Flight from Brussels to Arlanda, the international airport of Stockholm was shortish one, around 90 minutes or so. Though peanut flight, coffee was served on the board.
Scandinavia from skies is so picturesque, at times you feel that the flight should never touch the grounds. The interplay of waters, greens and islands keep unfolding in front of your eyes like an unending panorama of vivid bright colors. But it was to end, so it ended.
First look at Arlanda and you are dismayed. 'Beware of pickpockets, they are dressed exactly like you !' is the first warning sign you see in the lounge when you wait for your luggage! At one point of time Sweden had highest per capita income ?! And this warning, it jarred!
The corridors have bigger than life, portraits of Liv Ullmann, Bjorn Borg, Ingrid Bergman and also the famous director Ingmar Bergen, proudly proclaiming that 'Stockholm' is home to them!
Arlanda is 40 km away from the city centre! All the developed countries have categorically built their airports far away from the city hubbub to spare their residents from the noise pollution. Not like here in Shastrinagar where, when a plane passes on your head, the conversation just stops, at times the utensils too show their displeasure! After travelling for more than 60 minutes southeastwards, the bus reached Stockholm Railway station.
Stockholm city is based on 14 islands small to large, but if you consider the metropolitan area, there may be roughly 1000 islands or so! Some so small, accommodating only single-family having its summer home on them !. The city is surrounded by water from all sides. Surprisingly it's fresh as well as seawater. Because fresh water Lake Malaren meets Baltic sea on the shores of Stockholm.
The hotel 'Terminus', where I was supposed to stay is bang opposite
Stockholm Central railway station but on the opposite side. To reach the hotel, turned out to be mammoth for me because of my luggage. Dragging it all the way around, to the opposite side left me tired. And though it was just in front of me, nobody directed me in the correct direction.
Frustrated I stood on the footpath, glancing around and lo behold, it was on the opposite footpath. I was short of shouting 'Eureka! '
It was a beautiful 4-star hotel built in the 17th century and the grandeur was apparent from facade as well as from inside, it belongs to Best Western chain of hotels.
As per the plan, there was not going to be any conducted tour. I had a day pass for the local transport and tickets to various museums. After getting fresh I ventured out and it turned out that hotel was extremely well situated with all the places of interest in the vicinity.
I started walking southwards by Vasagaten towards Gamla Stan, or old town.
And there was this all-pervasive stench of urine as I passed below the flyover! I found it strange. In highly civilized, developed country with highest per capita income in the world at one point of time, citizens were urinating under the bridge away from the prying eyes! Strange, really strange!
On either side of the bridge, there are so many monuments that in the end, you lose the count. On an islet there stood Stormsborg, roughly translated castle in the stream.
One has to cross the bridge to reach the castle. You walk down further and actual Gamla Stan or old town starts with many of its buildings standing on either side of the road.
First, you come across the Supreme court of Sweden housed in Bonde Palace. The green-roofed building with red windows stands grandiose on the banks of Norrstorm, north spring. The statue in front of the house of some Swedish lord. Just behind the supreme court is a house of Nobility or Riddarhuset in the local language.
After crossing the buildings I took a right turn to cross the bridge on a small canal to a place known as Riddarholmen,
[The Knights' Island] again a small island, which in fact is a conglomerate of many buildings, from a church, to old parliament house, palaces, gymnasium and courts.
'At the entrance of the gully, on the left side is very old, Riddarholmen Church. It
was built for the first time in the 13th century and was built and rebuilt
again and again many times. It's the last abode for Swedish Monarchy so has special significance. As you go further towards Redarfjarden bay it's as if the suburb of palaces, on the right side. Cruus palace, Wrangle palace with its rounded ramparts Schering palace just to name a few, stand next to each other, and they housed many members of the royal family and higher dignitaries in the past One of the palaces even housed the old parliament. The view from Riddarholmen and view of Riddarholmen from another side of the bay are landmarks scenes that denote the 'Stockholm'.
The city hall on the other side of the bay stands tall with its bell tower and is the venue for Nobel Prize distribution. Well mostly!
The view of Riddarholmen from the other side of the bay, from the lawns of City hall. This is 'THE' Stockholm! Coming alive in the hues of dusk.
To be continued in Gamla Stan!
Arlanda is 40 km away from the city centre! All the developed countries have categorically built their airports far away from the city hubbub to spare their residents from the noise pollution. Not like here in Shastrinagar where, when a plane passes on your head, the conversation just stops, at times the utensils too show their displeasure! After travelling for more than 60 minutes southeastwards, the bus reached Stockholm Railway station.
Stockholm city is based on 14 islands small to large, but if you consider the metropolitan area, there may be roughly 1000 islands or so! Some so small, accommodating only single-family having its summer home on them !. The city is surrounded by water from all sides. Surprisingly it's fresh as well as seawater. Because fresh water Lake Malaren meets Baltic sea on the shores of Stockholm.
It was a beautiful 4-star hotel built in the 17th century and the grandeur was apparent from facade as well as from inside, it belongs to Best Western chain of hotels.
As per the plan, there was not going to be any conducted tour. I had a day pass for the local transport and tickets to various museums. After getting fresh I ventured out and it turned out that hotel was extremely well situated with all the places of interest in the vicinity.
I started walking southwards by Vasagaten towards Gamla Stan, or old town.
And there was this all-pervasive stench of urine as I passed below the flyover! I found it strange. In highly civilized, developed country with highest per capita income in the world at one point of time, citizens were urinating under the bridge away from the prying eyes! Strange, really strange!
On either side of the bridge, there are so many monuments that in the end, you lose the count. On an islet there stood Stormsborg, roughly translated castle in the stream.
One has to cross the bridge to reach the castle. You walk down further and actual Gamla Stan or old town starts with many of its buildings standing on either side of the road.
After crossing the buildings I took a right turn to cross the bridge on a small canal to a place known as Riddarholmen,[The Knights' Island] again a small island, which in fact is a conglomerate of many buildings, from a church, to old parliament house, palaces, gymnasium and courts.
To be continued in Gamla Stan!
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