Northern countries III: A stroll in Stockholm

The "by sea" approach to Stockholm is via a passage joining the Baltic to the mouth of Lake Mälaren, Sweden's third largest lake. The passage is fairly narrow, and one can view the summer houses and cottages on either side during the last couple hours of the cruise. The city of Stockholm immediately impresses. The architecture gracefully blends old and new, and the warm array of pastels blended perfectly with this fresh blue late spring day. The shuttle bus dropped us at Slussen, just across from the old city, Gamla Stan (above, as seen from the ship). The first thing I noticed were all the posters for rock concerts: Pink, Clapton, Depeche Mode, James Brown, Joe Satriani, Slayer. I have an abiding interest in these posters, for the range of styles and styistic vocabulary they represent: Brazilian, Electronica, Funk, Jazz, Latin, Punk, Rock, Soul, Reggaeton. These complement my studies of stylistic vocabularies in local records stores. One of the most charming musical images I came across in this most charming of cities, was that of 19th century opera singer Jenny Lind, known to the world as "the Swedish nightingale." Her American tour was managed by none other than P. T. Barnum. Today, her image adorns the 50 Kroner note (value approximately 7 US dollars). See below, along with other photos of Stockholm in mid-June 2006.