A Grand Old Time In Stockholm, Sweden (July 2016)

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This was my second time in Stockholm, Sweden, in over a decade, and I saw a different side of the city in the summertime. Previously, I experienced a Stockholm that was covered in a blanket of snow, but was equally beautiful. The colors of the buildings kept the same vibrancy and so was the energy of city life. Strolling around Old Town was exhilarating for me as I enjoyed exploring the aged, cobbled alleys and graffiti. It’s a thrilling treasure hunt for photographers. The intersection of Prastgatan and Marten Trotzigs Grand was the coolest find. This was the entrance to the narrowest passageway I’ve ever seen at less than a meter wide.

One large distinction I’ve noticed in this trip was the amount of construction happening around. In order to get a better bird’s eye view of the development in the city, I ascended the viewing tower in Stockholm’s old town, Gamla stan, by the restaurant Gondolen. Similar to Boston’s Top of the Hub, I had to walk through a fancy dining hall in order to access the city’s scenic overlook. Places change over time, so it’s nice to remember our experiences in them as well as we can. Stockholm’s renown medical university, Karolinska Institute, is a good example, as their campus is redeveloping to expand their research and educational needs.

Of course, my visit to Stockholm was incomplete without revisiting some old sites, like the Nobel Museum and Grand Hotel where I stayed during my first time here with family (and where Nobel laureates stayed during Nobel Week). A few more sites of Gamla stan visited were the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral and Stockholm Concert Hall with its towering columns.

Other impressive areas were the Stockholm parks. For a greenery wedding, these parks were perfect. I observed a bride and groom take their vows on the grass of Ulriksdals slott in the Royal National City Park. Just a few meters away was at least another wedding about to begin. As for more green, behind the Stockholm School of Economics, off of Sveavagen, was a peaceful area to sunbathe or picnic. This parkland included a large pool and sat beside the city’s most distinguished structure, the Stockholm Public Library, with its striking interior rotunda. Both this Sveavagen park and library were designed by the Swedish architect Gunnar Asplund.

Not only was the energy of Stockholm above ground, but its energy was breaking new ground as seen in Dansmuseet, the world’s first museum of dance and movement, located in the basement of the Royal Swedish Opera. There was much to uncover in this old city, and many more stops and cobblestone hops.

Stockholm, Sweden Gallery

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Greater Boston, Seattle and Vancouver (BC) based artist & photographer exhibiting internationally.

2 Responses

  1. Joe
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    Great photos; looks like a relaxing place to visit. Thanks!

  2. Jenny S.W. Lee
    |

    Thanks Joe! Yes, I felt at home in Stockholm.

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