june-2011

[ feature ]
STOCKHOLM // GOTHENBURG
Hammarby, where our crew
come into their own. Like
clockwork, they carefully throw
ropes onto its concrete walls
to secure our craft to bollards.
We rise a few metres, huge
metal gates creak ajar and
then the Diana passes through.
The same exact precision is
required on the three-hour
encounter with the Berg lock
system, which culminates
with the extensive Carl-Johan
staircase. From far-off,
with the various levels of
black-and-white wooden and
metal tops of its gates, it looks
like some higgledy-piggledy
piano keyboard.
Nothing prepares me for
the awe and wonder as we
drift through a mass of indigo,
fringed with coniferous trees,
ferns and flowers, that is
Mälaren, the nation’s third
largest lake. From here, we
glimpse the UNESCO World
Heritage site Drottingholm
52 WIZZ MAGAZINE // JUNE/JULY 2011
(which literally translates as
‘Queen's islet’) Palace. Built
in the 16th Century, it’s no
surprise that it remains the
residence of the royal family,
as the ochre yellow monolith
(there are over 175 rooms)
and exquisite gardens radiate
unrivalled splendour.
There’s never any chance
to get bored on the journey,
because every day there are
exciting excursions. On one,
we marvel at the wrought-iron
gates and mountain of dusty
beige limestone of Karlsborg
Fortress. Work began on it in
1819 and it was supposed to be
the last refuge in Sweden were
the kingdom to come under
serious attack – the royals,
government and gold reserves
were all meant to end-up
here. Notwithstanding, by the
time the stronghold had been
finished in 1909, it was already
rendered ineffective due to
being outstripped by military
advancements. The
Motala’s Motor museum
is also worth a look.
Don’t think it is full of
standard Swedish cars like
SAAB; instead, there’s
JUNO, ON WHICH HANS
CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN AND
HENRIK IBSEN TRAVELLED
STROMMA