Stockholm, Sweden June 13

This is our seventh Port (Country)  that we  have visited on this cruise. Stockholm is the largest city in Scandinavia. Modern Stockholm is known as the Venice of the North, since it is built across 14 islands , linked by boats and bridges.  The heart of Stockholm is the Old Town which is built on a single island. There are narrow winding cobblestones streets lined with buildings and shops dating back to the 16th century. The prices of goods in the shops of course reflect more contemporary times. The countless picturesque shops ,art galleries and restaurants transport you to earlier times. The old Royal Palace , where the changing of the guard occurs , contains 608 rooms and was built in the 18th century.

Royal Palace

The Changing of the Guard

Cobblestone streets

Opera house

Parlianment Building

The sail into Stockholm normally takes 5 hours as we sail through the Archipelago . The sun rose at 3:32 am this morning and we woke at 4 a.m. to watch the sail in. Unfortunately we were completely fogged in with the visibility being around 5 feet if that. The fog lifted around 8:00a.m. and with modern technology, radar and GPS the ship did manage to dock in Stockholm at 9:00 a.m. 

Fog beginning to lift this morning

After receiving the all clear from Swedish Immigration we proceeded into the heart of Stockholm for some sightseeing and shopping.  An unexpected rain forced us to return to the ship in the early afternoon . Short time later the sun came out and we left Stockholm at 6:00p.m.  It is now 9:00pm and we are sailing through the archipelago and enjoying the wonderful sights that nature has to offer. All of us have remarked how the terrain  is just like the Bruce Peninsula and the Muskokas  . Sunset will be at around 11:00pm.

View of the Stockholm Archipelago

Another view...

And another view!



Everyone is looking forward to tomorrow because it is a sea day and dinner will be lobster and giant tiger prawns for everyone, except Dianna (who doesn't care at all for seafood!) . Then, we are off to the Kiel Canal.