In spite of not really being museum people, today we went to not one, but two.
It was drizzling outside, but very mildly, so that wasn’t really the reason for staying mostly inside today. No, the two museums in question were simply too good to pass up.
The first was the Vasamuseet (Vasa Museum), located on the island of Djurgården. We slowly made our way over there after first walking around Gamla Stan, the drizzle today light enough that I could now take a few snaps.
The walk to Djurgården was really lovely, in spite of the rain and low temperature. Just when you think you’re leaving the waterways behind you, you turn a corner and there’s another stretch of water, filled with boats and offering beautiful views into the distance.
Anyway, I highly recommend the Vasa Museum. It’s a maritime museum, housing an almost intact 17th century gunship (the Vasa) that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 after travelling scarcely more than a kilometre. And there it lay, for the next 350 years, in the silt at the bottom of the Swedish waters, until it was dredged up and salvaged in 1961.
The low salt content of the Baltic waters meant that the ship was preserved very well. Nevertheless, the Swedes spent the next couple of decades restoring the ship to her former glory and the result has to be seen to be believed. Maritime history is not normally my bag, but the Vasa is fantastic and absolutely not to be missed.
A late lunch was had at Blå Porten, around the corner from the Vasa Museum on Djurgårdsvägen. What an excellent place, but so popular. The place was full to the gills with locals and, once we’d sunk our teeth into the food, it became obvious why.
Next, we walked back in the direction of Gamla Stan in order to visit the
Musikmuseet (Music Museum).
This museum contained a lot of musical instruments, many of which the public are allowed to play. Eloïse had a great time, banging on drums and xylophones and generally getting it out of her system.
The highlight for me was seeing Benny Andersson’s (of ABBA fame) 1974 Yamaha synthesiser. I wish there had been other items of ABBA memorabilia, but all there was was an old Washburn guitar belonging to Björn. ABBA surely warrant their own museum, never mind an exhibit or two.