January 19th post

Today was a beautiful day to be alive in Stockholm, Sweden and our day was filled action packed adventures! After a delightful Saturday night out on the town, we started off our Sunday with a trip to the exhilarating SkyView Globe. The Globe Arena happens to be the largest spherical shaped building in the world! We had the opportunity experience a thrill ride in a glass globe that took us to the top of the Globe Arena! We had a magnificent view of the city and although it was a tad frightening for some, everyone got some great photos! Next we met our Swedish tour guide Beatriz who took us on a bus adventure through the gorgeous city of Stockholm! We were able to view some famous landmarks dating back to as early as the 13^th Century!! Stockholm is a city of islands and each island had something unique to offer to the tour. We even got to see a statue of our very own Gustav Adolph Vasa II! After viewing the harbor that used to house the sunken Vasa ship, it was amazing to be able to view the restored ship at the Vasa Ship Museum! We learned that when the ship was raised from the depths of the harbor, it was still ninety percent intact, which is surprising with its massive size. In the museum, we had to climb to the sixth floor to even be able to see the deck of the ship! No wonder they had to build the museum around the ship itself. After exploring the wondrous Vasa ship museum, we loaded the bus once more and headed for the city center to fill our growling stomachs. We were treated to a delectable and delicious Swedish lunch of filet mignon. It was amazing. And to top of our already spectacular lunch, we were even served ice cream, topped with chocolate and a ginger bread cookie. After we nourished ourselves, we were set loose in the city to do whatever we pleased. Many of us chose to explore the old town, also known as Gamla Stan. There were quite a few small shops as well as beautiful and historic architecture. A few of us stopped in a small café where the storeowner graciously described to us the history of his building. It was quite the cultural experience, and the desserts and drinks were absolutely delightful! The pedestrian street in the city center was lit with twinkle lights and bustling with locals and tourists alike enjoying the shops of the city! After our exciting day the hot tub and sauna at our hotel felt wonderful! After a relaxing Sunday evening, we’re all looking forward to our last day in Stockholm tomorrow!

Steph & Jessie