Who goes to Sweden in the coldest month of the year? We do! Let’s visit Sweden together. Stockholm is known for having more “mild” winters than the rest of Sweden. But, with a wind chill temperature in the low 20’s, strong winds, and one day of snow, it sure felt like a “real” winter to us.
We spent 3 glorious days in Stockholm and learned that there is so much to do in this beautiful capital city that 3 days wasn’t enough. In the next couple of posts, I’ll tell you about:
- Gamla Stan (the old town)
- Fotografiska
- The food halls
- The Nobel Museum
- City Beach and Park Skinnarviksberget (the highest point in Stockholm)
Gamla Stan (The Old Town)
If you zoom in on Stockholm on Googlemaps, you’ll see it is comprised of dozens of little islands and archipelagos. Therefore, public transportation includes the usual bus and metro system, but also ferries as well. Gamla Stan fills most of one small island. Get lost down these little lanes. Each one is more beautiful than the last and it is worth your time. Here, you can also find the Nobel Prize Museum, which I’ll write about later.
Visit Sweden: Fotografiska
Fotografiska museum is dedicated specifically to photography and it was on our list because that is one of my husband’s very favorite mediums. I don’t feel like you see museums that focus solely on this art form very often, so we were really excited. I am pleased to say that despite a ticket price of over $20 (USD), we weren’t disappointed.
The first floor had an exhibit entitled “In Bloom” dedicated to photos that were an artistic twist on nature and its impact on our lives.
However, it was the exhibits on the second floor that melted my heart. My new favorite photographer is Omar Victor Diop. The triple exhibit combination of “Allegoria-Diaspora- Liberty” by this Senegalese photographer was simply jaw-dropping. My husband and I spent a lot of time in those rooms. The three exhibits speak for themselves, but here are the themes to get you started.
Allegoria: “a recasting of history”
Diaspora: “a representation of diasporic experiences”
Liberty: “the global politics of black resistance”
The power of the moment: I was seeing/studying American history (and numerous other cultures’ history) interpreted by a Senegalese artist in a museum in Sweden. Let that sink in for a moment.
To learn about a famous American photographer read more here.
Food Halls: Starting with the Most Traditional One
Fortunately, for foodies like us, Stockholm has a wonderful tradition of food halls. We read up on them before we went and tried three that we thought would give us a nice, broad range of experiences.
Ostermalms Saluhall is the oldest food hall in Stockholm, dating back to the 1800’s. It is a bit more high-end (with some prices reflecting that) and is the easiest place to find traditional Swedish foods that are created with locals in mind, not tourists. Here, I tried my first herring, as well as real meatballs, Kalops (stew) and Falukorv (sausage).
We’ve just scratched the surface of all there is to see & do in Stockholm. Mr. HomeFree and I have already talked about how wonderful it would be to return in Spring or Summer and see the other personalities of this stunning city on the water.
April 3, 2023 at 9:11 pm
Omg! I’m So jealous. Diop is amazing !! I saw some of his work online.
I still haven’t had herring. I’ll have to try it out.
April 4, 2023 at 4:20 am
As a Swede yourself, I knew you’d appreciate this piece. We fell in love with Omar Victor Diop’s work the minute we found it. I tried herring in a cold egg & potato salad concoction. I ate, but I didn’t love it. But, that’s the fun of experimenting. You never know what you are going to get!