Stockholm, Sweden

What a way to wake up in the morning – gently sailing through the Swedish Archipelago leading to the port of Stockholm! After a full day at sea in the Baltic, our arrival in Sweden served as the first official port of our cruise. We spent the day in the city seeing the famed City Hall, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year, and visiting the Swedish Royal Palace. Luck was on our side as we happened to hit the palace at just the right moment to watch the changing of the guard drills. It was among the more impressive of such drills I've ever seen - even rivaling the show put on by Buckingham Palace guards in London! With more than 50 guards on horseback, plus a full band serenading us while simultaneously maneuvering their horses through the square, it was obvious to me that they take great pride in their country & traditions.

I definitely hope to return to Sweden for a longer visit someday. Those winding city streets could swallow me alive for a lifetime of exploration! In addition to the city’s charm, I felt like I was among my people – tall, blonde hair, blue-eyed people as far as the eye could see. I have no Swedish blood in me that I’m aware of, but I certainly did feel at home there. ;)