Skansen Open Air museum is a trip to the past of Sweden. I was told it is the oldest open-air museum in the world, having opened in 1891. Skansen staff wear traditional clothes and told us interesting facts of Swedish crafts, traditions and life in the past.
It is 75 acres and has historic buildings, huge gardens and a zoo which is home to many Nordic animals including elk, reindeer, bears. We only spent half a day and someday I would love to go back.
There are round about 150 different houses which have been brought from locations across all of Sweden. The oldest are dating back to the 14th century. It was fun to wander around and talk to the staff.
I found this guy as we walked around Stockholm. Tomtes are swedish gnomes and if you respect them, they will protect your household from accidents and disasters. they might play tricks on you if you annoy them.
Our last stop was the Vasa Museum. The Vasa is the best-preserved seventeenth-century ship in the world and it is decorated with hundreds of carved sculptures. It’s a huge warship that sank on its maiden voyage in Stockholm harbor in 1628. It is a really well done and interesting museum and I’d add it to the top three things got see in Stockholm.
Stockholm was the last port of our Baltic Cruise and every port was interesting and worth a visit. My favorite cities were Bruges and St. Petersburg.
