Stockholm

Sun 6 June

Today is Sweden’s National Day and when we arrived at the Old Town the crowds were starting to grow as many of the events were in the vicinity of the Palace.

We walked from the Metro station to the Cathedral and listened to the choir rehearsing for the 11:00 service and we were surprised at the interior as it a Lutheran Cathedral and we expected a very plain interior, instead we found a Baroque interior that would rival any Roman Catholic Baroque Church in Europe with a very elaborate pulpit and other canopies and the altar and reredos would not be in keeping with Martin Luther’s idea of simplicity so that a person’s praying was not distracted by the beauty around them. As we planned to attend the service in the Palace Chapel also at 11:00 we left and walked to the Palace.

Inside the palace courtyard were several displays and activities, though when we were there yesterday the courtyard was closed to the public. Climbing the stairs to the Royal Chapel we again found a highly decorated church with both Baroque and Rococo styles and the whole ceiling was painted depicting the Ascension of Christ. When were entered we were told that instead of the normal service, that there was to be an organ recital in honour of National Day.

The organ was built in 1753 and was rebuilt in the 1990s so it sounds today as it did in the 18^th Century. The recital included works by Bach, Purcell, Roman and two works especially composed for the weddings of the current King and also his sister. The recital lasted for half an hour but with the acoustics in the Chapel we could have sat there for hours listening.

Outside the Chapel the crowds had increased and we couldn’t get anywhere near to the outer courtyard where yesterday we witnessed the changing of the guards and today a military band was playing prior to today’s changing so we decided to wait along the route the band and new guard would pass on the way to the courtyard. As luck would have it there was a monument with large steps so by climbing on the top step we were about 3 m. up and able to see over the crowds and unlike London, the police allowed us to sit there. Around 12:15 we heard a band approach and coming up the hill towards us was a mounted band followed by the new guard, also on horseback. On entering the courtyard the guard dismounted and their horses were brought out to where we were standing and another troop from the Regiment mounted to ride them back to their barracks.

Walking down the hill behind the troop we found that the Royal Armoury was open today and we could go in to view weapons and armour, including armour for horses dating back to the 13^th Century, there were also old uniforms, costumes and clothing on display. Including clothing worn by the Royal children during the 20^th Century. Downstairs there was a display of elaborate Royal coaches used for coronations, weddings and day to travel; these were mainly from the 16 and 1700s. The cost to build one of the coaches was the equivalent of 1150 years wages for a coachman. How the other half lived!

On entering the Armoury we found that entry was free for National Day as was every where in the Palace, yesterday we paid nearly $50 for our admission.

Outside again; and there were many people enjoying the festivities and many, mainly the more senior citizens dressed in national costume from various regions of Sweden.

After lunch we travelled to the Historic Museum where they have displays from

pre history some dating back to around 3000 BC, through the stone age, iron age, Viking era and Medieval Times, one room is the

Gold Room and contains gold and silver items found all over Sweden, many from hoards where people had hidden their treasures and never recovered them. The craftsmanship of the items of jewellery some more than a thousand years old

Tomorrow we hope to go to the Vasa Museum.