I am traveling with a group through Scandinavia and it is truly spectacular! We started out in Copenhagen Denmark, then traveled to Stockholm Sweden, and am now in the famous fjord village of Fram. In these northern latitudes, the amount of daylight is almost 24 hours and I am writing this on the summer solstice so you know that the moon will not be appearing.
I would like to share with you some highlights of our trip thus far:
Copenhagen, Denmark: Copenhagen is a vibrant city which has the feel of Amsterdam- activity, bicycles, many different languages, and a feeling of acceptance. We took a canal cruise which really showed off the various sections of the city and of course saw the backside of the world’s most famous mermaid. A highlight for me was to see the rock group Deep Purple (famous for, among others, their song Smoke on the Water) in concert at Tivoli Gardens, a place which combines garden and amusement park. There are so many great places to visit in Copenhagen, including the Round Tower, Rosenborg Castle, the King’s Garden, Nyhavn Harbor (the location of the richly painted iconic buildings along the canal), and of course several museums to choose from.
Danish/Swedish Countryside: We went to an organic farm where they grow ancient grains and raise old Danish livestock breeds. We boarded a ferry which took us in only 25 minutes to travel from Denmark into Sweden. At the Toftaholm Manor we heard a story teller, ate a great meal, and stayed in rooms that date back to the 1700’s (all recently updated).
Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholm is a most unusual city as it is located on 14 islands which are connected by 57 bridges. There we visited the Vasa Museum, which was a double decked warship launched in 1628. On its maiden voyage leaving Stockholm harbor, a gust of wind came up which tilted the ship, allowing water to flood through the gun ports and the ship sank. The total lifetime mileage traveled by the ship was less than a mile. The ship was raised in the early 1960’s after being submerged for over 300 years and is now on display at the world class Vasa Museum. The other notable experience during our time in Stockholm was visiting the City Hall. There, the Nobel laureates are recognized with an elaborate dinner for 1,400 people and all the pomp that goes with this most prestigious event. Trust me, the City Hall of Stockholm is like no other city hall in the world for grandeur.
Oslo, Norway: Oslo is an amazing city in every way, from the unique architecture of the Opera House (where you can walk up to the roof) to Vigeland Park which features perhaps the world’s greatest array of sculptures that capture the many phases of life. Next, the Fram Museum offers a look at a ship which is the complete opposite of the Vasa in terms of distance traveled. The Vasa traveled from the North Pole to the South Pole, in the spirit of Norwegian exploration. The Norwegians are most proud of their early explorers, including Thor Heyerdahl and Roald Amundsen. At one end of Oslo’s famous esplanade is the Royal Palace and at the other is Parliament. In between are fountains, green space, and numerous outdoor restaurants.
I will always continue to share more about Scandinavia and all that it has to offer!
