“Scandinavian Tapestry” Part 2: Sandhamn and Visby, Sweden

August 14:  Got up early this morning so was able to watch the ship pull away from the dock at Stockholm at 8:00 AM.  Our destination for the day was Sandhamn, Sweden which is a resort island where sailors and yachters meet.  All shops, restaurants and tourist information are located in one centralized area; there are no cars allowed on the island.  The area is very clean (the Swedish take clean environment very seriously), and the people quite friendly.

Front of a home at Sandhamn

Front of a home at Sandhamn

The waterfront at Sandhamn

The waterfront at Sandhamn

Heading to Sandhamn

Heading to Sandhamn

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we were on the island, a storm came upon us with lightning and thunder; looking at one of the above pictures, you can see the dark clouds in the distance.

Another view of Sandhamn

Another view of Sandhamn

There was not much to see in Sandhamn but I enjoyed walking the narrow paths and looking at the various home fronts.  The Wind Surf set sail for Visby, Sweden at 6:00 PM so all were on board by 5:30.  That evening we attended the Captain’s Cocktail Reception and had dinner with a couple from Australia, Ray and Vicki.  Was very tired this evening so went to the cabin around 9:30.  Tomorrow  I will be going on my first Windstar tour of this trip called “City Sightseeing in Visby”.

August 15:  After breakfast, the group going on the sightseeing tour of Visby gathered.  The tour began with a drive up to Hogklint, a steep cliff south of Visby, for a spectacular view of the Baltic Sea and the walled city of Visby.  The guide explained that the cliff has been called the Elderly Steep because throwing off the cliff was Vikings way of getting rid of the elderly.

A view of Visby from the cliff

A view of Visby from the cliff

View of the Baltic Sea from the cliff

View of the Baltic Sea from the cliff

I'm standing by the edge of the cliff

I’m standing by the edge of the cliff

Upon leaving the cliff, we proceeded to the Visby Ring Wall which was constructed in the 13th century and is now a World Heritage site; it is the best-preserved city wall in Northern Europe and surrounds many ancient stone churches and houses.  On our way to the wall area, we walked through the botanical gardens which is considered one of the best in Sweden.

Close up picture of the wall area

Close up picture of the wall area

Beautiful garden area with wall in the background

Beautiful garden area with wall in the background

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A house along a narrow street in Old Town Visby

A house along a narrow street in Old Town Visby

 

Narrow streets of Visby

Narrow streets of Visby

 

Looking over the roof tops @ Visby  with Wind Surf in the distance

Looking over the roof tops @ Visby with Wind Surf in the distance

 

We returned to the ship after the tour and had lunch.  Today is the one year anniversary of Tom’s death so I had a chocolate fudge ice cream sundae with peanuts in his honor.  After spending the afternoon reading and visiting with other guests, Ginni and I had dinner with a couple from Canada Sharon and Richard.  After dinner, we got a drink in the Compass Rose Bar where there was a talented jazz duo playing/singing.  I ended the evening by raising my wine glass and giving a silent toast in Tom’s memory.  Tomorrow we will be at sea without any stops on land.

 

 

 

 

 

Off on a “Scandinavian Tapestry” Tour: Part 1 (Stockholm)

August 10 thru 11:   I left Cedar Rapids on a flight to Stockholm, Sweden where I met up with a friend out of St. Louis, Ginni.  We were spending a couple days in Stockholm before boarding Wind Surf, one of three sailing ships owned by Windstar Cruises.  We had signed up for the “Scandinavian Tapestry” trip and would board the ship on the afternoon of the 13th.  Upon arrival, I was met by a Windstar representative who assisted in getting my luggage loaded into a taxi and directed the driver to take me to the Scandic Anglais Hotel.  Ginni was waiting at the hotel and, after I settled into the room, we ventured outside and started walking toward the water front.  Our objective was to acquire a 24 hour Hop On – Hop Off  tour voucher for both land and water.  Upon purchasing the voucher, we got on the Hop On – Hop Off boat for a tour around Stockholm via water.   We did not get off the boat but rode through all eight stops which consisted of Nybroplan, a shopping district with many restaurants; Vasa Museum, the world’s only surviving 17th century ship; Skeppsholmen, the island home of the Modern Art Museum and the Swedish Museum of Architecture; Tivoli Grona Lund which houses an amusement park with the world’s biggest Zac-Spin coaster along with Skansen, an open air museum depicting a miniture Sweden with historical quarters; Cruise Berth which is the port for cruise ships; Fortografiska which is a museum that presents exhibitions by famous photographers; Old Town which is the original heart of Stockholm; Royal Palace which is the Swedish Royal family’s official residence.

Tivoli Grona Lund, the amusement park

Tivoli Grona Lund, the amusement park

Ginni ready for the hop on - hop off boat tour

Ginni ready for the hop on – hop off boat tour

Photographers museum

Photographers museum

 

Once we rode all the stops made by the boat, we made our way back to the hotel.    We got a
recommendation from the hotel staff to eat dinner at Sturehof, a restaurant with Swedish dishes.  The food was okay but the noise level was quite disruptive.  After a nightcap in the hotel bar, Ginni and I retired to our room in hopes of getting a good night sleep so we would be ready for the next day’s adventure.

A street in Stockholm

A street in Stockholm

August 12:  We really had a great night’s sleep with neither of us waking up until 10:00 AM which meant we missed breakfast that was included in the room charge.  An employee of the hotel directed us to a nearby coffee shop where we got coffee along with some fruit and granola.  The bus stop for the Hop On – Hop Off was right down from our hotel so it was easy to find.  Our first point of departure from the bus was at City Hall, the home of the Nobel Prize dinner, where we purchased a ticket for a tour.  The City Hall was built 1911-23 and is the center of Stockholm’s local government; the Blue Hall is the venue for the annual Nobel Prize Banquet and its walls are constructed from handmade red bricks which the architect determined was too beautiful to paint blue.  The Golden Hall, with 19 million pieces of gold leaf and glass, depicts Stockholm as a bridge between East and West.

Backside of city hall

Backside of city hall

Exterior of city hall

Exterior of city hall

An inside room at City Hall

An inside room at City Hall

 

After City Hall, we took the bus to the Vasa Museum which houses a massive warship built in 1628 that sank on its maiden voyage before it left the harbor; it has been recovered and restored.  Sadly, there were 4 or 5 large groups of people wanting in at the same time so we decided not to wait in the LONG lines.  By the time we found a place and ate lunch, it was late afternoon and time to get the bus back to the hotel.  That evening we went to a delightful,  small Swedish restaurant called Nalen where the atmosphere was quiet and the food delicious.

Ginni and I relaxing at Nalen's

Ginni and I relaxing at Nalen’s

August 13:  Today we are to board the ship so, after breakfast, we put our luggage in the hallway for Windstar to pick up and transport to the ship.   After checking out of our hotel, we decided to walk to Skansen (an open air museum founded in 1891) where buildings and farmsteads from all over Sweden create 75 acres of living history in the heart of Stockholm.   However, we were very disappointed; it seemed to be more of a “tourist trap” which caters to families with young children.  We decided to take the ferry to Gamla Stan (or Old Town) which is where Stockholm was founded in 1252; of particular interest to us was the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral, and Old Town.

Wind Surf waiting for its passengers to arrive

Wind Surf waiting for its passengers to arrive

One of many views of Stockholm from the ferry

One of many views of Stockholm from the ferry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we got off the ferry, we saw a restaurant alongside the Wind Surf (the ship we will be traveling on) so we had our lunch and then boarded the ship.  Once all necessary paperwork was filled out, we went to our cabin to deposit some packages and make sure our luggage had been delivered.   All was okay so we headed out to explore Gamla Stan using the self-guided walk provided by Rick Steves who we were pleased to have met before boarding the ship.   Gamla Stan (or Old Town) was where all of Stockholm fit until the 1600’s.

Royal Palace at Gamla Stan

Royal Palace at Gamla Stan

Stockholm Cathedral

Stockholm Cathedral

 

City square in Old Towm

City square in Old Towm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We boarded the ship and changed for dinner.  The crew was introduced in the lounge so we went there for drinks and appetizers; a couple from Manhatten joined us.   After dinner, we listened to a group perform in the lounge but they were not the best so hope the entertainment in the other bar area will be better but will not find out tonight since it is time to turn in.  Tomorrow the ship will depart for Sandhamn, Sweden.