Castles galore

If touring castles is your “cup of tea” (and I must confess, it is mine), then Sweden is the place to visit. In an easy "day trip radius" from Stockholm, you can tour castles to your heart’s content. Thankfully, the Budman enjoys this type of touring activity as well or one of us would be in big trouble. Most of the castles we saw bordered Lake Malaren, which is home to over 100 castles, opulent palaces, and fabulous country houses.

Due to its connection to water, this area has a long history. Many Viking settlements were strategically placed here during the Iron Age because of the extensive waterways. Medieval castles sprung up, with mighty fortresses on one side, and water protection on the other. Even during Sweden’s’ Golden Age of Greatness, wealth and power were derived from not only the land but control of the waterways.

Multiple day trips resulted in tours of the following castles. Sadly, interior photos were not allowed in any of the castles, much to the chagrin of one the Indian tourists in our touring group who asked this question 5 times just to be sure of the answer while touring Skokloster Castle. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

First on our list, Drottningholm Palace, home of today’s Swedish Royal Family. This royal palace, built in the 17th century, was one of the most lavish undertakings in Sweden. Today, the palace is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site due to its wonderful palace, interior furnishings, theatre, gardens, and Chinese Pavilion.



















Gripsholm Castle, not far from Mariefred, is a brick Renaissance castle begun in 1540. Over 60 rooms are on view, which also includes Sweden’s National Portrait Gallery.











Views of the city of Mariefred from Gripsholm Castle.







Viking relics outside Gripsholm Castle.



Skokloster Castle, primarily built by field Marshal Carl Gustaf Wrangel, contains treasures from his campaigns as well as many prices of art, furniture, weapons, and paintings. This was the only day when the weather was literally picture perfect.









The castle chapel and burial crypt for Cark Gustaf Wrangel.

Red houses

I had read that Swedish houses are often painted red, but I was not prepared for the number of houses I saw that were painted “red with white trim” during my 10-day trip in Sweden.

I’ve read and heard some conflicting reports about why the Swedes have an affinity for red houses. One story states that the red pigment was a bi-product of the mining industry in Sweden. The Swedes then turned it into paint and called it Falu Rödfärg. It was the cheapest and most accessible paint.

Another version of the story is that wealthy Swedish people started a trend by painting their houses red, since colored paint for homes was expensive. If someone could paint their house, then this told others a little bit about the person’s financial standing. Once it was learned that red pigment could be combined with paint cheaply, EVERYONE wanted a red house. Let the painting begin!

Either way, traditions have a way of sticking as the majority of the houses in the Swedish countryside are still painted red. Please forgive my apparent “love affair’ with the red house – anyone from Waxahachie knows why, as my own home is painted red!





















I have thrown in a couple of other painted Swedish homes for good measure. Apparently, yellow is the second most popular color.

It was the last thing I expected

Our group was walking back from a delightful Swedish dinner, enjoying the night air and pleasant weather, when moments from stepping into our hotel the Budman stopped dead in his tracks and said, “Larry?????”

Living in Germany, and vacationing in Sweden, the last thing you expect to see is homefolk from Waxahachie. OK, so technically they live in a town about 7 miles from our home in Waxahachie, but we know these people, church with these people, participate in numerous social and cultural events in Waxahachie. Heck, we have these folks to thank for making us Waxahachie Symphony Chairmen! And even after all that, we still love them to bits!

After the shock wore off, we realized that we had walked right past them on the sidewalk outside our hotel. As luck would have it, they were in a hotel around the corner from ours. After hugging necks and letting out a few shrieks and a couple of “how ya’ll doin’s", we made plans to rendezvous during their last couple of days in Stockholm. What a pleasant surprise!

Just goes to show you – it is definitely a small world!

Buddy, Jackie, and Larry at the Royal Palace Guardhouse.



Larry, Jackie, and Holly in front of Storkrykan.



Enjoying a plate of Swedish meatballs, or about to enjoy, that is.





OK, so it was not exactly an organ concert…rather a glockenspiel concert????

Stockholm by night

No vacation is complete without the obligatory stroll (or shall I say, “hunt”) for night shots. Most of these photos are of Stockholm’s major areas and sights…Gammla Stan, Storkyrkan, the Royal Palace, Nybrokajen harbour, and the National Museum, home of a number of 18th and 19th century Swedish paintings.