Postcards From Stockholm Pt. 2
As promised, here is part two of my adventures in Stockholm.
Wednesday, my third day in town, was decidedly my museum day. I started bright and early at ABBA The Museum. And let me tell you, this museum is just so much fun! Their logo is literally "walk in. dance out" and that is really the best way to describe it. The museum is all things ABBA...from recreations of their recording booths to all of their outfits (which are stunning to see in person). I've loved ABBA my entire life, thanks to my mom, but I realized I actually knew very little about their story past the basics. And after this visit I understand even more than I already did why they are so beloved internationally.
This museum encourages you to play into your cheesy side. It is very interactive and because of this I do wish I had gone with someone. However, I did my best to make the most of it on my own and still had a lovely time, stopping at all of the photo ops (especially the Mamma Mia ones).
Honestly, it felt nearly impossible to leave the museum without a smile on my face. I had spent over an hour listening to some of my favorite feel-good songs, learning about a band that had such big role in my music taste, and literally dancing my through some of the exhibits...I am not even kidding. I can only imagine how electrifying and thrilling it must have been to see ABBA perform live in the 70s and 80s. The museum made me feel strangely nostalgic for an experience I have never had.
After my time at ABBA The Museum, I made my way over to the Vasa Museum. It is actually very convenient, so many of the museums are located on the exact same island. So, I could just walk to whichever one I wanted to go to next. There are so many museums that seemed absolutely fascinating and if I were in Stockholm longer I think I would have spent at least a couple of days over there. I did not do nearly enough on that island.
Anyways, I walked over to the Vasa Museum, probably one of the coolest museums I have ever been to. It houses The Vasa, a 17th century warship that sank in 1628, only minutes after beginning its maiden voyage. It remained at the bottom of the ocean for over 300 years before being lifted out of the mud and water and restored. Making it the best preserved warship from the 1600s.
While Vasa never went to war, it did not even make it out of its home harbor, the history behind it is fascinating. The museum thoroughly explains the years that went into rescuing the ship and all of the work that is still being done now, as restoration of such a ship is an ongoing process. I learned about everything leading up to the sinking of the ship, how all things really do come back to politics and who holds the power. Maybe Vasa would been the fearless warship and pride of Sweden had the ships creator not died suddenly and the king, Gustav II, had not been so desperate to get the ship to sea. However, that was not the case and as we all know, what the king says goes, and so the concerns of the ship's captain went unheeded and Vasa was bound for the bottom of the sea. Water rushed in and while still in sight of the shipyard, Vasa went down with about 30 souls, and what was meant to be a triumph for Sweden ended in tragedy and embarrassment.
The history of Vasa and what happened afterwards is really fascinating. There is so much that went into the building, sinking, and who was blamed for it all afterwards. If you want to read more just follow the links below, it is a tragic story of the consequences of hubris and we must remember the souls who needlessly lost their lives that day in 1628.
As I said, I spent a few hours at the Vasa Museum. The ship is absolutely massive and honestly reminded me of the Flying Dutchman from Pirates of The Caribbean, which I learned later that the Vasa did provide some inspiration for the movie ship.
Not only do they have the ship but they have the remains of those who died and the amount of research they have done to figure out who each person was is incredible. There is an entire section on the bottom floor dedicated to the men and women on that ship. It was eerie seeing their bones perfectly laid out alongside their clothes and other personal items. With each skeleton was the story of how their remains were found and what researchers have been able to piece together of their lives. Modern day historians are remarkable in what they can determine about a person- their social status, what they ate the day they died, any illnesses they suffered, and so much more.
I really could go on and on about the Vasa and the impact it had on sea faring history but I really encourage everyone to do some of their own research and if privileged enough to be in Stockholm someday, to visit. I can share all that I have learned but I know I will not be able to do it justice. So, when you do visit, be prepared to spend hours there, standing gawking at the enormity of this tragic warship, paying your respects to the victims, and learning so much about the history of those who attempted to harness the sea.
After my time at the Vasa Museum, it was time for coffee, thrifting, and another walking tour. As I have already shared, I walked a lot this week so I am sure it will be no surprise that I walked from the museum island all the way to the Södermalm district (about 4 km). My first stop was at Tårtan Café for a dirty chai latte and to do even more research on the Vasa. The chai was delicious and the café was so cozy and adorable. I sat here for a quite a while enjoying just being.
This was followed by walking in and out of many thrift shops, as I had read that this was the place to go for thrifting in Stockholm. I did not buy anything, however, and I knew I wouldn't. As with so many places thrifting is not as cheap as it used to be which I was prepared for. I did enjoy just window shopping though and seeing all of the things I would buy if I had unlimited funds and unlimited luggage space.
Södermalm is a very charming part of Stockholm. It was interesting to learn that it was once considered the "slums" of Stockholm because today it has a very alternative and bohemian vibe and is now considered a rather pricey place to live. The streets are once again cobblestone and the houses and shops are colorful and have clearly withstood centuries of change. I had a lovely time just walking. I eventually made my way to Mariaberget for some of the best views of the city. And it did not disappoint. The beauty in this city has yet to cease to amaze me.
I did not stay in the area much longer though because Nici and I had plans to ride the ferries (which are included in the public transport ticket...yay!) for a couple of hours after he was done with work. We desperately wanted to see the other islands surrounding Stockholm.
This is where I will leave this entry as I think the ferry and the islands deserve their own entry and I have so much to say (shocking, I know). So, I will be back with my third and final entry on Stockholm soon. In the meantime, happy reading and I hope you spend a little time reading up on the history of ABBA and the Vasa, they are well worth your time.
Until next time,
Liv
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