Stockholm

 So we have the day in Stockholm before we join the cruise of Scandinavia which because of the Russian war has been adjusted and now will pretty much be just Sweden and Norway. After we get on the boat there will be an additional day and half in Stockholm 

The area is amazing made up of several islands.  Transit is easy with trains and trams.  We opted to do an on off bus tour today and actually go to the Vasa Museum. This museum is one of the high tourist things to do in Stockholm. As a matter of fact it is one of the optional you pay for excursions available from the cruise. 

The Vasa is a ship that was built in 1628 and sunk on her maiden voyage after leaving the dock.  She sank in what is brackish water where salt and fresh water meet just 1000 meters after launch when hit with a wind squall and sank in 30 meters of water.  She wasn’t recovered and brought to the surface for 333 years and was relatively intact.  The ship has been restored and is housed inside a building.  

The whole process was amazing and the restoration and preservation was really interesting.  Needless to say between the city tour and the museum our second day in Stockholm was complete. 

Tonight the best news we were able to do a video Covid test and better news they were both negative so we are able to get onto the ship.  I actually am amazed that we weren’t an asymptomatic positive since we have been all over with very few masking requirements.  It seems all of Europe and Sweden feels the pandemic is over and never was. 

So this morning we will transfer to the ship. I really can’t wait to unpack for 2 weeks!!