Sweden, Hej!
From all our backpacking adventures, Stockholm stacks up with our "no rainbows or roses" travel pile. We got in by midnight and as our routine called for it, we tried buying all necessary local train tickets to save time for tomorrow, but since Stockholm went high-tech with their chipped credit cards, it wouldn't take ours. Took forever to find an ATM then went back to pay in cash. No biggie, so we moved on to find our hostel. We arrived safely, only to get a cold welcome by the hostel's doors slammed shut - we were locked out. Not to mention the chilling breeze blowing on top of the Scandinavian freezing weather. Travel tip a couple of blogs ago? Yes. Well, at least we learned one important thing - the reception desk closes at 8PM. Good to know, good to know.
Like Norway, Stockholm is super duper expensive. So, it was the only hostel I compromised to sleep in a room of eight. Actually, it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. Despite sharing a room with six other people, the rooms and bunk beds were built with some sort of privacy. The red bunk beds, not the typical ones, rises high up to the ceiling with a short wood panel attached to the headboard acting as a divider. Hostels who also purposely built a small bed tray, night light and wall plugs in each bunk wins us over and this hostel is one of them.
Like Norway, Stockholm is super duper expensive. So, it was the only hostel I compromised to sleep in a room of eight. Actually, it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. Despite sharing a room with six other people, the rooms and bunk beds were built with some sort of privacy. The red bunk beds, not the typical ones, rises high up to the ceiling with a short wood panel attached to the headboard acting as a divider. Hostels who also purposely built a small bed tray, night light and wall plugs in each bunk wins us over and this hostel is one of them.
Early next morning, we walked around the city in search of the Vasa Museum, until the lingering gray clouds decided to generously pour its droplets of condensed moisture over Stockholm. But really, what is rain and freezing wind compared to these backpackers especially Ralph? No way, Jose! And off we went, soaking up every single drop of rain like yellow sponges under running water. Oh yes, we did. Finally, we found the Vasamuseet, a nautical museum featuring a gigantic old-teenth century warship, the Vasa, hauled out from Swedish waters years after it immediately sank when it first sailed out. I would love to bore you with every historical detail like you know, maybe in Swedish or something, but since my fingers are already twisted...alright geez, here are the pictures, visually-trained, technologically-inclined, 21st century readers:
After the Vasa, we went to the Skansen Museum, an outdoor museum/park/zoo reflecting Swedish customs and traditions. Skansen seems like the place-to-be during summertime especially when the flowers are in bloom and families stroll its streets. But it was late spring and the rain won't stop pouring. Nevertheless, we still had our firsts - our first time to see a moose and a bear, and the first time barging in a Swedish college class looking for the aforementioned bear.
Me: Hello!
Ralph: Hi, is this where the bear is?
Professor: No, this is a college class.
Giggles.
As to why they hold classes in those non-looking school building still baffles me to this day.
Me: Hello!
Ralph: Hi, is this where the bear is?
Professor: No, this is a college class.
Giggles.
As to why they hold classes in those non-looking school building still baffles me to this day.
Skansen in Pictures
Will Ralph and Jie survive the rest of their Swedish trip? Will Jie ever get her one true Swedish wish? And will the rain ever stop pouring? Tune in next time for another Exploring Scandinavia: Stockholm, Sweden Part 2 or something cheesy like dat...
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