Vasa Museum, Skansen and Cocktails at Pharmarium

Good morning!

Woke up in time to enjoy the wonderful buffet spread the hotel offered complimentary - crepes, ginger shots, bacon and eggs, meat platter items, fruit, various juices and elderflower juice.

The traveler from yest met me at my hotel and we headed to the Vasa Museum.

Vasa Museum 190 Kr

Skansen Museum 265 Kr

And OH-My-GOD.

Big ass ship is there to welcome you as soon as you step inside and it is an amazing piece of craftsmanship. Built over 300 years ago, sadly this vessel sank as soon as it left the shore and sat there until early to mid 1900s. Everyone knew it was there-the Swedish had good record keeping. Well, they did until the castle/library caught fire in the 1700s. Much of the former historical records were lost at that time. But, since then, impeccable record keeping! I mean, Sweden was a continental powerhouse forever, right? They had to give up Finland to Russia in the 1800s and then a war with Poland back in the 1600s.

If you ever go to Stockholm, I would highly recommend spending at least an hour on the 5 floors of the Vasa Museum. Due to the brackish waters in the Baltic Sea, the black oak timbers of the ship were preserved WELL so you really aren't seeing any missing parts of the ship. But just note, NO, you can't go INTO the ship.

Not sure where is history this link is, but the ship contains Roman Emperor statues, a statue of a man huddling like a cowardly dog which was a symbol mocking their enemies (Poland) and lion faces were adorned on all the doors to signify the war had begun (ie. doors open, guns start shooting).

Once we exhausted the reading material and reliving as to why the ship sank before it took off and how they recovered such a massive object, we headed up to the Skansen Museum which happened to have their very limited open-air Christmas market going on.

And what a market!

First off, if you go to the right of the entrance, which we didn't, there is an aquarium, a zoo and a kid's adventure area. If you head left instead, you go up an escalator and ascend into the past. This is not a restoration project but rather an educational experiment- the houses were made in replica from different places around the world from different times. There is a town with blacksmiths, silversmiths, milk maidens and a printing press- all still in use. Well, people are in there 'working' and explaining their skill or trade.

Some you can even enjoy samples. Don't miss the bakery in the back of the milk house.

Enjoy this area first for a good 45 mins. Once you hit the end, you'll find yourself right in the center of the Christmas market.

The stores are lined along the edges and it goes back around corners for a good workout. Many things here are things you'd want to buy. Not like Oslo's trinket flea market. Unfortunately, my comrade loved a black hat so much she bought this plain Jane for 500 Kr and had no clue that equates to 50£! She was so mad later when she realized it. I told her before she paid but I didn't say it loud enough, I guess.

So random times during the rest of the day, she exclaimed "50 euros [for this hat]!"LOL smh.

Cocktails were back down in Gamla Stan at Pharmarium which only serves cocktails but it is located right in the square (now with the Christmas market) and in front of the Nobel Prize Museum- so it makes pretty good money. I wasn't all the happy that they could not go off the menu, but the vibe and seating arrangements are unique and they have very extreme cocktail concoctions to choose from.

I left a little tipsy and very happy.

Pharmarium-all 195 kr

Passionate from Miles Away-acidic w/ sweet notes

Flora& Fauna-smooth balance of sweet & acidic

Pharma Coke wine- sweet

I headed to dinner alone at Restaurant Tradition and enjoyed a new dish to me- pork dumplings. The dessert was a traditional apple pie but their apples are bitter so note the difference in flavor. Also, because the waiter raved about the saffron/rosewater homemade ice cream, he added a scoop of that on top!

I would recommend both places I patronized today but make sure you get reservations for both- super busy.

Restaurant Tradition

Kropp aka Kor (potato dumplings w/ pork) 235 Kr

Apple pie w/ Saffron ice-cream 120 Kr

Ah, I didn't tell you. So I cancelled Taxinge tomorrow. Decided I didn't see or learn enough of Stockholm. This side of the bridge is so much more interesting and beautiful than Gamla Stan (ie. Old Town). The waterfront is lined with enormous stone buildings and curves around banks. I just can't even imagine the eye-opening experience for people back in the 16th to 20th century coming into the city by boat. Shyt-I'm still in awe today.

Unfortunately, there are no closed covered heated boats for the tour right about now.

Sad face.

Cobblestone or Cement?

Nope, the streets around most of the center city are cobblestones, especially the walkable parts. So wear very comfortable, waterproof, warm boots because black ice is out there and I caught myself a few times ice-skating (but not face planting).