Waking on my second morning in Stockholm I was better prepared for my pitch black room. Climbing the jungle gym of a bunk bed I joined the line for the shower before packing my bag for a day of walking around town.
First stop was a rather long walk out to the island of Djurgården where I was to see the Vasa Museum. The Vasa Museum is a maritime museum that houses the 17th century 64 gun warship Vasa, which sank less than 1 nautical mile into its maiden voyage.
The ship really is very well preserved and hot damn is it a big ship, this also makes it rather easy to see just how top heavy the ship was which resulted in its demise.
While you can’t actually walk aboard the ship (how cool would it be if you could, right??) you can climb 3-4 floors up to get a view from the very bottom right up to its deck.
My advice if you plan on vising the Vasa Museum; which is one of Scandinavia’s most visited, is to get there early. I was there by 10am and the line was crazy long and moving at a snails pace as the large tour groups jumped the line ahead of me.
Just a stone’s throw away is another museum, the first open air museum in Sweden. Scansen was created to showcase the different way in which the Swedish people have lived before the coming of modern times. Here I got a good look at some rather old creaky buildings, watched old time bread being made and last of all watched with unblinking eyes as the glass maker worked his magic.
I finished my visit to Scansen with a stop at the lookout point where I could gaze back at Stockholm. From here I could see it was time to take the long walk home to the hostel to get ready for my first CouchSurfing meeting.
To this point I had neglected my goal of CouchSurfing as much as possible (its so easy to get caught up when you need to plan out couch surfing) so I was looking forward to my first group meeting. I had got lucky with a meeting being run the very weekend I was in town so it just seemed like fate that I had to go.
Making it back to the hostel I sampled some of my left over rolls with ham and cheese before waiting out the time before I had to be at the CouchSurfing meeting. It was here while I waited that I found myself making friends with a couple of lovely dutch girls; doctors who were just having a weekend away. They introduced me to a card game I have never heard of but had a great old time playing until it was time to head out.
Ensuring I wasn’t going to be late for my meet up I got there early and got lost finding the entrance to the building. It was here however that things went awry. After finding the location and walking two laps of the place I failed to meet any couch surfers. With no phone number to call I had to call it a night and head for home defeated.
To say I was a little depressed about the whole thing was an understatement. I’d finally made time and planned out something only to be left wanting. I had also left new friends at the hostel who had asked me to come out with them and when I had returned to the hostel they were gone.
After such a great day exploring it had really turned into a disappointment,so naturally I ended up throwing back a couple of beers while watching some ice hockey. Before long I made my way to bed and hoped for great new things tomorrow.
Hate when things don’t go as planned like that! Awesome place though. Things will pick up!
Hey Candice, it was an amazing place that’s for sure and it was made even better with the great weather I had at the time.
Dude, it’s happened to me too. Hopefully things turn around soon.
Also love how you call it “ice” hockey 🙂
Hey Ayngelina, haha what else is it called if not ice hockey 🙂
Aw, Chris. I’m sorry to hear things didn’t work out. That is, sadly, one of the aspects of travel we all have to get used to.
Hey Gray, I was disappointed that’s for sure but you know these things happen. Next time I’ll be more prepared as it was a last minute meeting as well.
Alcohol always makes the day better! 😉
Big hugs!!!
Andi I couldn’t agree with you more 🙂