Our final day in Stockholm were filled with excitement as we started off the day with some planning where we decided what we wanted to explore around the city. Afterwards, Jonathan and Duke ventured into the city and found the only existent laundromat in Stockholm. The lady there was very welcoming as she found out that they were first time visitors in Sweden. She was originally going to charge us 20 Kronors for each washer but once she realized they were only washing a few clothes, she only charged us 20 Kronors for both. While the clothes were being washed, Duke and Jonathan explored a park nearby and found a coffee shop where they enjoyed some sweetened matcha latte. Once the clothes were done, they regrouped back at the Radisson Blue Waterfront Hotel to rest before the long day ahead.
Now it was time for an adventure! They took Track 11 through the efficient Swedish metro system and later approached the ferry stop. It was quite a busy day all around Sweden. As everyone knew, the infamous Stockholm marathon was taking place all through the city with runners from all over the world. To get to the ferry, Duke and Jonathan had to run as fast as they could across the marathon path whenever they was a tiny gap between the runners. After a wild race of their own through, they finally made it onto the ferry and towards their first stop: the Vasa Museum! This is where they met up with Justin and Logan for a group museum visit.
At the Vasa, they discovered the infamous sunken ship that was built in the 1600s. This was an interesting experience for them as the ship in front of them was over a few stories in height. The sides of the ship were carved with great detail. They had never seen a ship this large. After the Vasa, they stopped for a quick lunch where they enjoyed Swedish meatballs for the first time along with delicious mashed potatoes that could melt in your mouth. Next on the list was a quick stop at the ABBA museum where they were all surrounded by great ABBA history. They found a large ABBA sign and took some photos around the musical space. It was time to leave the island and head to the next scenic point: the Viking bar.
The Viking bar was a bar like no other. We were treated to unique drinks inspired by traditional Viking heritage. The bar was filled with dim lighting and Viking chants we were all very unfamiliar with. None of us personally liked the drinks but we would definitely recommend the experience. Lastly, we finished off our day long adventure with a trip to another otherworldly spot: an Ice Bar. The Ice Bar was an eye opening experience for us as we shared some drinks in a mug made out of pure ice. The temperature was roughly 25 degrees Fahrenheit and we had to wear a parka in order to enter the bar. After a few moments, however, we had to leave the bar because it became too freezing to handle.
The next morning, Sunday, we shifted our visit to Piteå. The main highlights of this visit was the afternoon hike to Storforsen and the three course dinner at Restaurant Ångbryggeriet. The afternoon hike was a surreal experience as we were able to feel the river breeze throughout the hike and take some great photos along the way. A bunch of the class even jumped in and swam around the rapids side. Our final dinner in Piteå finished off with a three course dinner at Restaurant Ångbryggeriet. The meal started off with beef carpaccio followed by pan fried char with potatoes, Sndefjord sauce, and carrots! The dinner finished off with some of the best Créme Brûlée we had in a while! What a great few days in Stockholm and finishing off in Piteå! Stay tuned for the last blog about Helsinki, Finland! – Norse Network
