Day 11: The Last Day (sort of)

Our last day in Sweden was extremely pleasant. It didn't rain (which was nice) and we had an easy going day. Not a lot of running around and not NEARLY as much walking as the day before.

We slept in (sort of) and once again Bertil made us some delicious (Swedish) pancakes. Bertil & Maud then asked us what we really wanted to do - and I said - I REALLY want to go to some royal gardens. So off to Drottningholm Palace we went!

Drottningholm Palace is where the royal family currently lives (there are 10 or 11 palaces throughout Sweden, I believe. Most of them in the south). This palace is on a (drivable) island not too far from Stockholm's city center. It took us maybe 20-30 minutes to drive to.

The palace was built in the 1760s (if memory serves) by a Queen and has been partially "updated" over the years. Some rooms we saw were more of the original style (Baroque) while others had been updated (Roccoco). It was nice to get a glimpse inside although we could take no photos. I also got my need for a "museum" on this trip filled. I had been missing that element!

What I was most excited about though were the gardens. They were done in the "Versailles" style and they were beautiful.

They stretched out far beyond the palace and parts of them were open for us to wander through. There were fountains and lovely rows and rows of trees, wide open grassy areas and more closed off private areas. I kept imaging secret liasons happening here...or perhaps mischevieous children running and hiding from their nannies. Oh my imagination was running wild!

Of course while there we had to stop in the garden cafe for some coffee and waffles! Actually Steve & I had sandwiches (they were actually normal sandwiches) and Bertil & Maud had the väffla.

One unique aspect of this palace is the Chinese Pavilion. Back in....um, I can't remember what year....the King built this "Pavilion" for his Queen as a gift. At that time, anything Asian was particularly exotic and coveted so this was quite the gift! It was used primarily as a retreat for the royal family to "get away" from court life for a while. Camping I suppose (haha).


We enjoyed strolling the sprawling grounds (which you can visit for free - bring the kids, bring a picnic! relax, enjoy!) but soon it was time to go.

We had reservations at the ICE BAR which we couldn't miss.




The Absolut Ice Bar is in the city center and it is what it sounds like. An entire bar made of ice. It's located in the lobby of the Nordic Seas Hotel and is associated with the Ice Hotel which is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay up north. It's expensive to get into, we had to make reservations the day before and it's cold (23 degrees Farenheit). You get a special parka & gloves when you enter and your "cover" charge also gets you one vodka cocktail (that's all the serve...well, that and juices. Guess what I had?). The drinks come in these cool (literally, figuratively) ice glasses

and you sit on benches made of ice (covered, thankfully in reindeer skins). They have cool (sorry) music playing and it has an interesting vibe. Basically you go in, soak up the novelty...take a few pictures and be on your merry way. That's what we did anyway.

After the ice bar it was time to head back to Segeltorp to start packing all of our stuff and have one last dinner. We feasted on grilled bananas wrapped in bacon (try it! They're good!!), grilled mushrooms and bbq pork. It was a lovely way to end our big long vacation.

We had to leave their house at 4am so we tried to get to bed as early as possible....mixed results.