Tiptoe through the Tulips: Adventure in Sweden

When traveling it is always best to not have any expectations. Expectations risk disappointment and they close your mind to the full experience. There were a few places I was interested in seeing when Siv and Suzanne took me via train from Västerås to Stockholm, but I was more excited simply to just be there. Since I had no real expectations I enjoyed every moment, even when we were walking down seemingly unremarkable streets. And after the first few hours on the first day of two I think I had already decided that Stockholm is my new favorite European city, despite the fact that my heart is still so full of Florence that there are always echoes from Italy no matter how far north I go.

More pictures and text after the jump...

Sergels Torg
This was the first place we stopped after leaving Central Station and where my pictures of Stockholm begin. The first thing I thought of when we came upon Sergels torg was the flashmob I saw once on Youtube (see below) but there weren't many people in the square. It is bordered on one side by the Kulturhuset (Culture House.)

Storykyrkan (Church of St. Nicholas/Stockholm Cathedral)
I've seen many churches, chapels, cathedrals, and I can saw with confidence that this is my favorite religious interior. Apologies to the Florence's Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (the duomo and Basilica of Santa Croce. Both have exquisite art and history but Stockholm's cathedral is the most unique. Everything glows from all the gilding and warm shades of paint.

I'm not Catholic but St. George is my favorite saint. I'm not really sure why. Probably because he was a Roman soldier. Or maybe because I fell in love with Donatello's statue of St. George for the armory guild's niche outside Orsanmichele in Florence. I used to walk back from school to my apartment the long way some days just to pass him.

This sculpture of St. George is magnificent. Sten Sture the Elder commissioned it from Berndt Notke of Lübeck and it was unveiled in 1489. Sture had helped rescue Stockholm from King Christian of Denmark's invasion. The princess symbolizes Sweden, being saved from the dragon (Denmark) by St. George (Sture.)

Gamla Stan
As far as the cityscape goes I found Gamla Stan (Old Town) to be my favorite part of Stockholm. I love the aesthetics of the buildings, the small and somewhat crooked streets, and the charming silence.

Suzanne and Siv.

We stopped here for lunch. I had caribou stew. It was my first time ever eating caribou meat, which supposedly has better nutritional value than most other meats. I didn't notice any significant difference even though it was delicious and filling. The perfect sort of meal one needs when walking and taking pictures.

View from the Katarina Lift

Stadsmuseet (City Museum)
I knew very little about the history of Stockholm before going here. A wealth of information at no cost since entrance is free.