Seagulls in Disguise

Day 51 - July 14^th

The next morning we were greeted with dry streets and clear skies, so decided to take a bike ride out to a Swedish castle called Drottingholm Slot, which is still used by the Swedish Royal family for part of the year. 

Front Door of Drottingholm Slot.

The castle was built in 1662 and like most notable buildings in Scandinavia had burnt down at one stage or another. Having seen inside a lot of castles, we again decided to take a wander around the exterior and were quite amazed by the gardens and sheer size of it all. 

Back Door of Drottingholm Slot

Gaurd watching the Front Door.

Claire at the Chinese Garden Pavilion.

This was a guards building and made to look like a tent, but is in fact made out of steel.

After an hour or so riding around the castle, we made the ride back to Stockholm city center to visit the worlds first open air museum – Skansen. 

Skansen!

This had been something we were looking forward to as the whole park was built in 1891 and designed to show what Sweden was like in those times, complete with original old wooden buildings, furniture and even people acting as the old time baker, butcher, engineer, house wife etc. 

The Bakery and one of the 'strange' actors in costume.

I must say it was great to see the old colonial buildings and original furniture and tools they use, however, when one of the ‘actors’ starts talking to you about how they go about their daily lives in character it gets just a little bit weird and you’re not sure whether to play along or trip them up by asking them whether there was any Wi-Fi nearby.  

The best part of the museum though was the area dedicated to Nordic animals, including Bears, Bison, Owls, Wolves, Otters, Seals, Reindeer, Moose, Lynx and Wolverines!

I think the Wolverines were the most surprising considering my only association with one was Hugh Jackmans character from X-Men. Now you would think given the tough, macho character he has been portrayed as by Marvel that the animal would be equally as fearsome. Well, you would be wrong. I think they are best described as a cross between a dog and a bear only a much smaller and cuter scale. 

Other highlights included watching European Bison trying to swat away a couple of little piglets that tried to steal their food, a group of sleeping bears being woken up by another bear, red squirrels jumping into tourists pushers and stealing food while they had their back turned, the reindeer enjoying Claire’s’ rendition of ‘Rudolf the Red nose Reindeer’ and Seagulls trying to disguise themselves by painting their faces black.  

"Aren't I supposed to be asleep?"

"If only I was as tough as my name."

"Hey Barry, do you think we could eat this pig?". "No, but we can kick it!"

"Hey you guys, wake up!
Humphry B-Bear is about to start!"

"The Yanks call me a Moose and the Scandinavians call me an Elk.
Talk about an identity crisis. No wonder I've got such a long face."

  

"Ah, nothing like a couple of chips after a ciggy."

"I wish these people would stop singing that song about Rudolph.
I gave him that red nose....the little jerk."

This seagull was suspected of committing an armed robbery
of Fish and Chips on the Stockholm Marina. He is still at large.
Contact Crime Stoppers with any information.