Berlin to Stockholm: Part III: Trip to Gamla Stan

On the Sunday, I went to church, which was great.  I met up with another South African.  Werner is married to a Swede and we had a good kuier in Afrikaans - his first in a while.  The music and singing at church was great.  I didn't know any of the songs but the melodies were lovely...definitely different from what I know and amazingly beautiful.  

Taken from the back so unfortunately not very informational.

After church, I was fortunately enough to get 4 tour guides to take me to the oldest part in Stockholm called Gamla Stan.  As I understand it, it dates back from the 13th century.  

Pretty, hey?

At the square Stortoget

This is the narrowest street in Stockholm - Marten-Trotzigs-Graend. I don't have those funny letters, so it's spelled a little different - this is more the phonetic spelling.  It's really narrow; less than a meter wide.  

So you can see how narrow it is

Look at this quaint shopfront...

It's when you look closer that it gets a little freaky...it's a stuffed cat!  A real stuffed cat!!! Freaky-icky methinks.  There are a few stuffed animals in this window display AND in the shop.

Tourist-trap shops mostly, and very expensive.  How I wish i can afford one of these beautiful amber jewelry pieces.  

Just some interesting things from the old town...

Anna-Karin translates the writing - it is a Viking message.

The whole crew

More pretty things...

Old signs displayed in a shop 

The plaque under the light was proof that one had fire insurance and that in case of fire, there would be help in extinguishing fire.  If you didn't buy the insurance your house burnt down. 

Those things that look a bit like HIV/AIDS ribbons anchor the rafters.

This sign says something like Hi. Please don't let your friend pee here.  Sincerely.  The flowers.  

From a church around there...

Lots of shiny pretty things on the walls

I think this is the altar - behind these people are some of the graves you find in the church.

More bling - this where Leonardo got his ideas from?  

This is flat on the ground - a grave in the church.  Looks like it should be from Lord of the Rings.

The date on this grave is 1650

 As always I'm in love with the ornate architecture...

All these towers are covered with copper - hence the green colour.  Wonder how long these things would last in South Africa before someone steals the copper? 

Look at this stunning gargoyle

This one only South Africans would get the relevance of...

The acronym has something to do with the automobile club but doesn't translate too well into Afrikaans.    

One more post to go about my trip to Stockholm.  What a lovely city with really amazing, friendly people.  And joy of joys - everyone I encountered spoke English.  Highly recommended.