Stockholm, Sweden
We left Helsinki in Finland, and sailed 248 nautical miles to yet another of the great nations that border the Baltic Sea: the Kingdom of Sweden. Sweden has historically been one of the great powers at play in the region and is still one of the most prosperous countries in the world. Our port of call today is the capital of the kingdom, Stockholm, one of the most beautiful of all European capital cities. Stockholm is built on 14 small islands, with numerous inlets, canals, and waterways weaving under small bridges and along gorgeous parks and boulevards. The sun was shining bright and temperatures were high, so we were surrounded by a bustle of boat traffic and enthusiastic summer activity, which combined to create a fun and lively atmosphere, both during the day and in the evening. Our home away from home, the National Geographic Endeavour, arrived in town and docked off a pier in the middle of the old city, Gamla Stan – location, location, location!
The day began with a real treat as those who fancied an early morning outing left the ship on the entrance to the city, and took a spectacular Zodiac cruise along a canal through the city’s green belt before beholding the spectacular facades of downtown Stockholm. There is no doubt that entering by water is the way to truly appreciate these cities that were built in days when boat travel was the only real way to go, and we got a perspective that is unfortunately somewhat lost these days. The chestnuts were in bloom and the swans, geese and ducks were tailed by chicks and curious about our passage – as were the local joggers and cyclists! One of the best parts of the whole experience was that we were awake to fully enjoy it after a surprise meeting with our Hotel Manager and bartender round a bend in the waterway with tea, coffee and croissants.
The great weather continued, and we made sure to get the best we could out of our day in the city: the Vasa museum, Skansen open-air museum, monuments, churches and colourful historical buildings. We stopped at cafes and ate ashore, strolled quaint and crooked streets and stopped to enjoy street music – the best way to experience a complex and vibrant European city, awakening from a deep slumber to greet the summer months.
We left Helsinki in Finland, and sailed 248 nautical miles to yet another of the great nations that border the Baltic Sea: the Kingdom of Sweden. Sweden has historically been one of the great powers at play in the region and is still one of the most prosperous countries in the world. Our port of call today is the capital of the kingdom, Stockholm, one of the most beautiful of all European capital cities. Stockholm is built on 14 small islands, with numerous inlets, canals, and waterways weaving under small bridges and along gorgeous parks and boulevards. The sun was shining bright and temperatures were high, so we were surrounded by a bustle of boat traffic and enthusiastic summer activity, which combined to create a fun and lively atmosphere, both during the day and in the evening. Our home away from home, the National Geographic Endeavour, arrived in town and docked off a pier in the middle of the old city, Gamla Stan – location, location, location!
The day began with a real treat as those who fancied an early morning outing left the ship on the entrance to the city, and took a spectacular Zodiac cruise along a canal through the city’s green belt before beholding the spectacular facades of downtown Stockholm. There is no doubt that entering by water is the way to truly appreciate these cities that were built in days when boat travel was the only real way to go, and we got a perspective that is unfortunately somewhat lost these days. The chestnuts were in bloom and the swans, geese and ducks were tailed by chicks and curious about our passage – as were the local joggers and cyclists! One of the best parts of the whole experience was that we were awake to fully enjoy it after a surprise meeting with our Hotel Manager and bartender round a bend in the waterway with tea, coffee and croissants.
The great weather continued, and we made sure to get the best we could out of our day in the city: the Vasa museum, Skansen open-air museum, monuments, churches and colourful historical buildings. We stopped at cafes and ate ashore, strolled quaint and crooked streets and stopped to enjoy street music – the best way to experience a complex and vibrant European city, awakening from a deep slumber to greet the summer months.
