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The Home of ABBA, Stockholm with Ase, David & Claire

The Home of ABBA, Stockholm
 We were all so excited for our private tour of the ABBA museum. Our guide gave us headsets and we listened attentively. He was so knowledgeable and entertaining. We were able to enter the recording booths where we turned into pop stars, singing along to the ABBA hits. We saw so many gold record awards, and the original costumes that the group wore in the 1970's. A definite highlight was the chance to appear on stage with the group, singing and dancing to their hits, and some of us were definitely natural performers and loved the limelight! 


The afternoon was spent on an a fun boat trip on the 'hop on, hop off' tourist circuit, ensuring that we took in the main tourist sights and didn't miss a thing. Some took advantage of the audio accompaniment using headphones to learn more, while others were quite happy to look out of the window and let the world dreamily float by.

The Viking museum was fascinating and a chance to understand the real humans behind the Viking myths. Everyone immensely enjoyed trying on the Viking helmets and carrying their shields and weapons to get a real feel of what it must have been like. There was so much information about the people that lived in those times, and with the interactive ride telling a story of a fictional Viking family too, the history really came alive.


Our next stop was the Royal Drottningholm Palace, which we had to take a boat to get there.  The boat ride itself was really special and for nearly an hour we relaxed, basking in the sunshine on the deck, watching the houses, parks and people go by.

 

  As we walked towards the impressive facade of the Palace, built in the 1700's it was truly breath-taking in size. Once inside we viewed bed chambers covered in gold leaf, kept for important visitors, and a magnificent shimmering gold library, with shelves packed from floor to ceiling with books. The highlight was perhaps the theatre, which was over 200 years old and still in use, with a full programme of concerts and performances this year. We had a private tour, where the guide explained the history of the building and what it would have been like to watch a play or concert there many, many years ago. It was like stepping back in time and we all tried to imagine how wonderful it would have been.


 



 Getting around the City was so easy with the great underground connections. 


We were fortunate to witness the 'changing of the guard', and a procession with a marvellous band accompanying the ceremony at the Royal Family's Palace in the old town. We walked up the cobbled streets marvelling at the buildings and architecture, some of which has not been altered since the 1300's. 
  
We picked a traditional little cafe in one of the squares where we had the most delicious sandwiches and Swedish drinks on a rooftop terrace that looked out onto fabulous views. 

And we always had room for an ice cream! We were on holiday after all! 

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