They were made in pencil. I scanned the best of them, and handedited them a little using the Gimp. For some reason, the darkest hues were transformed into black.
The originals are in this directory:
The city hall is the place where Nobel awards are given each year. You can climb up the tower (56 m.), enjoy the lovely view, and get irritated by the sound of crappy cameras trying to capture the panorama.
This day (August 1), people were sunbathing in the garden, and diving from the fences into the canal left of the city hall.
Swedes have the highest book consumption per capita in Europe, so it comes as no surprise that people are reading everywhere. The man on the right was sitting near Riddarholmskyrkan.
The royal palace is guarded by soldiers in bright blue uniforms. Unlike your average royal guard, these turned out to be normal people. Despite the helmet that reminds of 19th century German military, the guards seemed friendly and made an occasional chat with passing tourists. (The gun definitely was not looking friendly, though)
Stockholm is not very touristic, but around the main attractions you can still find them: the archetypical American Tourist. Fat, shutter-happy and badly dressed.
A man playing the guitar. He performed some parts of Bach's first Cello suite beautifully!
(August, 2)
Me being the adolescent male I am, the music is not the only beauty that catches my attention during a concerto.
Of course I went to the Vasa, the must-see attraction of Stockholm. (The boat was built by Dutch ship-builders in the 17th century. It sank on her maiden voyage, because it was top-heavy and therefore instable. So much for Dutch engineering).
(August 3)
Millesgården is the atelier of Sculptor Carl Milles. It is a garden full of bronze statues, sculpted in a clunky but lively style.
The modern museum contains a collection with all the big names in `modern' painting and sculpture. On the drawing:
Stockholm, August 5. The national musuems has interesting paintings ...
(Illustrations from the child's book Karlsson on the Roof are important enough to make it into the national museum. )
interesting sculptures ...
and interesting visitors ...
(A thing of beauty is a joy forever.)
Mariefred, August 8. You can take a historic narrow rail track with steam engine from Läggesta to Mariefred. When I arrived at the station/museum, it seemed deserted, but since it was opened, I decided to wait. Indeed the train came, as was advertised on the time tables at 15:15.
Mariefred is a very small town with a castle (Gripsholm Castle). Out in the park local were participating in a national sport: doing aerobics in the park.
The castle was closed, but the garden was not. The garden Is filled with geese and swans that shit on the lawn.
I went to a concert in the small church of Mariefred (it was sunday). A lady named Magdalena Hedman gave a recital, accompanied by her husband (I assume). At last someone that did not move! I think the portrait came out pretty ok, I think.
A small girl that was in the audience. The spot next to her ear was in the paper.
Later that evening, I returned to my cabine on a Family camping (Oh No!), and tried my hand at a self-portrait. (urgh).
Uppsala, August 9. Bored by the rain, I left, and went to Uppsala. It was also raining in Uppsala, but the hostel was cheaper, and there are things you can do inside. Inside Uppsala castle, the University Museum of Arts is located:
Swedish Surrealism: Esaias Thor&eaigu;n, Svarta Mannekänger (1938).
A canadian from Ireland. Mary Jo Ryan also stayed in Uppsala. She was an interesting person to talk to.
August 11
I went on a hike in Larger Uppsala. I was joyfully strolling through the woods, not aware of that I was stupid enough to miss the solar eclipse of 1999.
I did meet some horses on my way, but they also moved.