Sweden 5 (25-27th June 2011)

25th June (Saturday)

Visiting Stockholm

 Västerås Central Station is a railway station in Västerås, on the Mälarbanan railway

  
50 mins from Västerås to Stockhom (distance: around 90km)

The train goes from Enkoping to Stockholm Central

Inside the train

Looking at the landscape

Green fields

Svenska Spel ("Swedish Games") is a state-owned company operating in the regulated gambling market in Sweden. The company was founded in 1997 by the merger of the two state companies, Penninglotteriet ("The money lottery") and Tipstjänst ("Tip service")

Stockholm Vatten (the Stockholm Water Company) produces and delivers drinking water of high quality to more than one million people in Stockholm

Stockholm Central Station

This is the largest railway station in Sweden. It's situated in the district of Norrmalm at Vasagatan/Central Plan. Opened July 18, 1871, it has over 200,000 visitors daily, of which about 170,000 are travellers (105,000 with commuter trains, 25,000 with Arlanda Express and 40,000 with other trains)

Stockholm Tourist Center, Forex Bank...

The Swedish Tabloit Newspaper Aftonbladet on the building of the Ministry: Centralpalatset, the first commercial office building in Stockholm at Tegelbacken street Norrmalm district central Stockholm Sweden

Photo taken in Norrmalm, it's the Sheraton Stockholm Hotel

Stockholm is a city of islands connected by bridges and canals

Here is the view from the bridge to the Parliament towards two other bridges and the famous publishing company Norstedts

Norstedts - is the oldest publishing house in Sweden, founded in 1823. The building, designed by Magnus Isæus and built in 1882-91, features a spire-like roof, which is a well-known silhouette on the skyline of central Stockholm

Stockholm is built on 14 islands at the point where the large (and mostly island-filled) Lake Malaren meets the Baltic Sea

Stockholm Stadshuset: The City Hall is located in one of the most unique buildings. The top of the tower is decorated with three crowns. The Stockholm City Hall is one of Sweden’s most famous buildings, and one of the capital's most visited tourist attractions. It houses offices for 200 people including the Municipal Council, and is also famous for its grand ceremonial halls and unique art pieces. The Stockholm City Hall is the venue of the Nobel Prize banquet held on 10 December each year

I fell in love with this city

On boat, trip to Drottningholm Palace. Board a century-old steamer and sail to world heritage site Drottningholm, the private residence of the Swedish Royal Family. Travel time 50 min on Lake Mälaren offering beautiful scenery. Café and restaurant

Visiting Stockholm by boat is one of the best ways to appreciate the beauty of the city and the close Archipelago. I really loved it

Appreciating the fresh air and feeling free from everyday problem

So peaceful and quiet place

Enjoying the scenery

White statue of a naked man in Drottningholm park

Drottningholm Palace, the mini Versailles, it's one of Sweden's Royal Palaces

The Drottningholm Palace is the private residence of the Swedish royal family, located in Drottningholm. Built on the island Lovön (in Ekerö Municipality of Stockholm County)

It was originally built in the late 16th century. It served as a residence of the Swedish royal court for most of the 18th century. Apart from being the private residence of the Swedish royal family, the palace is a popular tourist attraction

There is a statue in front of the royal family's residence pointing across the water

 
Inside the palace

Picture taken from a palace's window

Swedish Royal Guard at post photograph

Royal guard marches at Drottningholm Palace

We saw the ceremony of changing the Royal Guard in Stockholm

Changing of the guards

This daily ceremony in front of the royal palace takes place at noon and attracts hundreds of tourists. The main "Changing of the Guards" takes place at the Royal Palace in the heart of Stockholm, but Drottningholm also has its own, although this is a much shorter ceremony

Beautiful swans greeted us at Drottningholm Palace 

And some friendly ducks

Female guard

In the background we can see the Drottningholm Palace Theatre

The cannon

Royal Guard protecting Royal Palace

Gate to the grounds

Drottningholm gardens

Rear of the Palace from the gardens

Chocolate coin

In the gardens at Drottningholm

We visited the Chinese Pavilion (Kina Slott) at Drottningholm

The Chinese Pavilion (Swedish: Kina slott), located in the grounds of the Drottningholm Palace park, is a Chinese-inspired royal pavilion originally built between 1753–1769

The pavilion is currently one of Sweden's Royal Palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It's a remarkable treasure in the majestic grounds of Drottningholm

King Adolf Fredrik surprised Queen Lovisa Ulrika on her birthday in 1753 with a small Chinese pleasure palace in the Drottningholm Palace park. It was a highly appreciated birthday present as chinoiserie was all the rage in Europe at the time

The original wooden building was replaced in the 1760s by a more permanent one, which today contains one of the finest European rococo interiors with chinoiserie

Interior decoration

Climbing the stairs

Chinese antiquities and cultural properties

Chinese figures and decorative elements

Looking for the toilets before go back city

Our ferry to Stockholm

Views from the boat

Beautiful houses

Waterside houses and jetty with motorboats in a suburban residentual quarter at Lake Mälaren

Personal watercraft

The Riksdag building (gate), the Swedish Parliament

Stockholms Stadsmuseum
The Stockholm City Museum is a museum documenting, preserving and exhibiting the history of Stockholm. The museum is housed in Södra Stadshuset at Slussen on Södermalm

The City Hall at lake Mälaren
Restaurang Stadshuskällaren

Stockholm City Hall, with its spire featuring the golden Three Crowns, is one of the most famous silhouettes in Stockholm. It is one of the country’s leading examples of national romanticism in architecture

The City Hall was designed by the architect Ragnar Östberg is built from eight million bricks. The 106 meter tall tower has the three crowns, which is the Swedish national coat of arms, at its apex

Behind the magnificent facades are offices and session halls for politicians and officials, as well as splendid assembly rooms and unique works of art. Stockholm’s municipal council meets in Rådssalen, the Council Chamber

Some pictures at The City Hall garden

There is a golden cenotaph of Birger Jarl at the Stockholm City Hall (at the base of the tower). Jarl was the founder of Stockholm according to tradition. The tomb is empty

Modern building near the City Hall: Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre (design by White Arkitekter) and Radisson Blu Waterfront. The congress centre with its innovative design solutions is providing Stockholm with a venue that will be unique in Europe

Stockholm has many areas to relax, far away from the stress of a big city

 GAMLA STAN, the old town

 Sweden is the country with the most handsome boys per square meter xD

Scandinavian souvenirs! There are a lot of souvenir shops in the historic quarter of the city. I bought two football t-shirts, one backpack, key chains, magnets, flags, two caps, ...

After shopping... Time to eat...

Something better than an ice-cream???????? NOOOOOO

Stockholm's oldest confectionery: Sundbergs Konditori, founded in 1785. Coffee is dispensed from a copper samovar, refills are free and the sponge, cream and green marzipan princess cake is a model of the genre. It's a touch genteel but a welcome respite from the frenetic Old Town streets (if you can find a seat). Address: Järntorget 83, Gamla Stan

Järntorget (Swedish: The Iron Square) is a small public square in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Located in the southernmost corner of the old town, the square connects the thoroughfares Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan, while the two alleys, Södra Bankogränd and Norra Bankogränd, stretches east to connect the square to Skeppsbron, and two other alleys, Järntorgsgatan and Triewaldsgränd, leads south to Slussplan and Kornhamnstorg respectively

There is lots of art in the Old City, in this case a statue on the street.

Statue of Evert Taube at Järntorget,  in front of the old bank building :-)

Discovering the oldest part of the city! Stockholm in its pure state

Scandinavian beauty between a lake and the sea!!!

Djurgården ferry (from Slussen to Djurgården)

Vindhem, restaurant boat moored at Slussen

Here you can see the Stockholms Stadsmuseum and the Hotell Anno 1647 (luxury hotel). 

A unique ambience and history, in a central location with everything near

Behind me the Stockholms Stadsmuseum (Stockholm City Museum)

Let's go!

Galleri Tersaeus. Address: Pustegränd 6

Streets with a special touch of charm

Another small sculpture

Stockholm Port. 

Located on the Baltic Sea, Stockholm is one-third water, one-third parks, one-third city

The House of Nobility

Commissioned in the 17th century by the Swedish nobility, to whom it still belongs, The House of Nobility remains one of the most exquisite works of architecture in northern Europe

Swedish public transport

Stockholm Cathedral (the back)

Another old building near the Cathedral

Some pics at Mynttorget (English Coin Square), a public square in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm

The Swedish police in front of the Rosenadler Palace (Brandkontoret)

Tourist bus

A city plenty of bridges

Parliament House (Riksdagshuset).
The parliament building is quite a grand presence

The Tre Kronor Museum (below) is a museum dedicated to the original Tre Kronor Palace in Stockholm, which was destroyed in a violent fire in 1697

Grand Hôtel Stockholm 

Grand Hôtel is a five-star hotel in Stockholm. It was founded by Frenchman, Jean-François Régis Cadier, in 1872. It opened on 14 June 1874 at the same time as the Grand Hotel in Oslo; all the Scandinavian capitals have a major hotel called 'Grand Hotel'. The Grand Hôtel is located next to the Nationalmuseum and opposite the Royal Palace and Gamla Stan (the old town). Since 1901, the Nobel Prize laureates and their families have traditionally been guests at the hotel, as well as several celebrities and world leaders

The precious rainbow colours over the Nationalmuseum (or National Museum of Fine Arts)

Nationalmuseum is the national gallery of Sweden, located on the peninsula Blasieholmen in central Stockholm. The museum exhibits an impressive art collection due to its benefactors, King Gustav III and Carl Gustaf Tessin. The museum was founded in 1792 as Kungliga Museet ("Royal Museum"), but the present building was opened in 1866, when it was renamed the Nationalmuseum. The current building, built between 1844 and 1866, was inspired by North Italian Renaissance architecture. It is the design of the German architect Friedrich August Stüler, who also designed the Neues Museum in Berlin

Rain and sun

Perfectly clean streets, civilised country

Walking along its avenues, promenades and parks. This city is wonderful

Sunglasses and hood ^^

Other historic buildings in Stockholm

Statue of Jöns Jacob Berzelius at Berzeliipark, in central Stockholm

Berzelii Park is a very small park located near the city districts of Norrmalm and Östermalm, next to the Nybroplan and the Norrmalmstorg

Stockholm's National Theater, a very beautiful building

More pics of the Royal Dramatic Theater of Stockholm (Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern).

The Royal Dramatic Theatre (Swedish: Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern or Dramaten) is Sweden's national stage for "spoken drama", founded in 1788. Around one thousand shows are put on annually on the theatre's eight running stages

The theatre's acting school, Dramatens elevskola, produced many actors and directors who would go on to be famous, including Gustaf Molander (who also taught there), Alf Sjöberg, Greta Garbo, Vera Schmiterlöw, Signe Hasso, Ingrid Bergman, Gunnar Björnstrand, Max von Sydow, and Bibi Andersson

Landshypotek Bank

Vasakronan is a former Swedish government owned real estate company.
In 2008, Vasakronan merged with AP Fastigheter. The company operates under the Vasakronan name today

Part of the Royal Dramatic Theater of Stockholm (right) and the building of Vasakronan (left). Vasakronan is one of the biggest real estate companies in Sweden

Maruschka de Margot: multibrand store for international high fashion, featuring John Galliano, Alaia, Alexander McQueen, Norma Kamali, Sonia Rykiel and Swedish designers such as Camilla Thulin and Ida Sjöstedt

Louis Vuitton store,  Birger Jarlsgatan 5

Picture taken in front of Louis Vuitton boutique

Birger Jarls Passagen is Stockholm's smallest mall that stretches diagonally from Smålandsgatan to West Higgins Road in Rännilen block. The passage has been renovated and refurbished in 2003-2004

Swedish taxi

Georg Jensen store, a Danish design company founded by silversmith with the same name in 1904. The range consists of timeless aesthetic design in the form of silverware, watches, jewelry, bowls and much more. Many of Georg Jensen's products are designed by famous designers such as Arne Jacobsen, Sigvard Bernadotte and Maria Berntsen

Stockholm City Bikes

American classic car!

GANT is a luxury clothing brand of American heritage launched in New Haven in 1949 and currently owned by Swiss holding company Maus Frères

Two elegant limousines. In this area is common to see luxury cars

Skandia Teatern: Skandia Theatre is located in the heart of Stockholm's city centre on the busy shopping thoroughfare, Drottninggatan. An atmospheric, quintessentially Scandinavian cinema in Sweden's capital

Drottninggatan (Queen Street) in Stockholm, Sweden is a major pedestrian street. It stretches north from the bridge Riksbron at Norrström, in the district of Norrmalm, to Observatorielunden in the district of Vasastaden. You can see the driveway with written messages

Askwalls Gravyr Ab, Drottninggatan 88

The major part of the street (Drottninggatan) is car-free and lined-up with numerous stores and shops, one of the largest being the Åhléns City department store. During summer, the street is often crowded with tourists

Famous residents in this street (Drottninggatan): the playwright, novelist and essayist August Strindberg lived at Blå tornet (Drottninggatan 85) for the last four years of his life. The building is now the site of the Strindberg Museum. Another famous resident was the 19th century banker and newspaper tycoon André Oscar Wallenberg, who lived with his family at Drottninggatan 66 until 1876

Stureplan

Stureplan is more than an address, it's Stockholm’s symbol for luxury and style. Business people, models and celebrities teem past the square’s famous mushroom to visit some of the city's most exclusive clubs and restaurants

At Stureplan, in the very heart of Stockholm, you’ll find Sturegallerian – an artful diversity of selected shopping, contemporary dining and modern lifestyle. Centrally located, it's a haven for male and female fashionistas, bookworms, gourmets, audiophiles, café hounds, interior design enthusiasts and other followers of quality. But it is also a natural meeting place, melting pot and a hub for city living both day and night with pubs, nightclubs, leisure and recreation

Stureplan is a high-end public square in central Stockholm, between Norrmalm and Östermalm. The square connects the major streets Kungsgatan, Birger Jarlsgatan and Sturegatan. The buildings around the square house offices of banks and other financial institutions, as well as several corporate headquarters

Some of the country's most famous and expensive restaurants and bars are located in the area around Stureplan. Some examples are Sturehof, Spy Bar, Riche, Laroy, Hell's Kitchen, East and Sturecompagniet. Exclusive fashion houses with shops in the area include Versace, Hugo Boss, Gucci, and LV

Kungsgatan (Swedish for "King's Street") is a street in central Stockholm

At its western end it is connected to Kungsholmen by Kungsbron bridge, from where it stretches east to Stureplan public square. It is intercepted by the streets Vasagatan, Drottninggatan, and Sveavägen. Two streets pass over it: Malmskillnadsgatan on Malmskillnadsbron bridge and Regeringsgatan on the Bridge of Regeringsgatan

 Svensk Handels Hus, a business organization for companies operating in the wholesale and retail. The organization's primary mission is to create favorable conditions for trade companies

 Kungsgatan passes by Hötorget public square where Stockholm Concert Hall is located. It is also flanked by two buildings, the Kungstorn (King's towers), each about 60 metres tall

Kungsgatan was dug through the Brunkebergsåsen esker (a natural ridge) in the early 20th century and inaugurated in 1911. Today it is a lively shopping street flanked by cinemas, cafés, and other shopping facilities

Adidas Concept Store

Address: Sveavägen 21-23

Atlantis Sängspecialisten. Address: Sveavägen 25.  

Sveavägen is one of the most  tourist  streets, with shopping areas, cafes and many attractions. Walking distance to the Old city, King palace

Kjell & Company - Gallerix Guld 

Kungsgatan 41 (the blue building)

Line, Route. 1, Frihamnen. There is a vast number of bus lines in Stockholm County

Climbing the stairs of a bridge

Sunset in Stockholm

Over the bridge

Train tracks

View from the bridge

Grafiska Huset Stockholm - Gamla Stan

Sleepy xD

Swedish Transport Administration (STA)

Vasateatern or "Vasan" (in English: The Vasa Theatre) is a private theatre. It's located at Vasagatan 19-21 in central Stockholm

I don't like this food!!!! :(

I look disgusted  xD

Burger King in central Stockholm

MAX Hamburger Restaurant

Jensen's Bøfhus in 70 Mäster Samuelsgatan

At the Stockholm Central Station again. Waiting for the train to Västerås 

World Trade Center Stockholm and Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel in the very heart of Stockholm, next to the Central Station and close to all tourist attractions

Central Station entrance

Taking the last pics in Stockholm. It was a nice day, complete,... I didn't have time to see a lot of other interesting things but everything that I saw, I liked it and I enjoyed it!

Stockholm is an amazing city, different to the other cities that I saw before... 

I LOVE STOCKHOLM!

Adjö Stockholm!

Trip from Stockholm Central train to Västeraas Central. 59min

The train's route: Stockholm-Västerås-Örebro-Hallsberg

Modern and confortable train

26th June (Sunday)

This day I looked for an hotel because I didn't want to stay more at my friend's apartment. I thought he was a friend but he only was a stupid man who thought that I was in love with him, and then, when he saw the reality he was really unfriendly... Really vomiting xD. So while he was sleeping I decided to leave the apartment and look for an hotel. It was a Sunday at 5.am but in summer at this time is already daytime! Nobody was in the street but I took a taxi and the taxi driver recommended Ibis Hotel Västerås

First I went to the airport to see different options to go back to Spain, but finally I decided don't change my flight to go back and sleep two nights at the hotel.

The airport is really small. This airport is known as Stockholm-Vasteras or Hasslo Flygplats but despite the name, it’s nearly 70 miles from Stockholm. Ryanair is the only operator there. Vasteras Airport solely operates Ryanair flights from a variety of destinations. Years of successful flights to the airport have led Ryanair to consider new routes but they are currently on hold because of the economic downturn

Swedish soldiers

 

Arriving at the Ibis Styles Västerås. This is the hotel where I stayed two nights

Price per room/night. Good value for money :-)
http://www.ibis-vasteras.com/ 

A single room with a private bathroom, cleaned daily and with internet access

Some pics of the room

Pics taken from the room's window

Heja Sverige!

Souvenirs

27th June (Monday)
My last day in Sweden

The hotel had a large dining room. 

The facilities, lodging and very kind staff were all wonderful

Strange breakfast... xD. Definitely the food isn't the best thing in Sweden

Room's window

The entrance gate

Walking around the hotel

Hem till Garden

HeartMath, training and research center

28th June (Tuesday)
Arriving at Alicante Airport  at night. I had to wait for the first bus

I took the first bus to Alicante city at 6.00 am

I travel again by train from Alicante to Valencia. 

This photo is next to the Valencia's train station (Estación del Norte)

I had great days and I can recommend this country to everyone! I'll remember only the good things of this trip. Stockholm is simply wonderful. Streets are so peaceful, clean, calm, safe,with a lot of beautiful buildings, museums, bridges, the lakes and the sea... And, of course, Swedish boys are so CUTE ^_^. Also I loved Västerås and I discovered its beauty too. After this experience I love Sweden even more than before =D