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Published: December 17th 2005
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Where: Silja Ship from Stockholm to Helsinki
Temperature: -1C (to be honest this is a bit disappointing… BRING ON THE COLD)
Wind: calm 7m/s out of the NNW
Dew point: nice try… haven’t a clue
I had a great time in Stockholm which is undoubtedly one of the more beautiful world capitals. I would almost venture to say that it is prettier than Vancouver… I know you’re all rolling your eyes at home but it’s true. The one advantage Vancouver has is the mountains but Stockholm has architecture (as you’ll see in the photos) which is stunning… so let’s call it a tie!
Stockholm is also one of the most expensive places I have ever been. Their sales tax, are you ready for this?!, is a whopping 25%. Naturally the country is very socialist and manages to deliver excellent healthcare and education to its some 7 million residents. I can’t imagine having traveled there when the Canadian dollar was wallowing around $0.62USD not more than a year ago. Examples: 1 dinner at a decent pub + beer = $35CAD. 1 metro ride for 4 stops was $5!
I’ll stop whining about the costs and get on to more important features.
Grand Hotel
uhhh, not where I stayed... but flag looks great! Stockholm is very easily navigated on foot and there are many pedestrian only streets. The city itself is built on 13 islands and there is an efficient ferry network if the bus or metro or a pied don’t do the trick. The city was teaming with kids (evidently out of school or skipping or both) and shoppers. There were loads of Christmas markets selling everything from dried reindeer meat to wooden spoons. God Jul means Merry Christmas. Everyone has a crocus and candle vigil in their home/office windows.
I managed to visit the Vasa Museum which is a museum dedicated to the Vasa ship which sunk in the Stockholm harbour in the 1600s and wasn’t lifted to the surface until the 1950s. Due to the low salinity of the North Sea (learning enough?!) most of the wood and contents were well preserved. It was voted Europe’s best museum in 1992 and I would suggest a visit if you go. I also went to the Nobel museum where they were highlighting Albert Einstein. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed with the museum. They Swedes are fiercely proud of the Nobel prizes and I expected something a bit more interactive
Kids
Ya think there'a big child tax credit in Sweden?! and extensive. Nonetheless I learnt that Einstein was smart (duh) and the current award for a Nobel prize is $10M which cannot be split by more than 3 recipients in the same class! Nobel’s original will specified that the money had to invested in safe securities (GICs and the likes)… this was changed to permit stocks in 1946 as the endowment was losing value quickly… even the Nobel investment board likes stocks… hmmmmm. I best get onto something useful if the Nobel prize is to be on my life’s goals. Managing money, bocce and world travel might not cut it (!)… they denied Einstein for over 10 years until his theories had been proven!
For the ladies: when in Europe, I’m always on the look out for the latest fashion trends because it always amuses me when they show up on our shores a year or so later. Example: big bug eyes sunglasses… they were all over Europe summer 2004 and who didn’t have a pair this summer? Get your cheque books out because this trend will cost $$... riding boots… yep, horse riding boots. It looks a tad odd but I guess it works… we’ll see if North Americans
pick it up. Ugs and the “I live in Kits but like to look like I live above the arctic circle… see, look at my fur lined boots… damn my fee are hot, but I look good… right?” look isn’t popular here anymore… HINT HINT.
I am writing this aboard the Silja Symphony which is a ship (of the cruise variety) that sails from Stockholm to Helsinki. It is MASSIVE… 12 levels, half dozen restaurants, night club, casino and the real draw: tax free shopping. See second paragraph why this might be of interest. Apparently they get away with this because we are traveling through a small group of islands on our way to Finland which despite belonging to Finland is not part of the EU. I didn’t quite get it but was happy to pay less for alcohol and other items than we pay at home!
3 nights in Helsinki and then the real fun begins. I have rented an apartment in St. Petersburg where I will be spending the Western Christmas and then onto Moscow. Still firming up snowmobiling in Siberian and dog sledding in Mongolia but those are the current plans. Will be in touch… happy holidays!
Fisherman
Apparently one can catch salmon right in the harbour... Mike, this one's for you. Best, Jason.
PS… as I was putting the photos together it occurred to me the one of the world leaders might be confusing. I was at a Swedish 80s bar and I went to the washroom and the men’s urinal was lined with the world’s finest: Hitler, Mugabe, Pinochet, Bin Laden, Hussein etc… so you got to pick your favourite and express yourself; I LAUGHED SO HARD FOR A GOOD 5 MINUTES… this is easily one of the funnier things I have ever seen.
PPS… sorry, I keep thinking of things of interest… it gets dark at 15:30 everyday… don’t be fooled by the sun in the photos… it didn’t last long but was certainly appreciated! I know I’m cursing myself but I have still yet to encounter rain or snow (which I WANT) of any significance.
PPPS... note map function is back in action... at top left of blog. Keep the comments coming; if they don't appear right away it's because I have to accept or decline them first!
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Mum and Dad
non-member comment
excellent photography
absolutely stunning photos J. Oh.. do you know the difference between a crocus and a hyacynthe. Hint..the latter smell quite beautiful and are grown in pots with very little soil..just like the specimens in your photos. Glad to hear that you did not miss the boat!