Of Midi & Mini: Hill onto Skansen
The oncoming winter inched up a skittish mood as we drove up the hill onto Skansen, the theme park and entertainment environmental centre.
By TNN |
The oncoming winter inched up a skittish mood as we drove up the hill onto Skansen, the theme park and entertainment environmental centre. Soon after a chill wind-swept alfresco DIY lunch and some cheery red wine, we then trooped down to its intriguing old town’s medieval quarters.
Skansen was an ambitious project created by Artur Hazelius n 1891, to represent a miniature replica of all Sweden. In this secluded corner round the main downtown area ringed by the pretty harbor, he recreated old country farmsteads and farmhouses relocated from different remote parts of the country here, inhabited by fascinating wildlife and rare breed of farm animals.
We walked into a well preserved an old farm implement store, then a derelict but maintained millhouse and a guest house where all elements are preserved in their original. And from atop the bracing hillside, stupendously breathtaking views of Stockholm open out.
Skansen is celebrated for its distinct studio pottery too, and there is a tobacco and match museum storing vintage pipes, snuff boxes, matches and lighters...Sweden invented the matchbox, remember?.
The Skansen glassworks boasts three generations of glass blowing tradition as choicest handmade crystal was up for sale, fantastic little bits and household décor objets d’Art lining the glass shelves.
Needless to add, we also savored the delights of the famed Café Gubbhyllan. They served us some excellent coffee and mouth-melting Swedish pastries and cakes.
Driving past the Quay side across Stockholm harbour and into the old town region we zipping rows of spirited bikers raced past us, rollin’ down the cobbled paths with whistle-n-whoosh war cries. They could be heard shrieking down the lanes...! A particularly bold daredevil in mere micro bikini shorts and itsy-bitsy lemon yellow top blew a brass horn as her reddened face sported a cherry flaming vermillion lip gloss!
Contrast this fluorescent persona to Gamla Stan, the Old Town. That was all Medieval grace and elegance in its distinctly Scandinavian architecture and heritage monuments. And why not? Gamla Stan is Stockholm as it always been since a thousand years!
It is colored by fabulous Royal Palace, Livrustkammaren (the Royal Armoury) Museum and the Changing of the Guards in the Outer Courtyard, the town square, the Nobelmuseet (The Noble Museum) and Riddarhuset(House of Nobility).
Immersed in window shopping on the buzzing and crowded the main street we caught ample glimpse of those legendary quaint, mystical Troll dolls peering mischievously at us from shop windows, stunning glass and crystalware, kinky dare-all lingerie, naughty kiddie toys, lots of designer wear and pewter.
It had been a long day’s tiring walking, and we looked for some respite, the heavy drizzle persisting cunningly! Right on the bustling waterfront as the evening colors changed, we trudged into the Baroque environs of the city’s best address, The Grand Hotel, where hot tea, scones and pastries were waiting for us.
In the darkness of the Scandinavian night, as the graceful edifices of Sigtuna and Gamla Stan bowed in silence, our memories were etched with admiring reverence of a legacy that has sculpted Stockholm’s unique vitality....
Skansen was an ambitious project created by Artur Hazelius n 1891, to represent a miniature replica of all Sweden. In this secluded corner round the main downtown area ringed by the pretty harbor, he recreated old country farmsteads and farmhouses relocated from different remote parts of the country here, inhabited by fascinating wildlife and rare breed of farm animals.
We walked into a well preserved an old farm implement store, then a derelict but maintained millhouse and a guest house where all elements are preserved in their original. And from atop the bracing hillside, stupendously breathtaking views of Stockholm open out.
Skansen is celebrated for its distinct studio pottery too, and there is a tobacco and match museum storing vintage pipes, snuff boxes, matches and lighters...Sweden invented the matchbox, remember?.
The Skansen glassworks boasts three generations of glass blowing tradition as choicest handmade crystal was up for sale, fantastic little bits and household décor objets d’Art lining the glass shelves.
Needless to add, we also savored the delights of the famed Café Gubbhyllan. They served us some excellent coffee and mouth-melting Swedish pastries and cakes.
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Driving past the Quay side across Stockholm harbour and into the old town region we zipping rows of spirited bikers raced past us, rollin’ down the cobbled paths with whistle-n-whoosh war cries. They could be heard shrieking down the lanes...! A particularly bold daredevil in mere micro bikini shorts and itsy-bitsy lemon yellow top blew a brass horn as her reddened face sported a cherry flaming vermillion lip gloss!
Contrast this fluorescent persona to Gamla Stan, the Old Town. That was all Medieval grace and elegance in its distinctly Scandinavian architecture and heritage monuments. And why not? Gamla Stan is Stockholm as it always been since a thousand years!
It is colored by fabulous Royal Palace, Livrustkammaren (the Royal Armoury) Museum and the Changing of the Guards in the Outer Courtyard, the town square, the Nobelmuseet (The Noble Museum) and Riddarhuset(House of Nobility).
Immersed in window shopping on the buzzing and crowded the main street we caught ample glimpse of those legendary quaint, mystical Troll dolls peering mischievously at us from shop windows, stunning glass and crystalware, kinky dare-all lingerie, naughty kiddie toys, lots of designer wear and pewter.
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Café regulars sat lounging and chatting, quaffing wine and smoking cigarillos in company of nifty babes looking for some all night fun. Indeed, Gamla Stan’s pulse and verve are the endless stream of curious, wide-eyed visitors from all over the globe sashaying and strutting their provocative street wear, displaying the season’s styles with arrogant appeal and obvious oomph. It had been a long day’s tiring walking, and we looked for some respite, the heavy drizzle persisting cunningly! Right on the bustling waterfront as the evening colors changed, we trudged into the Baroque environs of the city’s best address, The Grand Hotel, where hot tea, scones and pastries were waiting for us.
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As the city preparing for another Hip Hop with illuminated neon and blazing bling, we walked across the promenades to hail a cab past the red lights, catching a wink of a fervently passionate couple entwined within arms, lips locked. Then suddenly the man leaped onto his Yamaha, fired up the cylinders and dashed away!In the darkness of the Scandinavian night, as the graceful edifices of Sigtuna and Gamla Stan bowed in silence, our memories were etched with admiring reverence of a legacy that has sculpted Stockholm’s unique vitality....
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