Monday, August 29, 2005
Stockholm (Part the First)
The Swedes are pretty excited about Pippi Longstockings...
... and Mutton-Chops
The Vasa was built in the 1600s to be the biggest and most heavily ship in the kings Navy during Sweden's Empire. It was the first ship built with two lines of cannon port-holes and was extremely ornate. The aim was to instill fear and awe into those who opposed Sweden. It probably would have worked had it not sunk before it managed to leave the harbour on its maiden voyage!! 300 years later, it has been salvaged (essentially in perfect condition due to the ship-worm's inability to survive in the Baltic Sea), preserved and meticulously pieced back together.

The model

The real thing
Copenhagen
Free bike
Hall full of cannons (chronological, up to modern artillery and missiles. There was also a set of matching painted cannons of varying sizes...)
Big Sword


So many guns. The second floor was as big as the Cannon hall and lined with about 10 rows of these display cabinets. Everything from medieval spears to a vulcan minigun.