Sweden

Sweden is third largest country in Western Europe.  It is a small nation in a big country & a young civilization in an old country.  Sweden has become known worldwide for its high general standard of living, with publicly financed systems of economic security for all people in all phases of life.

 

We went to Stockholm during summer; hence the weather was extremely pleasant. We arrived into Stockholm by KLM from Dubai via Amsterdam to Stockholm.  As we looked out from the window, we saw the landscape so lush with greeneray and it changes dramatically from land to mountains to sea as you land.

 

It was such a welcome change from Dubai where you tend to see deserts & dry mountains when you land.

 

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and is a very picturesque city. Each and every building is picture perfect, as you call it.

 

We visited so many places and some photos are here for you to enjoy.

 

Stockholm is an archipelago.

There are many places to visit in Stockholm. A hub for public transport and banking, this city is the best place for the best department stores and shopping malls, exclusive boutiques and nightspots. The centre also has some beautiful parks and pleasant squares serving as popular meeting places.

The Vasa is the worlds only surviving 17th-century ship and one of the foremost tourist sights in the world. The ship is displayed in a purpose-built museum in Stockholm.

The warship Vasa with 64 canons sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was salvaged 1961. The ship is almost entirely preserved and is

the only warship of its kind that can be inspected up close in all its might.

The open-air museum was founded in 1891 as the first of its kind. It offers a miniature landscape of historical Sweden in that more than 150 buildings from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries have been transported to this site from all over the country.

And you get to see Scandinavian wildlife up close in the form of elk, reindeer and wolf. Skansen is a huge park or outdoor museum it may be called.

A unique functioning ecosystem; rainforest, tropical sea and Nordic waters. The rain forest offers a multitude of plants and animals. In the ocean aquarium, sharks share space with small fish, molluscs and moray eels. Here you will also find a coral reef filled with colourful inhabitants.

Relics of Stockholms early history as a town in the 13th century can still be found on Stadsholmen, Gamla Stans (Old Town) largest island. The whole island is one huge area of historical heritage. The Royal Palace and the historic buildings standing majestically around. This area has a special atmosphere with much to offer: from the bustling streets of souvenir shops, bookstores and antique shops to elegant palaces, churches and museums.

This is one of Swedens most interesting and imposing buildings, both in terms of its architecture and its interiors. The Nobel Prize Banquet takes place every year on the 10^th of December in the Blue Hall.

 

Djurgården is a sparsely populated nature park that forms part of the National City Park. Also known as Ekoparken, the national city park is the only park of its kind in the world. Djurgården was originally a royal hunting ground that in the 18th century was opened to the public. This park is a popular excursion site for everybody in Stockholm.

The city of learning and inspiration offers wonderful opportunities of experiencing culture and history. This is the university city of Sweden. It has a beautiful castle and a lovely old cathedral.