Trip Update: Dartmouth Enjoys Old Town Stockholm

Photo by Heather Croze

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Today was another full day as the group spent most of the day in Gamla stan or "Old Town". We were joined today by the Reber family. Along with the Rebers, we now have the Lee's, the Markowitz's, Mr. Pritchard, Mr. Wolter, Lynne and Kelly Gaudet as well as Karen Whittet as family members who are on the trip as well.

Pars took us the scenic way to Old Town, taking us by Stockholm University. The University has an enrollment over 40,000 students and is free to residents of Sweden. All the students have to pay is roughly $80 USD per semester as education as well as health care is free in both Sweden and Denmark.

Gamla stan consists primarily of the island Stadsholmen. The surrounding islets Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen, and Strömsborg are part of, but not officially included. The word "stan" simply means "the city."

The town dates back to the 13th century, and consists of medieval alleyways, cobbled streets, and archaic architecture. Stortorget is the name of the scenic large square in the centre of Gamla Stan, which is surrounded by old merchant's houses including the Stockholm Stock Exchange Building. The square was the site of the Stockholm Bloodbath, where Swedish noblemen were massacred by the Danish King Christian II in November, 1520. The following revolt and civil war led to the dissolution of the Kalmar Union and the subsequent election of King Gustav I.

As well as being home to the Stockholm Cathedral, the Nobel Museum, and the Riddarholm church, Gamla stan also boasts Kungliga slottet, Sweden's baroque Royal Palace, built in the 18th century after the previous palace Tre Kronor burned down. The House of Knights is on the north-western corner of Gamla stan.

The bus dropped us off at Gamla stan in front of the church and next to the Royal Palaces. We were given several hours to explore the cobble-stone streets and narrow alleyways as there were quaint, charming shops everywhere you looked.

A quick look inside the church showed Romanesque architecture as the ceiling was covered in paintings and stained-glass windows lined the top. The wood-hewn pews all faced a center altar decorated in flowers and candles.

In the adjoining palace the personal offices of the monarch (currently Carl XVI Gustaf) and the other members of the Swedish royal family as well as the administrative offices of the Royal Court of Sweden are located here. The palace has 609 rooms and is one of the largest royal palaces in the world still in use for its original purpose. The palace consists of four rows: western, southern, eastern, and northern. The southern façade represents the nation, the west façade represents the king, the east façade represents the queen, and the northern façade represents the common royal.

As in Copenhagen, we had the opportunity to see the changing of the guards at the Royal Palace. While the pomp and circumstance were not there as in Denmark, it was still a cool thing to observe as six guards march around the palace and one peels off to replace a guard standing at attention. The palace is guarded by the Högvakten, a royal guard of members of the Swedish Armed Forces. Pars told us that every male in Sweden is required to serve at least a week of military duty and when he served he was a member of the royal guard.

After Gamla stan the team headed back to the rink for another evening practice. Everyone was excited as yesterday's practice was "one of the best I've ever had" as uttered by captain Rob Pritchard. Josh Gillam commented that practicing outside was one of the most fun practices and Gillam should know as he is a dual-sport athlete at Dartmouth. He participates not only with the Big Green men's hockey team but as a two-year member of the men's lacrosse team, so he should know a lot about practices.

Dinner was in a more residential part of Stockholm. The group met up with Pars at the T-Station and he personally escorted us to O'Leary's Sports Bar. The bar was completed outfitted in everything Boston, Massachusetts and New England. Brian Corcoran, our equipment manager, even provided the restaurant with an old jersey in which the manager said he would hang right over the bar. After a dinner of burgers, fries and cokes, it was back to the T for a relatively quick ride back to the hote.

One of the most exciting parts of the day was to see the new hairstyles that juniors Peter Boldt and Gillam were sporting. The two had decided they would walk into a hair studio and ask for the haircut all the men in Sweden were sporting. Needless to say they both look younger and with less hair, but much more stylish.

Tomorrow the BIig Green will head about 45 minutes out of the city to Sodertalje for its second game of the trip. The name might sound familiar and that is because Boldt spent a year playing for Sodertalje and he's been eager to impart his knowledge on Sweden if you ask.