East Coast Views, Island-Lands and Beer Ducks
We decided to take our time driving home and enjoy views and waterholes of the east coast. From Stockholm to Kristianstad it is about 550 kilometres or 140 miles and most of the roads follow the coastline.
Borgholm Castle, Öland. The oldest parts of the castle dates back to the 12th century although it was added to during the centuries to come. The castle was strategically placed at a hilltop to defend Öland against seafaring enemies, mainly the Danes, and at one point the Hanseatic had 2000 men here.
The castle as it's believed to have looked like during its glorious days .
After the peace treaty between Sweden and Denmark in 1631 Borgholm Castle had played out its role and was abandoned. Almost a hundred years later a big fire destroyed much of what was left. Today only the skeleton of the ancient majesty stands.
Visiting Kalmar
Kalmar is one of Swedens oldest towns and bears many marks of historys' changes. During the medieval period and in the wars with Denmark Kalmar was one of the country's key ports. Kalmar lost some of its importance in 1658 when Skåne, Sweden's southernmost state, was handed over to Sweden from Denmark.
A tower we don't know anything about except that it's beautiful.
Waiting to order dinner. A beautiful day, a beautiful place but terrible service. We waited forever to order and then forever to pay. I don't have to tell you the waiter didn't get tipped... But at least the food was great!
Faces of the Capital
Stockholm is beautiful, especially the old parts. What is now the city centre emerged in the 13th century and was heavily influenced by its German Hanseatic guests. Lots of water flowed under Stockholm's many bridges and many feet have run up and down its cobbled stone streets since then but Gamla Stan, the old City, still charm visitors with clean, well kept and colourful faces - faces that holds mysterious links to the past.
One of the entrances to the "newer" Stockholm Royal Castle, located at a hilltop of Gamla Stan, the old city. The castle, with 608 rooms, is the world?s largest Royal Castle still in use for its original purpose.
Three girls trying to charm one of the Royal guards outside the Castle.
Stairways up to the Castle courtyard.
A stone's throw from the Castle. Around the corner to the left is a picturesque little square. The houses are time typical medieval and probably looked much the same five hundred years ago.
Entrance to Café Sten Sture. The café is located in a cellar in the centre of Gamla Stan. The building was used as a monastery up till the early 16th century when it was changed into a prison. It is said that the suspected killer of King Gustav III was kept here after the murder in March 1792.
Alley in Gamla Stan, old town.
The three crowns has been Swedens national coat of arms since about 1330, here seen over the entrance to the Swedish Parlament. The three crowns are also the name and symbol of our national hockey team.
Åsa enjoying a big portion of ice cream.
A haven for tired feet. Taking a break to finish the ice cream at a triangular square in Gamla Stan.
Old and new. Apart from traffic signs, drainpipes and the clean streets Stockholmers from past centuries would probably recognise their home.
Spotting towers and pinnacles through a narrow alley.
Something that would leave a visitor from the past totally clueless. Stockholm is one of the cleanest cities in the world and is proud of it. These monoliths display the quality of the air and water with real time updates that let its citizens know just how clean they are living.
Just a cool picture to show. A copy of a origional rune stone. The tradition to raise rune stones were common among vikings and nordic people till about 1100 when the costum suddenly stopped. The stones are usually raised in memory of dead family members or warriors heroic adventures.
