Stockholm ~ Food

 After visiting The Royal Palace, we decided to head back to the hotel for a bit of rest. We passed numerous eating establishments in the Gamla Stan, but this one caught our eye and tempted our taste buds with its delicious smells.

We stopped here for Swedish Fika

that is a lot of oranges!

Swedish Fika: Brewed coffee with a freshly baked cinnamon bun, a classic Prinsesstarta, a slice of cake, or a delicious chocolate ball.

Swedish Cinnamon Bun

a slice of Princess Cake

(The Princess's Cake went back to the hotel for later)

A Swedish Princess Cake, or Prinsesstårta, is a traditional Swedish layer cake known for its distinctive green marzipan dome. It typically consists of layers of airy sponge cake, pastry cream, and a thick layer of whipped cream, all encased in a smooth, rounded layer of marzipan. Modern versions often include a layer of raspberry jam or fresh raspberries.  - Wikipedia

the buns were warm and oh, so good!

plus fresh squeezed orange juice

machine making orange juice

 the recipe on a kitchen towel and aprons

For our dinner choice that day, while in Stockholm, OFD had found Meatballs (think IKEA). We've eaten the IKEA meatballs. We like meatballs. So Meatballs it was!

 

It was a short train ride from the hotel. We chose to go early because she knew the space was small and could get very busy.

 meatball choices

six tables for indoor dining plus bar seating

Hubby's choice, spaghetti with beef meatballs

my choice, mashed potatoes with beef & pork meatballs,

lingonberries and a cucumber relish

OFD's choice, reindeer meatballs with mashed potatoes

Her meatballs were delicious. She allowed me to taste one of them. They were dense and not at all gamey tasting, as deer can sometimes be. I have since learned there are reindeer cooperatives managed by Sami (Laplanders/natives) who sell their reindeer meat to restaurants. It is like a reindeer farm, similar to a cattle or hog operation in the US. 

Again, more food than we could eat, but a culinary experience one can only get in Sweden, Norway, or Finland.

Next: Helsinki

Stockholm ~ Day 2 (continued)

 We sort-of, kinda stumbled onto the Royal Palace. We were behind a small tour group that walked through the gardens beside a church. 

flowers in the church gardens

When we rounded the church wall, there was another huge plaza and many people milling around.

the northern facade of The Royal Palace

A comprehensive renovation of the façade began in 2011, to repair weather damaged parts made from sandstone. The repairs are estimated to cost approximately 500 million crowns (about US$77 million) over a period of 22 years. - Wikipedia  

That would be why the side we saw facing the plaza was enclosed in plastic and very unassuming.

Welcome to one of Europe's largest and most dynamic palaces. The Royal Palace of Stockholm is His Majesty The King's official residence and is also the setting for most of the monarchy's official receptions. Much of the palace is open to the public year-round. - The Royal Palace

a female guard moving to her post

a male guard at his post

 The Royal Guards have guarded the palace and the royal family since 1523. - Wikipedia

Although the palace was open for tours, we did not check the ticket price as we only had so much time to see all we wanted to see.

inside the ticket area

The palace is built in baroque style by the architect Nicodemus Tessin and is formed as a Roman palace. The palace has more than 600 rooms divided between eleven floors with a state apartment facing the city and smaller living rooms facing the inner courtyard. - The Royal Palace

another view in the ticket area

The palace contains many interesting things to see. In addition to the Royal Apartments there are three museums steeped in regal history: the Treasury with the regalia, the Tre Kronor Museum that portrays the palace's medieval history and Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities. The palace also houses the Royal Chapel. The changing of the guard and the Royal Gift Shop are particularly popular with visitors. - The Royal Palace

no identification on the statue

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden

the eastern facade of The Royal Palace

 

The palace was designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger and erected on the same place as the medieval Tre Kronor Castle which was destroyed in a fire on 7 May 1697. 

As of 2009 the interior of the palace consists of 1,430 rooms of which 660 have windows. The palace contains apartments for the Royal families, and the offices of the Royal Court of Sweden, a place of work for approximately 200 employees. (Among other government offices.) - Wikipedia

There were many servicemen and women in the area the day we visited. They were not there in any official capacity, but seemed to be tourists, like us.

street gate to the western facade of The Royal Palace

the western facade of the palace

this outer courtyard is for the changing of the guards ceremony

the southern facade of the palace

pansies along the street on the southern side of the palace

bellis perennis or common daisy

trash container in the area of the palace

Stockholm Cathedral

Storkyrkan (Swedish: 'The Great Church'), also called Stockholms domkyrka (Stockholm Cathedral) and Sankt Nikolai kyrka (Church of Saint Nicholas), is the oldest church in Stockholm. Storkyrkan lies in the centre of Stockholm in Gamla stan, between Stockholm Palace and Stortorget, the old main square of Stockholm. - Wikipedia

It was consecrated to Saint Nicholas in 1306 but construction of the church probably started in the 13th century. Inside, Storkyrkan still maintains much of its late medieval appearance in the form of a hall church with a vaulted ceiling supported by brick pillars. Storkyrkan was for a long time the only parish church of Stockholm, and from an early date it was connected with the Swedish royal family. It has been the scene of historical events on numerous occasions, and was used as a coronation church for centuries. - Wikipedia

Stockholm’s medieval Cathedral, built in 1279, houses unique objects such as the St George and the Dragon sculpture (1489), the legendary Vädersoltavlan (1535) and Lena Lervik’s sculpture ”Joseph and Mary” (2002).

Since 1527, the Cathedral has been a Lutheran church. A wide range of religious services and concerts are held. The wedding of T.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel took place on Saturday, June 19, 2010, in Stockholm Cathedral. - Stockholm Cathedral (image taken from the web site)

We did not go into the church, but now I wish we had. 

Next: Food in Stockholm

Stockholm ~ Day 2

 OFD's goal for the day was twofold: go to the island to see the Palace and Old Town, and Food. This post is about Gamla Stan or Big Square in Old Town Stockholm. She had researched the public transport system and bought an all-day ticket for the three of us. Thanks to modern technology, all the maps and info were on her phone, so as long as we stayed with her, all would be well. 

Gamla Stan is the original Stockholm. It's Stockholm's oldest settlement with many historical buildings and attractions. It has a population of around 3,000 people. 

The town dates back to the 13th century, and consists of medieval alleyways, cobbled streets, and archaic architecture. -Wikipedia

We got to the island early, before all the tour buses and tourists. Shop owners were setting out their pots of flowers, tables and chairs for sidewalk refreshments.

Cars are banned in inner Gamla Stan. There were delivery vans out and about, maneuvering on and through the narrow streets.

The Northern Gate to The German Church, named for standing in the center of a neighborhood that in the Middle Ages was dominated by Germans. The gilded patron saint (St. Gertrude) is over the gate. "Fear God! Honour the King!".

German Church or St. Gertrude's Church

The German guild of St. Gertrude was founded on the location for the present church in the 14th century. While the guild was created by German merchants, their Swedish counterparts were often invited to take part in its activities.  - Wikipedia

The headquarters of the guild was gradually rebuilt into a church starting in the 1580s. - Wikipedia

Services in German are still held every Sunday at 11 am, and the church is open daily during the summer and at weekends during the winter. The church was not open when we checked the doors. The interior is Baroque in style, according to Wikipedia, and has a king's gallery.

The sandstone Southern Portal is flanked by Jesus on the left, representing the New Testament, and Moses on the right, representing the Old Testament. The statues were cut in 1640.

By 1800, the German congregation had dwindled to a mere 113 people, and in 1878 a fire destroyed the tower.  Today the German parish sorts under the Church of Sweden but as a so-called non-territorial parish, the approximately 2,000 members of which are found all around Stockholm.  - Wikipedia

The brick steeple and the copper-covered spire, together 96 metres tall, were completed in 1878. - Wikipedia

birdhouse geocache

fabric bow decorating a door

The medieval heart of Gamla Stan is Stortorget, meaning the 'Big Square'. This is the Stock Exchange Building (Börshuset), which houses the Swedish Academy, the Nobel Museum, and the Nobel Library. Designed by Erik Palmstedt and built 1773–1776. - Wikipedia

The square started as a junction in which the tracks that criss-crossed the island converged. By 1400, the city had some 6,000 inhabitants, and stone buildings started to be built around the square. Its merchants and the well on the square made it a natural meeting place. As the Germans long had a very important presence in Stockholm, the city council was composed by an equal number of Swedish citizens and German immigrants. Merchants, all burghers, dominated the assembly; craftsmen were occasionally entrusted minor commissions. The remaining citizens were entirely excluded from any influence. Stockholm was a one-horse town, compared to splendid Continental European cities. - Wikipedia

Every square has a fountain, which was originally a well. It dried up in 1856 due to land elevation.

Today, it is connected to the city's water system.

Stortorget is surrounded by pastel-coloured merchants' homes. This was where the famous bloodbath of Stockholm took place in 1520, when close to 100 aristocrats were executed. - Wikipedia

interesting flowers lining Stortorget

Sweden, home of the Dala horse, 

Dala refers to the Swedish province of Dalarna (Dalecarlia) where it is said the carved horse originated.

The Dala Horse is stoutly carved and was traditionally painted iron oxide red at first. Now it is usually reddish orange with details and a harness in white, green, yellow and blue. The Dala horse of today is still a handcrafted article, made of pine, and its pattern is about 150 years old. At least nine different people contribute their skills to create each horse.  - Wikipedia

By noon, many more people were visiting Gamla Stan. 

Next, The Royal Palace.