Rolled out of bed quite early this morning and after breakfast we zoomed off to the Vasa Museum ... around a 10 minute drive away from The Grand Hotel.
The Vasa is a ship that was built between 1626 to 1628 by the King of Sweden (Gustavus II Adolphus). It was 69 metres long and 52.5 metres high ... had 10 sails, 64 guns ... and 145 seaman. It was made of 1000 oak trees. It was set to be the greatest warship of its time. It set sail on its maiden voyage between 4 and 5 pm on August 10, 1628. It sailed just 1300 metres and then capsized! Thankfully only around 50 people died ... The problem was that the ship had one too many deck ... and a mere breath of wind just knocked it over. It was Sweden's "Titanic" ...
The ship lay at the bottom of the Harbour until it was "found" by Anders Franzen in 1956 ... after three summers of looking! Surely everyone must have known where it was!
In 1961, the ship was raised and then started a massive restoration of it ... with a jigsaw of pieces from the seabed. The museum was built over a dry-dock and that was opened in 1990 ... by 2001, over 20 million visitors had marvelled at the Vasa!
We were VERY lucky that Fred Hocker - the Director of Research at the Vasa - was our guide. We filmed while the museum was empty ... which was a real treat.
Only researchers and Heads of State are allowed on the ship ... we got close ... very close! When I buy a private island and name it Varunland, then I will be allowed on it too!
The Vasa IS the must see of Stockholm. If you get Fred as your guide - then that is the icing on the cake!
Next up, the National Museum. Here I met with the delightful curator Cilla Robach who took me on a guided tour of the museum taking in Swedish art from the 16th century ... then to Larsson - the father of Modernism in Sweden ... right up to the 20/21st century - chairs, lamps etc!
It's been a fun ... but educational ... and tiring day!
Off to the Spa for a sauna I think!
