Day 49 - Wednesday, July 31, 2024 - Stockholm Sweden

 

What a great tour  today to end 49 days of cruising.  It was a busy morning.  We had to go off ship and through Swedish immigration at 8 am and then I had to check in for our flight.  That's always an "iffy" process with British Air.  You just never know what problems you'll encounter with ship wifi and a crummy British air website.  With boarding passes in hand for the first leg of the flight, we boarded our tour bus at 9 am for our 3 hour bus tour of Stockholm.  

We had a great tour guide.  He spoke wonderful English and had a great sense of humor.  He has never been to the US but deemed our bus to all Green Bay Packers and Mets fans!  Huh?

We learned a lot. Not just about the city but about living here in Stockholm.  

It's a very expensive city and country.  As he walked through the math, I'm not sure wlhiw anyone can afford to live, even in the outlying areas that are less expensive.

We stopped at an overlook just above our ship for an overview of the harbor and islands making up the city.

Crossing over one of the many bridges that connect all the islands that make up Stockholm 

From the bus window, a peek at the park and royal garden 

Our next stop was at City Hall which is where the Nobel prize is announcing awarded every December.  The only prize not awarded here is the Peace Prize which is awarded and presented in Oslo where we were last month.

Stockholm City Hall. Their government meetings are held there, you can get married there in a 5 minute ceremony every Saturday, but there's a waiting list of six weeks from the time you meet.  You can't get drunk, meet someone and get married immediately.  The divorce rate is also very high, nonetheless.

This is also where the Nobel prizees are announced and ceremony takes place.

Notice the figures in the small windows. Important people from Swedish history.

Barely a glimpse of the room where the Nobel prize ceremony takes place 

From there we stopped in the old city after being given a bus tour around the section.  Our guide walked us past the Grand Hotel where the prize winners stay as well as dignitaries from other countries while here for National ceremonies.

We saw the Royal Palace which is unoccupied.  The King and Queen reaise at another residence about 8 miles away.

We were treated to a "Fike", the Swedish word for coffee and pastry.   A little shopping time and then back in the bus for our ride to the ship.

My friend, Renata, from Tucson. Neither Wayne nor her husband joined us today.

Wayne would say, I'm in the right.

I need more time to explore Stockholm.  Our short day just isn't enough. 

Sights as we drove around the city on the bus.

This afternoon was game playing time.  Or perhaps I should call it juggling time.  It was "how to get everything in the suitcase" time.

My last tip for this trip, always carry a luggage scale with you.  Thanks to Wayne for having one.  I had to make three tries at  juggling things between my two suitcases to make it all work.   You're allowed 2 checked bags on international flights, Amen!  And my carry on.  Third try and I managed to get the big bag under 50 lbs.

It's an early morning tomorrow and will be a long day as we disembark at 4:45.am for our ride to the airport and our 8:05 am flight to Heathrow.  

Last, if you are ever on a Viking ocean cruise, look in the elevators facing the atrium and Grand piano for the trolls hidden in the birch trees.