Wednesday May 22nd Stockholm Sweden

We were organised fairly early this morning as we had made a few plans and wanted to try to do as much as possible in the time we had left to explore more  of Stockholm. One of our fellow travellers had told us about the excellent, bridges and canal cruise which she had enjoyed on Tuesday so this was to be our first activity of the day.  Our Hop-on bus stopped near the office for the boat tours and with us arriving just before the office opened at 10am, we had soon booked our tickets on an 11am, 2 hour cruise. While waiting for our cruise to commence we went for a walk along the Kungstradgarden, a beautiful park lined with statues, fountains, trees and garden beds. Here we found a café and indulged in an excellent coffee. Returning to the area where we were to catch our cruise boat, we lined up with many fellow travellers. By about 10.50am there were probably 200+ people lined up and no action boat wise. By 11.15am and after joking with fellow travellers, we realised that something was not quite right. A poor man whose job it was to tie and untie the boats said with a heavy accent, “The boat is broken!” A little later we realised that no replacement boat was going to be brought in and the tour was cancelled. Rob and Rob lined up at the ticket office to get a refund, while Trudy and I headed to the Royal Palace. On refection maybe we should have stayed with the boys and booked in for a later cruise but we all had made plans. The boys had decided that would like to visit a famous Ice-bar where everything including the bar, glasses etc. are made from ice and have a drink. They headed there after receiving a refund for our tickets. The Royal Swedish Palace was only a short walk from where we were. Our tickets allowed access into the armoury, the treasury and the palace itself. We were in awe at the history of the palace which was rebuilt in the 1700’s after a fire destroyed the first palace. The treasury was filled with the precious bejewelled crowns, swords, orbs, coronation robes and many other things dating back to the 1600’s. Other areas of the palace were open for us to see and we were just amazed by the incredible rooms that are still used today. Many formal, royal occasions still take place here and dignitaries from other countries can stay in the apartments. Members of the government regularly visit for parliamentary dinners and meetings with the king. We had access to all these areas and could not believe the opulence of the rooms. Following this amazing experience, Trudy and I headed to the nearby “old town” to explore the cobble-stone laneways and tiny streets. We stopped for a delightful lunch at a teeny, tiny café before spending time strolling into quaint and unusual shops. Soon it was time to return to the ship. To our surprise the boys had not arrived back but soon did. They had visited the Ice bar and also a Viking Museum and had thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We may have to return one day so we can do the canal and bridges cruise!!

The 2 Rob’s walked to the Ice bar where the temperature in the bar area is kept at minus 6 degree C. They suited us in a warm fur lined coat and gloves. Inside the room had many carvings and most of the room was just ice. A cocktail was offered and normally would have been in an ice glass but they had ran out!! Photos taken, time to leave. Using the hop on hop off bus we headed to the Viking Museum where it appeared they had a real Viking, 6’6” tall, long hair and the beard, he fitted the scene. The info and artefacts were interesting and was followed by a slow paced train ride where scenes of a story from Viking times was played. Returning to the ship we found that Helen & Trudy had beaten us back.