Stockholm, Part 1 - the Vassa

Rather than do another organized shore excursion, 

  The view from our balcony as we pulled into Stockholm harbor. Tivoli Gardens is the tall spire in the center. 

we decided to do the hop-on, hop-off bus and boat in Stockholm.  

 

We were off the ship before 9 and headed for our first stop - the Vassa Museum, which was at the top of hubby's must-see list. 

  Vassa Museum

The Vassa was a sailing ship built between 1626-1628.

 

She sank in Stockholm harbor on her maiden voyage, 

 

taking over 50 men into the deep with her.

 

The ship's guns were salvaged around 1664 

 

and after that the Vassa was pretty much forgotten.

 

Until 1956, when the Vassa was located 

 

and efforts to raise her culminated in her being lifted from the seabed in April 1961, 333 years after she sank.

 

The ship is pretty amazing. We weren't expecting it to be quite so big.

 

We also didn't realize that when she was launched, the Vassa would have been brightly painted, 

 

much like this miniature replica.

 

See the figures on the ship's stern?

 

This is what they would have looked like in 1628. 

 

Another thing that fascinated me was the restorers ability to take a mass of sails, that had been under water for over 300 years, 

 

separate them by layer and then put the cobweb-fine material back together again. 

 

That takes a lot of skill and dedication. 

 

Scenes from our bus/boat ride around Stockholm:

  Tivoli Gardens

  A lighthouse on a ship?? A first for us. 

  Parliament Building. Traffic ground to a total standstill due to all the politicians and heads of state heading here. 

  Nordic Museum, next door to the Vassa. 

  Front of the Nordic Museum.

  Queen Elizabeth, seen from a tiny water taxi.