Today is Sweden's National Day, or Day of the Swedish Flag. According to Wikipedia, this day celebrates the election of Gustav Vasa as King of Sweden in 1523 and the end of the Danish-ruled Kalmar Union. However, since June 6th was first celebrated at the Stockholm Olympics in 1916, many Swedes, including me, probably don't make the connection with our great King Gustav and the end of Danish rule in Sweden.
To honor my hometown, Stockholm, I thought today would be a good day to share some pictures from my last trip back in 2005. I've posted some of these before, but I'm sure no one remembers. I certainly don't.
The narrowest street in Old Town Stockholm.
Priest Street with a red bicycle ~ Old Town.
Tetley Tea House ~ I spent many hours here, drank many cups of tea, met fascinating people from all over the world. A long time ago.
The original city of Stockholm is built on 14 islands. A city surrounded by water, with a large number of green spaces makes for quite a lovely place to live.
I was baptized in the church up on the cliffs, Katarina Church.
The Royal Palace.
The pink building is the Grand Hotel. The water here is very turbulent and fishermen use boats with large nets attached, like the one in the foreground. The current is so strong, you may think it must be difficult to control the boat and catch fish at the same time, but these traditional boats have been around for a long, long time and are manned by skilled fishermen. And there's plenty of fish in the clean waters of mid-city Stockholm.
The rear of the Royal Opera House.
One of my favorite pictures from my visit in 2005.
Modern transportation.
And the old fashioned kind. And there I am, 11 years ago now.
Hope you enjoyed this smorgasbord of Stockholm pictures.
Hi Inger - they are lovely photos and I definitely haven't seen them ... a younger you - looking good. Wonderful tiny street .. the churches, the 14 islands - it must be amazing to see - and obviously for you to live and have as your homeland, though not now ... with that Faithful creature to guard and love you. Gorgeous view across the lake with the wild rose ... so thorny, but so prolific with their blooms.
ReplyDelete1523 - that's yonks ago .. in Henry VIII's day ... and when Europe was the Holy Roman Empire, Luther was breaking away and England was really tied in with France and not much else ...
Fascinating to read and to see ... gorgeous - yes we're nearly at the 10.00 pm time frame now - but will never be that light - maybe one or two days our night sky will be just about as light ...
Cheers and have a happy and peaceful week ... Happy Sweden Day ... Hilary
I beliebe King Gustav's son and heir, Erik, was quite interested in Queen Elizabeth. Would have been a great marriage for him, for sure!
Deleteawesome
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful city. Now I want to go there!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that Sweden elected their king. That's very interesting.
Only the first one after he won us freedom from Danish rule. Then in 1818, they had to select a king because the old line died out, and they chose the Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte who became King of Sweden under the name Kart XIV Johan.
DeleteWhat a beautiful, clean city.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much beauty...everywhere you look! Love your photos sweet friend. Enjoy your day! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. No, I don't remember the pictures. That narrow street would give me claustrophobia! What a lovely clean looking city - something a person never finds - Sweden would be the place to visit.
ReplyDeletemy favorite photo today is your header of Faith and the next favorite is the modern transportation shot. LOVE it. i have seen a few of these buildings on other blogs and in photos on TV and other places... i am not sure i could walk between those buildings in that narrow street..might get stuck. i know i could get through the second one. ha ha
ReplyDeleteThank you for the trip to your home place! A beautiful city, I must say. I especially like that picture of the skinny little street. I doubt I could walk down it!!
ReplyDeleteStill daylight at 10p.m. what a trip to remember, and I haven't seen any of those before, greenery, water, a beautiful quiet place in the busy areas , I'm sure so many enjoy this .
ReplyDeleteThat narrow street would have made my claustrophobia itch for sure! What a lovely profile of Faith. Elected Kings? What a concept. Stockholm as you present seems such a lovely city. I will have to set a McCord story there one day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely city!!
ReplyDeleteThese pictures make the city seem so inviting. I need to visit!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful city. Thank you for sharing these pictures!
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures, Inger! I especially loved the narrowest street and Priest street. And what I really, really love is your new header on your blog. This shows Faith's soulful loving eyes... what a beauty she is! Gracie says that Samson needs to be reminded... she is is sister. (a little jealousy I am detecting) Thanks for sharing these great memories, and of course you look beautiful .. then and now :-)
ReplyDeleteYES! My 2% Swedish heritage thanks our Swedish Goddess very much; Im counting on you to fill me in on the lost details taht I have never been taught! Sweden looks to be a very beautiful country xoxo
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures...makes me want to go
ReplyDeleteSuch history and beauty! Good shots, too.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Sweden's National Day or Day of the Swedish Flag! A beautiful post, Inger, to honor your hometown!
ReplyDeleteStockholm is really wonderful and I wish I could visit your city someday...
Lovely the narrowest street in Old Town! Tetley Tea House looks a nice place too.
I did not know that the original city of Stockholm is built on 14 islands. The Grand Hotel looks so beautiful!
I agree with you, the picture of the lake is gorgeous!
Love your picture of 11 years ago! You did not change, when I saw that picture I thought it was taken recently!
Lots of Hugs!