One Sketch 338) (Tuesday 26th February) Riddarholmen Island Stockholm - The Vasa

Stockholm
City of Islands
And Bridges
And Ice.

Yes, even though I was lucky enough to visit Stockholm at the end of February in a little window of mild weather, it was still noticeable just how much ice there is in the sea. I made this sitting opposite the small Riddarholmen island - Stockholm actually spreads over no fewer than 14 islands. They do a very good line in spires in Stockholm, and the one in this is the Riddarholmkirke - in which you can find the tomb of Gustavus Adolphus. He was the one whom the warship the Vasa was built for (see below.)

Basically the king had it built for his ongoing war with Poland. It was made too tall, and too narrow, with not enough ballast, and it sank in Stockholm harbour on it's maiden voyage. Efforts to salvage it were unsuccessful, until it was rediscovered in the late `1950s, and salvaged in 1961. It now lives in its own museum, and over 90% of the ship is original. It is quite simply possibly the most breathtaking museum exhibit I have ever seen.