, really cold. Plus, the museum on Skeppsholm closes on Mondays. So, I decided that I should get back to the mainland and perhaps shop for some shoes and buy a dry pair of socks.

I went, according to the guidebook, to the famous shopping indoor shopping district, which is located near the T Central station. There is this shoe shop that sells cool sneakers!

(Photo: there are rows and rows of sneakers in display in the shop! But being on a budget, I decided I shouldn't buy here.)

I found a pair of cheap grey walking shoes. They are only 149 Krona, which is roughly 160 HKD. Funny thing is, all the other shoes on display are like 200+ Krona, but those shoes, in particular, were surprisingly cheap! It's my lucky day!

(Photo: with dry socks and shoes, I felt sooo much better!)

Then I walked around the stores besides me, and as I walked further and further away from the stores, I found myself near the Royal Palace!


Unfortunately, by the time I was there, the royal palace is closed, so the only thing left to do around there (i.e. see something royal), is to go to their royal armory museum.

(Photo: It was quite a cool place.)

After the museum, I decided that I should see something related to art, and went to the Opera House to see if there is something showing then. And there was! such a lucky day! And it was only 40 Krona (I got crappy seat)!
(Photo: The opera house is really magnificent. The decorations, the space, the columns, the ceiling, the chandelier. Everything was really really grand. Although the singing was in swedish, I enjoyed the music, and the dancing!)

Day 88 Stockholm!

First thing I said to myself when the plane landed in Stockholm was, thank you thank you for the good weather. My feet were finally dry!



Blue sky, white clouds, bright sunlight... just the kind of weather I was hoping for!

Stockholm has a lot of islands, and each island is very much worth going because there are museums and other attractions on them.

First day in Stockholm, I decided that I should head to an island called Djurgården. I tried to stay as much time outdoors as possible so that I can enjoy the sun and the cool coastal breeze.



There were two museums in the island that I thought would be worth visiting, one was called Skanen, it says in the guidebook that it is the first ever open-air museum and another called the Vasa museum, which displays a gigantic 17th century ship.

(Photo: To be frank, I was a little disappointed about Skanen, turns out, it is more suitable for children and family strolling around.)

(Photo: Inside the Vasa museum. Oh man, that ship is huge!)

(Photo: This is the Nordic Museum. The outside is really grand!)

After the three museums, I decided that I have had enough of museum walking within a day and stroll from the island of Djurgården to the mainland Ostermalms (there is a bridge that links them).

Seriously, I think Stockholm is like the chill-est city I have ever visited in my life. No one here really rushes anywhere. Everyone is just holding their coffee, walking their dogs, sitting down by the coast, watching swans (yes, they have wild swans!)



They say that Stockholm is famous for its designs, so I headed to their design house, which was located in the basement of a huge department store.



As I was looking at the design stores, I passed by a church, and there was going to be a concert inside! I was so lucky that I passed by this Church at this very moment! I was dying to listen to some music in Stockholm!




This pretty picture concludes my first day in Stockholm. It was a really good day. Nice weather, dry shoes, dry socks, dry feet, cool breeze, nice museums.