This is basically the day when everyone eats strawberries and dances around the Maypole.
Sunday 23 June 2013
#69 Swedish Midsummer
June 21st is the highlight of the Swedish calendar! Why? Midsummer!
This is basically the day when everyone eats strawberries and dances around the Maypole.
This is basically the day when everyone eats strawberries and dances around the Maypole.
Friday 21 June 2013
#68 Stockholm - The Gateway to Scandinavia
Today marks my last week in Sweden. This got me thinking - not only am I leaving Stockholm - I'm leaving behind a great gateway to Europe, or Scandinavia at the very least.
For the 5 months I was in Sweden, I visited six other countries - Finland, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Poland. And not only did I visit these countries, I visited their capital cities and saw the famous landmarks of Helsinki, Oslo, Copenhagen, Tallin, Riga and Warsaw. And I visited Gothenburg and Malmo here in Sweden too.
I'm from Ireland, so these countries aren't very far away. But Ireland is an island to the far West of Europe, and it's not as cheap or easy to get to these places as some of you (especially Americans!) might think.
It cost me only €10 (or €40 for a cabin of 4 people) to get to Finland, Estonia and Latvia using the amazing cruise services from Stockholm. €45 for train tickets to Gothenburg, Oslo and Malmo/Copenhagen. €10 flights to Poland. Now if that isn't cheap, I can't tell you what is.
Some people were visiting places like Spain or Italy, but for me, I could go another time from Ireland and it wouldn't be so much in price difference. But there are plenty of countries you can get to from Sweden so cheaply!
#67 Warsaw, Poland
This was the very last of my side-trips from Stockholm, and it was very sophisticated as we actually flew this time, instead of our usual boats/trains excursions!
The first thing I will say is that it was CHEAP. After coming from Sweden everywhere is cheap (except Norway!) but here was ridiculous! It applies especially to food and drink, we ate and drank like Kings for 3 days, with an average of about €7 for a big meal and a drink. Unbelievable!! For this reason we thought that perhaps Poland is the greatest country in the universe, but there are some other reasons why we liked our trip to Warsaw too.
Warsaw was surprisingly modern. The city centre boasts about five sky scrapers, as well as a rather tall, imposing old building from which there is an amazing view! The public transport was quite easy to navigate, we mostly used trams which run very often and efficiently, not to mention cheaply too!
Poland obviously has a very sad history, and although some of the places I wanted to visit appear to be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (I advise you to check!) free walking tours and the Uprising museum really brought it to life, and it gave me a great respect for a country that had to rebuild itself from ruins, not so long ago.
I will admit the only downside to the trip was the Polish people - they were terribly rude. Obviously not every single Polish person ever, but those that we came across couldn't speak English and were quite rude. In one (half empty) restaurant we were waiting for 10mins without being handed a menu, and when we motioned for the idle waiters to come over to our table, they smiled and waved back and then they started very obviously talking about us! But when they finally came over and took ours orders, the service was quick and the food was tasty and cheap, so it was really a downside that they were so rude to foreigners, especially in the capital city at the start of tourist season.
Some of my Warsaw highlights:
So I would recommend a visit to Warsaw, or Poland. It seems to be quite cheap to get to, and incredibly cheap to stay there for a few a days (our hostel was €7 a night, most museums were less than €5 entrance, as already mentioned food and drink is cheap!). Our biggest regret about Warsaw is that we didn't stay a few days longer, which is always a good sign!
The first thing I will say is that it was CHEAP. After coming from Sweden everywhere is cheap (except Norway!) but here was ridiculous! It applies especially to food and drink, we ate and drank like Kings for 3 days, with an average of about €7 for a big meal and a drink. Unbelievable!! For this reason we thought that perhaps Poland is the greatest country in the universe, but there are some other reasons why we liked our trip to Warsaw too.
Warsaw was surprisingly modern. The city centre boasts about five sky scrapers, as well as a rather tall, imposing old building from which there is an amazing view! The public transport was quite easy to navigate, we mostly used trams which run very often and efficiently, not to mention cheaply too!
Poland obviously has a very sad history, and although some of the places I wanted to visit appear to be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (I advise you to check!) free walking tours and the Uprising museum really brought it to life, and it gave me a great respect for a country that had to rebuild itself from ruins, not so long ago.
I will admit the only downside to the trip was the Polish people - they were terribly rude. Obviously not every single Polish person ever, but those that we came across couldn't speak English and were quite rude. In one (half empty) restaurant we were waiting for 10mins without being handed a menu, and when we motioned for the idle waiters to come over to our table, they smiled and waved back and then they started very obviously talking about us! But when they finally came over and took ours orders, the service was quick and the food was tasty and cheap, so it was really a downside that they were so rude to foreigners, especially in the capital city at the start of tourist season.
Some of my Warsaw highlights:
The Palace of Culture and Science (great viewing area!)
Seen in clothes shop TK Maxx
Prozna street, untouched since WWII
Statue of Chopin
Cheaper to have beer at breakfast than coffee or juice
View over Warsaw
Warsaw National Stadium in background
Stare Miasto, the old town (identically rebuilt after WWII)
Warsaw Uprising Memorial
Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Nazi uniform at the Uprising museum
The old city walls
The birthplace of Marie Curie
So I would recommend a visit to Warsaw, or Poland. It seems to be quite cheap to get to, and incredibly cheap to stay there for a few a days (our hostel was €7 a night, most museums were less than €5 entrance, as already mentioned food and drink is cheap!). Our biggest regret about Warsaw is that we didn't stay a few days longer, which is always a good sign!
#66 Swedish Royal Wedding
Just two days after seeing the Royal Family at the Swedish National Day, June 8th was the wedding day of Princess Madeleine.
Because of our poor understanding of Swedish, we actually got there two hours early - but this was beneficial, as we got space at the barrier in front of the Royal Palace, and we got to watch the army drills and listen to the army bands while we waited.
In general I thought there was a poor turnout, I have never been to a Royal Wedding, but I thought there would have been a much larger crowd, although there were more than enough people around. After celebrating the National Day, I really felt Swedish and patriotic, although it seems the Swedes themselves weren't much bothered about any of this, which is a pity!
The bride was preceded by hundreds, possibly thousands, of members of the armed forces, army, navy, air force, pretty much everyone was there! Then came some public transport buses with "Royal Wedding" as the destination, and these buses contained distinguished guests, as well as members of the Royal Family (it was amazing to see someone wearing a crown wave to you from a bus)! Then came lots of pretty horses, and finally the bride and her groom in a horse drawn carriage, looking beautiful!
Because of our poor understanding of Swedish, we actually got there two hours early - but this was beneficial, as we got space at the barrier in front of the Royal Palace, and we got to watch the army drills and listen to the army bands while we waited.
In general I thought there was a poor turnout, I have never been to a Royal Wedding, but I thought there would have been a much larger crowd, although there were more than enough people around. After celebrating the National Day, I really felt Swedish and patriotic, although it seems the Swedes themselves weren't much bothered about any of this, which is a pity!
The bride was preceded by hundreds, possibly thousands, of members of the armed forces, army, navy, air force, pretty much everyone was there! Then came some public transport buses with "Royal Wedding" as the destination, and these buses contained distinguished guests, as well as members of the Royal Family (it was amazing to see someone wearing a crown wave to you from a bus)! Then came lots of pretty horses, and finally the bride and her groom in a horse drawn carriage, looking beautiful!
Awwww!
#65 Swedens National Day (or hanging out with the Swedish Royal Family)
The Swedish National Day, June 6th, isn't a very popular holiday in Sweden. For most it seems to be just a day off work, instead of a celebration to actively partake in. While researching a few days before, I found it difficult to find information on events or activities in Stockholm, except for Skansen. Skansen is the large outdoor museum, featuring a mini zoo and buildings from Sweden's history. It is also the place that holds traditional Swedish celebrations and places special events, and it was where we decided to go.
What was extra special about the National Day in Skansen, was the appearance of the entire Swedish Royal Family, and a speech from King Carl Gustav! There were events during the day such as traditional Swedish dances and Swedish games activities, and then at 6pm was a special concert, which was broadcast live on Swedish television.
I had previously visited Skansen in March, when it was still covered in snow. It was nice to visit again in the sunshine, and to see it so busy too!
Traditional Swedish Dancers
Speech by the Swedish King
The Swedish Royal Family
#64 Vasa Museum
The best in Sweden? Maybe not. . .
There are two big attractions you are told you must visit when you come to Stockholm: one is the outdoor museum, Skansen, and the other is the Vasa museum. The Vasa museum is a museum about a warship which sank on its first voyage in Stockholm bay in 1628. The ship remained largely intact and was dug up from the ocean in 1961, and is today on display at this museum.
After visiting a lot of Stockholm's other museums, I had left Vasa for almost last, and I was a little disappointed. It's just a big piece of wood in the middle of a big room. There is lots of information about details of the ship and the lives of the sailors, as well as information about the salvage process and possible reasons why it sank, but I just didn't see why it is a must-see for Stockholm. I've spoken to other people and it seemed to be a split divide - either they thought it was really cool, or nothing special!
There are two big attractions you are told you must visit when you come to Stockholm: one is the outdoor museum, Skansen, and the other is the Vasa museum. The Vasa museum is a museum about a warship which sank on its first voyage in Stockholm bay in 1628. The ship remained largely intact and was dug up from the ocean in 1961, and is today on display at this museum.
After visiting a lot of Stockholm's other museums, I had left Vasa for almost last, and I was a little disappointed. It's just a big piece of wood in the middle of a big room. There is lots of information about details of the ship and the lives of the sailors, as well as information about the salvage process and possible reasons why it sank, but I just didn't see why it is a must-see for Stockholm. I've spoken to other people and it seemed to be a split divide - either they thought it was really cool, or nothing special!
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