Basically, things didn't go according to plan from the off. Day 7 went about as well as can be, but my hostel informed me that I'd be moving into a new room because they'd double booked the one I was in before. Tsk. Never mind, all's fine, I thought. But they wouldn't have the room changed until noon, so I would have to wait until then before going sightseeing. Sod that, I thought, I need to wash my clothes, and this isn't helping. So, I tried two places the receptionist suggested: a pay-for place in Gamla Stan (on summer holidays) and the other hostel which is part of their group (I'd have to wait two hours, apparently). With both being out of the question, it was time to take a trip to a place I'd read about already.
There's a laundry place near Openplan T-Bana station, practically one of the only ones in Stockholm, so I headed there with my dirty clothes and paid them to wash and dry. During the washing I had 40 minutes to kill, and I hadn't had breakfast, so... Nearby there was a Chinese place which, of course, had a buffet. The Chinese woman there didn't speak English (the first person I'd met in Stockholm who didn't - even the 40-something guy in the laundrette spoke English) but "buffet" and "Coke" is pretty clear. Why are there so many all-you-can-eat Chinese buffets in the world? It's as if the Chinese people are a franchise with outlets all over the world, because all these places are the same.
Anyway, while this was all happening, I needed a plan: do I go back to the hostel, wasting valuable time, or head straight to my primary destination: Drottningholm Palace? I decided on the latter, even though I had to carry all my stuff everywhere. I think it turned out okay.
On the way to the other hostel, I saw this nice statue in Gamla Stan. You work it out.
Travelling on the T-Bana was interesting. I've been on many, many metro systems, but I don't remember one as quiet as this. You can barely hear it: a whisper at someone a few feet away would probably be audible. Compared to the Kyiv Metro, this is a big change.
And now, Drottningholm. In front of the entrance is the river, and this guy.
Here's the front.
I couldn't take pictures inside (first place I'd noticed that in Stockholm, must be a royal family copyright thing or whatever) but no problem shooting outside from the windows. Lovely garden.
And the front's okay from above, too.
This is the theatre at Drottningholm, a fascinating building that I had a tour around. It's 250 years old and made almost entirely of wood. It was made on the cheap, basically, and the actual theatre part has all these things made of wood to resemble stone, and even a fake door to make symmetry with a door opposite. The dark lighting offered by the electric candles hides this, of course.
Anyway, into the garden.
And what a lovely garden it is (though you're not allowed in this bit).
The palace.
The palace with a guy hitting something.
I forget the name of this. Doesn't matter.
Another fountain. The whole palace is really quite excessive, as you'd expect from a royal family.
It's very militaristic inside, with most of the paintings depicting battles and guys in armour.
I'm sure he agrees with me.
Trees.
The guards' tent. Does what it says, I guess.
Lovely park.
The Chinese Pavilion (no pics again), an interesting insight into someone with a Chinese fetish, without actually making the place authentic. Faux Chinese decorates the walls, and many genuine artefacts from Chinese history are dotted around the place. Most interesting thing, though, is that two of the upstairs rooms are shaped in such a way that if you stand in the middle, the echo is really weird. Try it, if you go there.
I rushed back to Gamla Stan with not a moment to lose. Before I turned up at the hostel to get my new key (all the museums close at 5pm, as does the hostel reception, incredibly) I popped in this place, the church on the western edge of Gamla Stan (forgotten the name). It's very old, 13th Century I think, and is, well, okay inside.
The square beside it is quite nice too.
If you thought Drottningholm was excessive... this is the Royal Palace in Gamla Stan. A large portion of it is open to the public, and what things you see. There are many, many rooms to gaze at, nearly all with a crazy amount of bling.
It's really a sight to see, though no pics unfortunately (they're quite vigilant, although polite). Try Googling it, maybe you'll get some ideas inside.
Included in there are several other museums, including the Treasury (disappointingly small, but the crowns really sparkle) and this, the Armoury. Not really my cup of tea, lots of weapons, suits of armour and stuff. There were some well-preserved carriages in a freezing-cold basement, but the rest of it was a bit boring, though there's tons to see and read if you really care.
This is the coin museum, which I didn't see as it closes at 4pm for some reason. Entrance is nice, though.
One place was open after 5pm: this church, Storkyrkan, right next to the hostel. This is the furthest away I could get the camera, it's a tight street.
Different angle, showing the clock, and a bit later, too. The clock sounds every quarter of an hour, same as Big Ben (though not as loud). It's loud enough to hear in the hostel of course, and is a rather nice sound.
I decided to go for a walk after 5pm. Most museums etc were closed, as was the reception, and I didn't really know what to do with myself. Here's the Riksdag from yet another angle.
Ugh, bad pic. The southern end of Kungsträdgården, where there's a nice statue.
Inside Kungsträdgården.
There was live music, for some reason.
Roar.
It was dinner time, so I decided in advance to see what's so good about Sweden's native fast food chain, Max Hamburgers. They came to Sweden before McDonald's did, and over the years have given the Big M a run for their money. Swedes think it's better, I'm inclined to agree.
I ate it in this park, Berzelli Park. Pleasant.
HAY GUIZE WATS GOIN ON
Spare some change? No, you're metal. Er...
My walk took me on a long journey toward Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen, little islands next to the main part of Stockholm.
Gamla Stan sure looks nice from this side. Well, if you excuse the pic, anyway.
Colourful. On the left is the remarkable hostel called af Chapman, made out of a boat. Sweden seems to have all the weird hostels: there's one at Arlanda Airport made out of a plane...
Didn't go in here, it was late.
Modern art for you. My camera's really struggling.
Gröna Lunds is a big theme park. Looks pretty at night, but I didn't bother, even though I could get entry with the Stockholm Card.
On to Kastellholmen, which is so named because of the Kastell that's right here.
It still has some military purpose, it seems. I got a bus back from there, fortunately. Amusing incident: woman speaking Italian tries to ask driver questions, another guy comes and tries to help. He doesn't speak Italian but he has an idea what she's saying because he's Romanian. Surprise surprise, so is she. Bizarre.
Anyway, a bus ride and T-Bana ride later I found myself in Slussen, the more rough-and-ready part just south of Gamla Stan. I went for one reason: this lift, Katarinahissen.
The view from the top's nice, but I was hoping for a better view of Gamla Stan, but it's blocked by the bloody lift!
Ooh, bad photo, but you get the idea. It was a nice night to be gazing at the city.
At least I got a pic of some of Gamla Stan.
And the other side, too.I needed an early night, as I was waking at 6am to go to Oslo. Sadly, that didn't happen, so as I write this I'm a little tired. Tune in for my first thrilling day in Oslo!
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