War-Ships in Sweden (Stockholm, Sweden)
Yesterday, was my first day in Stockholm, Sweden. This city is really something. It is a very beautiful city. Historic buildings everywhere among the channels and bridges. A far different impression from the first Swedish town I stayed in - Umea, a college town.
I made a bee line for what sounded like the most interesting place in Stockholm, and it was no disappointment. The Vasa Warship Museum. It holds the largest Swedish warship/galleon ever built - from the early 1600s. It is a 2 gun deck ship with 400 crew men. 64 CANnons if I recall correctly. 2 hours was not enough (They closed at 5) - I will go back. It sank on its maiden voyage (Details online) and was preserved in the sulfur rich mud of the area awaiting its discovery around 1960. One of the the best Museums I have ever seen. This might very well be one of my top 10 memorable places. Top 20 certainly.
The sheer size and well preserved state (95% original) of the ship awed me as I entered.
Combined with the sense of forboding as I got closer, the dimly lit museum and cool temperature only added to the feeling I got. Which really hit home when I saw LIONS everywhere.
A huge lion sculpture on the bow of the ship. Lion heads on every cannon door when they popped open. And 2 huge lions on the back of the ship...the Swedish Coat of Arms. Still displayed PROUDly on the Sweden Parliament Building. And as statues throughout the city. The cURators of the museum state the symbols speak the language of power, this is true, underlying that is pride - which was not mentioned.
Sweden is certainly less warlike than many other nations (How much can you do with 8 million people), but they have an empire - past, and pride still exist here. I see it in the eyes. And I know it from small talk conversation.
Chilling out in my first hotel on the trip. A good change from all the hostels. Looking forward to other eye opening experiences. Also looking forward to write a new story for the website when I return in 2007 - it's called, A Tale of Two Whores. (Is this why I ride a 'Hor-se?)
I made a bee line for what sounded like the most interesting place in Stockholm, and it was no disappointment. The Vasa Warship Museum. It holds the largest Swedish warship/galleon ever built - from the early 1600s. It is a 2 gun deck ship with 400 crew men. 64 CANnons if I recall correctly. 2 hours was not enough (They closed at 5) - I will go back. It sank on its maiden voyage (Details online) and was preserved in the sulfur rich mud of the area awaiting its discovery around 1960. One of the the best Museums I have ever seen. This might very well be one of my top 10 memorable places. Top 20 certainly.
The sheer size and well preserved state (95% original) of the ship awed me as I entered.
Combined with the sense of forboding as I got closer, the dimly lit museum and cool temperature only added to the feeling I got. Which really hit home when I saw LIONS everywhere.
A huge lion sculpture on the bow of the ship. Lion heads on every cannon door when they popped open. And 2 huge lions on the back of the ship...the Swedish Coat of Arms. Still displayed PROUDly on the Sweden Parliament Building. And as statues throughout the city. The cURators of the museum state the symbols speak the language of power, this is true, underlying that is pride - which was not mentioned.
Sweden is certainly less warlike than many other nations (How much can you do with 8 million people), but they have an empire - past, and pride still exist here. I see it in the eyes. And I know it from small talk conversation.
Chilling out in my first hotel on the trip. A good change from all the hostels. Looking forward to other eye opening experiences. Also looking forward to write a new story for the website when I return in 2007 - it's called, A Tale of Two Whores. (Is this why I ride a 'Hor-se?)
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