Fotografiska

A Wednesday with my coworkers at Fotografiska :) The Fotografiska is a must-see museum in Stockholm. Since it is opened relatively late(Sun-wed: 9pm, Thur-Sat: 11pm), it is a great place to go afterwork. Plus there is a nice restaurant/bar upstairs with a fantastic panoramic view of Stockholm!
As for the exhibits, make sure you check out Henri Cartier-Bresson, what a master! Not quite sure about David Strindberg & Johan Bring's video "Tartarus"...

-Ran

Ruud van Empel

Ruud van Empel-I think this boy is going to kill me in my sleep...

Ruud van Empel

David Strindberg & Johan Bring's video "Tartarus...maybe I just don't understand, but wtf is happening here?

Simply Stunning

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Anna Clarén. Love the serene setting of this picture, and the one red sock on the baby :)

Upstairs restaurant with a view!

I was caught reading some very...insightful material

Which one did I buy? :P

Fotografiska
http://fotografiska.eu/

Hours:
Sunday - Wednesday 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Thursday - Saturday 9:00 am - 11: 00 pm
Closed on Midsummer's Eve and Christmas Eve

Price: 130SEK

Coming Soon-Spending an afternoon with 20-something sweaty Swedish Men

---Coming---Soon--

Im listening to:
"Lights out" - Santigold
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gB_vCdUsFY

Im reading:
Priceless by Robert K. Wittman with John Shiffman
http://www.amazon.com/Priceless-Undercover-Rescue-Worlds-Treasures/dp/0307461483

Archipelago Tour: What happens when I schedule myself a boat ride at noon on a Sunday?

10:00-Sleep through Alarm #1

11:00-Sleep through Alarm #2

11:30- Finally WOKE UP!! ah!

Why was I awake? Oh right! Because I had foolishly thought it would be a fantastic idea to prebook a three hour boat tour around the Swedish Archipelago for a Sunday at NOON. While the islands surrounding Stockholm are a must-see, and it is true that I am leaving in a short couple of weeks, I somehow managed to overlook one very important factor-the near certainty that I would be lured yet again(see Berns entry) into the late night drunken debauchery that is Berns Bar on a Saturday.

So now it is a mere half hour before the S.S. Stockholm's scheduled departure time and my hungover, half-drunken self has finally managed to drag my body out of bed. Wow, this is not a brilliant beginning is it? I hurriedly gurgle down some mouthwash, use the o' hide-crazy-hair-under-a-hat trick, check that my makeup is still reasonably(questionably) intact from the night before and run/stumble to the Strandvägen harbor, pier 16 to be exact.

When I arrive, the crew has already withdrawn the walkway plank and are untying the docking ropes.  I desperately muster the last of my energy reserves and put on my very saddest "sad-asian-face". The crew must have took pity on my pathetic appearance because I somehow manage to convince them to let me onboard. Whew! Now having valiantly accomplished my mission, I sink wearily into my seat and the dull hum of the engine soothes my much frazzled nerves. I am relieved that the worst is behind me, and my mouth begins to salivate at the thought of a warm coffee and sweet pastry. But as I dig my hands into my coat pocket,  it dawns on me -F#@%!!- I have forgotten my tube pass, my ID and last but not least...my debit card...

Why travel-gods WHY? -Ran-

P.S. As stressful as my ordeal was to get on the boat, in the end...the view was worth it!

The Swedish countryside: Forest covered hillsides and quaint seaside cottages-all dusted by a thick blanket of snow

Vaxholm

Some quiet time for self-reflection and to draft out my blog :)

Back on dry land and with debit card in hand, I console myself with a much deserved French Hotdog!

Im listening to:

"Ice Cream"- Young Pony Club

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgHUXB8GPbM

Im reading:

Priceless by Robert K. Wittman with John Shiffman


Archipelago Tour-Strömma Kanalbolaget
http://www.stromma.se/en/STOCKHOLM/Tours/Stromma-Kanalbolaget/Day-Trips/Archipelago-tour-with-guide/

Departs from: Strandvägen berth 15 or 16
Duration: 3 hours

Price: 

Adult-240 SEK
Children 6-11 yrs: Half price
Children 0-5 yrs: Free of charge

The Vassar Museum: All great adventures begin with a …Hotdog!

Sunday. What can one do on a Sunday? 

Apparently in the space of 2 hours I managed to buy a new camera(fourth one in 6 months), consume a french hotdog(delicious!), tour the Vassar Museum, make new friends from India, and buy pate, lingonberry bread and strangely delicious French(?) cheese.

Now my friends, that is not too shabby for a Sunday in Stockholm! Especially considering everything closes at 5 pm and I didn't set out until 3 pm thanks to another fateful saturday night at Berns Bar…but thats a whole other story in itself, isn't it?

-Ran- Your Intrepid Stockholm Explorer

French Hotdog: The perfect combination of toasted bread, mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise and mystery meat :)

Thanks a helpful but aged(confused) Swedish woman...We ended up taking the scenic route to the Vassar Museum

Even though it was only her first day on the job, our guide was very informative and explained to us that the Vasa sank because it was too narrow and top heavy. A small gust of wind knocked the ship over to its side and water was able to flow in quickly through the gun ports, causing the ship to sink within minutes.

 Apparently the captain had reservations about the design of the ship but did not want to bring up this *small* issue with the Swedish King. At least 30 lives were lost in the sinking of the Vasa, not to mention thousands of "dalers" and a whole lot of Swedish pride.

A model of the original Vasa ship. Structurally flawed but breathtaking to look at...isn't this an universal truth about most things in life?

Modern replicas of statues that adorn the hull of the Vasa. 

The gang exhausted after a long (20min) inside the Vassar Museum.

My weekly groceries: *Note the lack of greens...

Final Thoughts:
At a reasonable 130SEK entrance fee, the Vasamusset is definitely a must-see in Stockholm. While the man at ticket-counter recommended an hour and half to see the entire museum, our group didn't enter until 4:40pm(20 minutes before closing).We were able to see the ship and take some touristy pictures, and given the time restraint, that was good enough by us. If you don't have time to read the exhibit in detail then my advice to wrangle yourself a guide and get a quick synopsis about the history of the Vasa and.. why it sank!

Good luck and happy traveling!



Vasamuseet

Galärvarvsvägen 14

11521 Stockholm

+46(0)8-519 548 00

http://www.vasamuseet.se/

Adults: SEK 130

Children(0-18 yrs): Free

Open everyday: 10am-5pm


Directions: 

Take the red line tube to Karlaplan stop and look for the bus stop in front of McDonalds. Take the number 44 bus towards Skansen and get off that the Vassar Museum stop. You will see a huge museum when you get off the bus, it is the Nordic Museum, walk behind it and to the right and you will see the entrance to the Vassar. 

OR you can do like I did and heed the questionable directions of an old Swedish woman, thus resulting in a scenic detour all the way around the Nordic Museum. There you will find a nice harbor and the Spirit Museum of Stockholm...which in retrospect might turn out to be not such a bad idea after all :)


http://spritmuseum.se/en

Song of the Day:

Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra ft Nino Mochella - Kiss the Sky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pHQuCezmLE