Indoor Attractions Trump Rainy Skies in Stockholm
Sometimes a rainy day can really dampen the holiday spirit. However, with enough planning ahead, it can make even a day with downpours seem worthwhile.
Down at the harbor this morning we noticed a huge Princess cruise ship. I imagined what it must have been like to wake up early in the morning, peer out your porthole window, and see Stockholm in all its glory. We ran into a group from the ship at the Royal Palace and slipped into their group for a guided tour. Of particular interest were stage coaches including a tiny one for a child and wooden sleighs for sleigh parties in the 1800s.
We stopped in the cafe just outside the cobblestone courtyard for a royal treat at what turned out to be royal prices. For a slice of carrot cake known as "royal cake" to share and two cappuccinos, the cost was just over 22 dollars US.
The National Treasury had large brightly lit display cases full of crowns made with 24 karat gold, rubies, and emeralds. We didn't linger in there too long because outside in the courtyard was a changing of the guard with soldiers in full dress uniform with gold helmets, horses, and a band.
Everybody crowded in for a better view under the arch and was ordered by an honor guard to "stand back right now!" Glancing under the helmet I spotted a pony tail and realized it was a girl. Outside the rain poured down, but the guards performed for over 30 minutes.
Our plan was to eat lunch in the cafe at the National Museum, but the small salad bar alone cost close to $25. At breakfast this morning an American chemistry professor visiting from Hawaii told us his family ended up having a meal at the 7-Eleven to save money so we had what I would call a hot dog with a view down at the harbor at what seemed to be a popular hot dog cart. Their "French hot dog" was a hot dog inside a hollow French roll.
Back at the National Museum we rented audio guides and saw paintings by Renoir, Monet, and Van Gogh. We discovered why people toted around gallery stools with them. The narration of each painting often included information about the artist and the painting, the inspiration for the work, and what the curator had to say about it. Pride of place must go to a collection of Rembrandt portraits, including an early self portrait, finished with a copper frame. This work was stolen from the museum in 2000, but was thankfully found by the police, and returned to it's rightful place, five years later. The art gallery is housed in a lovely building along Stockholm's waterfront, very close to the Grand Hotel.
Dinner tonight was back to our new favorite restaurant, Vapiano, which I just found out from my sister that it's her favorite restaurant in Washington DC. On the way we stopped at Stortorget Square, location of the Nobel Museum. It is so picturesque with the gabled houses.
At the restaurant we again had freshly baked pizza and caprice salad. I love it how you can pick your own herbs out of the pots.
Walking back to our hotel, the rain poured on, but thinking back to seeing the marching guards and everything else we saw, it truly was a memorable day.
Down at the harbor this morning we noticed a huge Princess cruise ship. I imagined what it must have been like to wake up early in the morning, peer out your porthole window, and see Stockholm in all its glory. We ran into a group from the ship at the Royal Palace and slipped into their group for a guided tour. Of particular interest were stage coaches including a tiny one for a child and wooden sleighs for sleigh parties in the 1800s.
We stopped in the cafe just outside the cobblestone courtyard for a royal treat at what turned out to be royal prices. For a slice of carrot cake known as "royal cake" to share and two cappuccinos, the cost was just over 22 dollars US.
The National Treasury had large brightly lit display cases full of crowns made with 24 karat gold, rubies, and emeralds. We didn't linger in there too long because outside in the courtyard was a changing of the guard with soldiers in full dress uniform with gold helmets, horses, and a band.
Everybody crowded in for a better view under the arch and was ordered by an honor guard to "stand back right now!" Glancing under the helmet I spotted a pony tail and realized it was a girl. Outside the rain poured down, but the guards performed for over 30 minutes.
Our plan was to eat lunch in the cafe at the National Museum, but the small salad bar alone cost close to $25. At breakfast this morning an American chemistry professor visiting from Hawaii told us his family ended up having a meal at the 7-Eleven to save money so we had what I would call a hot dog with a view down at the harbor at what seemed to be a popular hot dog cart. Their "French hot dog" was a hot dog inside a hollow French roll.
Back at the National Museum we rented audio guides and saw paintings by Renoir, Monet, and Van Gogh. We discovered why people toted around gallery stools with them. The narration of each painting often included information about the artist and the painting, the inspiration for the work, and what the curator had to say about it. Pride of place must go to a collection of Rembrandt portraits, including an early self portrait, finished with a copper frame. This work was stolen from the museum in 2000, but was thankfully found by the police, and returned to it's rightful place, five years later. The art gallery is housed in a lovely building along Stockholm's waterfront, very close to the Grand Hotel.
Dinner tonight was back to our new favorite restaurant, Vapiano, which I just found out from my sister that it's her favorite restaurant in Washington DC. On the way we stopped at Stortorget Square, location of the Nobel Museum. It is so picturesque with the gabled houses.
At the restaurant we again had freshly baked pizza and caprice salad. I love it how you can pick your own herbs out of the pots.
Walking back to our hotel, the rain poured on, but thinking back to seeing the marching guards and everything else we saw, it truly was a memorable day.
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