Where's Walden?: Land of the Vikings and Sweet Sixteen

"Turn off the meter as you clearly don't know where you are going!"
The "unlicensed" taxi was attempting to take me to my hotel in the suburbs of Stockholm from the conference centre, but appeared lost, and running up a substantial bill at the same time. Yes as I discovered the cost of taxis, and the cost of living in general, was very expensive in Sweden, or Stockholm in particular. We consider it expensive living in Canada, but after visiting Stockholm it is clear that things are really not that bad, at least on a relative basis. However despite the high cost of living people appeared content and were quite helpful and friendly.
I was visiting Stockholm, Sweden in September to attend the ECCO Meeting (European Cancer Congress) while Joy was making a trip to the US to attend her daughter Vanessa's 16th birthday celebration.

This was the largest European cancer conference with over 15,000 people registered.

At least on this trip I was able to enjoy some of the fall colours, as there are only three seasons in Saudi Arabia - hot, hotter, and hottest without any change in the foliage. It was also nice to feel the crisp fall air, something that is missed, the changing seasons.

To move around the city, and journey between the hotel and the conference location, one uses the highly efficient train & public transportation system. As noted on the electronic boards the destination and anticipated time of arrival of the next train is noted - as with the old saying of setting one's watch against Swiss train schedules, the same can be said here. Clearly lessons could be learned at home.

Stockholm is a beautiful city, clearly a city by the sea, as it is built on a series of islands connected by bridges. By European standards it is not an "old" city. When one examines maps of the Scandanavian countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark) the long coastlines can be seen a fitting reason to be the land of the vikings in times past, where their long ships embarked on voyages of exploration and plunder.

As with many European cities it is a place to walk. The older parts of the city are clearly more interesting to walk about as in many parts of the world.

Vistas of older buildings, cafes, and urban parks on the walk about.

Cycling a common form of personal transportation. People appear to be relatively more active in the outdoors than we may be used to at home.

A city bounded by the sea. The water in the vicinity of Stockholm tends to be "brackish" with the mixing of the salt ocean with the river waters that empty into this region.

Many "older" working boats can be seen moored along the many wharf sides throughout the city. These go back to the building of wooden boats.

As can be seen in the background there are also many modern sailing vessels situated throughout the waterways of the city. Even though the weather was cool several were out sailing, the occupants dressed warmly. People appear hardy and enjoy getting out on the water when they can, not just as fair weather sailors.

One of the interesting highlights of the trip was to visit the "Vasa" Museum. The "Vasa" was a 64 gun war ship that was built locally and launched for her maiden voyage in 1628. It was the most expensive and richly ornamented naval vessel built in Sweden at the time. Guess what - it sank in the harbor, in front of all the spectators, on its maiden voyage! Bad design believed to be too top heavy, such that with an unexpected breeze with all sails up it listed, and with the lower gun ports open, filled rapidly with water and sank. It sat upright on the bottom of the harbor until 1961 when it was finally raised and a mueum built around it on shore. It is the best preserved wooden sailing ship of its era and had great historical significance. Apparently it is believed that the "brackish" water in the region prevented toredo worms from destroying the wooden hull. It apparently weighed as much as three jumbo jets.

A mockup in the museum of the deep sea divers building the tunnels under the hull into which they would insert steel cables to lift the ship off the seabed (salvage).

Over ninety percent of the ship is original, the new rigging obviously added.
A "challenge" to rig - "spring commissioning" a breeze for us in comparison.

Ever wonder why the toilet facilities on a boat or ship is called the "head"?
In days of old the "toilet" was situated in the bow (front) or "head" of the vessel - this can be seen as the box like structure just left of centre on the far side. Doing one's duties must have been a challenge in bad or rough weather!

Time to leave Sweden - a view of one of the Royal Palace's across the lake.

As I headed "home" Joy was still in the States at her daughter Vanessa's 16th birthday celebration.