Gamla Stad: Stockholm's Old Tonn

Old Town or Gamla Stan in the evening. It was the first touristy place that I visited in Stockholm.

At ten in the evening, the sun was kind enough to help me capture the feel of the whole tour.

One of the most interesting places I've visited was the outside (it was closed when we got to town) of the Nobel Museum and a coffee shop that was used as a morgue of sorts during the Stockholm Bloodbath.

Pretty much like any old town in Europe, Gamla Stan stretched out and snaked around with cobblestone paths and medieval alleyways. The late night sun lent a really old feel to the town as Purple Turban and I walked in and out of main roads and side streets. Queen's Street looked like a touristy place with shops and restaurants lining the street. While there was a lot of interesting things to see from the shops' windows (moose that threaten to bite among others), the restaurants were the usual Chinese or Italian ones you see anywhere.



Cold Fox is cold. While it's not exactly breath-taking, this statue found at the corner of a street just outside the entrance to the old town is interesting. Is it a beggar fox? Is it posing as a beggar to lure children to its den? Is it selling matches? Why does it have a boot on its lap? There are just way too many questions about this fox.




We made our way from Queen's Street to Stortorget, the public square. There were a lot of places of interest along the way but there were a couple that stood out. For example, number 18 and 22 units of Stortoget housed two coffee shops right beside each other. Initially, you would think that this does not make sense at all but see:


The Coffee Cup, the shop to the left has an interesting entrance. Notice the wooden signboard of sorts atop the doorway? On it is an inscription in German:

"Befiehl dem Herrn deine Wege und hoffe auf ihn, er wirds wohl machen". ("Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass.") -Psalm 37:5

Though it is initially the hang out of straight people, this shop has a lot more history than that. It was used as a place to stack and store the bodies of those who died during the Swedish Bloodbath in the 14th century. The coffee shop's basement, though furnished with wooden chairs and colorful tables, still had an eery feel to it especially since it was lit by tiny bulbs and candles. The shop's interior had an ancient cozy feel to it, making it a perfect hangout for the evening. Purple Turban and I decided to stay outside, though, since I needed to smoke and see more of the square.

Note that this was around 10:30 in the evening and it was a bit chilly. The dusky feel of the night higlighted Old Town's quiet charm. Now, beside the Coffee Cup is another shop named Chocolate Cup. Unlike its neighbor, Chocolate Cup is a famous coffee shop for gays (as evidenced by the Pride Flag that hangs by the door).

Adjacent to the shops is one of the most awesome surprises EVER. Until Purple Turban brought me in front of the building, I would have ignored it. Right the the heart of Stortorget is the Nobel Museum and the building where they decide who wins a Nobel Prize. Save for the Peace Price, each and every person who has won a Nobel has been discussed in this building.
As the clock chimed 11, Purple Turban and I decided to head back home then ran into this guy: a writer whose name I forget but initials (NF) I remember. By tradition, travelers or tourists give his statue a cigarette. I just hope that he enjoyed that cigarette I gave him. So, charmed by the beuty of this Old Town, we hoped on the train to head home and plan for more adventures. For my next trick, Little Manila.

Gamla Stan, you really really rocked. What a way to start getting to know Sweden.