A few more pictures from my trip to Stockholm ...
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A traditional Swedish farming homestead
One of the more interesting places to visit in Stockholm is Skansen -- an "open-air museum". Here, one can see and tour many old buildings that have been brought from all over Sweden, such as this traditional homestead. There are demonstrations of how life was lived in previous centuries, a small "zoo" housing Scandinavian wildlife, and lots of beautiful scenery. |
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The view from the top of Djurgarden
Skansen itself is situated on a large hill on the island of Djurgarden, offering spectacular views over the rest of Stockholm. Visitors can easily spend an entire day just exploring this park.
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Traditional Scandinavian dancing
Among the many interesting things to be seen at Skansen was this demonstration of traditional Scandinavian dancing. The whole area had a very "festive" atmosphere!! |
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The archipelago
I was amazed to find out that the archipelago which spreads out from Stockholm consists of more than 24,000 islands!! During a guided boat tour of some of these islands, it struck me how much they reminded me of the islands and summer homes off my own home in Newfoundland. Absolutely beautiful ...
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Enjoying the Swedish summer ...
The great scenery of Stockholm didn't end with the buildings and islands ... |
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Cathedral, Helsinki
After arriving back in Finland, I spent the day in Helsinki. While it was great just to relax in the market square and waterfront, I took the opportunity to visit three interesting churches. This Lutheran cathedral was one of the more elegant that I've ever seen.
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Upsenski, Helsinki
This church, called Upsenski, sits right on the waterfront in Helsinki, and is the oldest Orthodox church in western Europe. The inside of this church was beyond description -- took my breath away. |
