2016-07-04
【Aiden in English】
Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and is commonly known as the "Venice of the North." Although it is not considered an ideal coastal city because its port is too shallow to accommodate a prominent cruise line like Regal Princess, the drive from Nynashamn's docks is barely an hour. Small ships can sail along the Göta Canal and the Baltic Sea to reach Lake Mälaren in the city, which is quite a good idea. The sights along its waterways are stunning, as are the 14 islands, and so is the city. Europe has a monarchical history of kings, queens, and armies conquering other nations. Sweden was a nation at the center of the drama, with stories of conquest and being conquered. In the 16th-19th centuries, the Swedes fought numerous battles, including a 40-year occupation of Finland, which they ultimately lost to the former USSR. Stockholm, at the time, was only a town, and it has survived to this day as the modern city's Old Town, Gamla Stan. Most people can see the difference between the two parts of town, but the recent buildings don't seem like sky-touching skyscrapers. The new technology is outstanding, though. Many interesting structures are present in the city, including the famous Absolute Ice Bar in the Nordic Sea Hotel, which has since melted, and the tallest and first skyscrapers in Europe built in the past half-century. Yet the city accepts its past buildings well, incorporating them into the daily culture. I understand that Swedes can walk through Stortorget, the hub of Old Town, daily without getting tired, but I dislike the cobblestone floor that the Germans helped pave. One misstep may result in an injury to anyone. Instead of looking at the sights, I was watching my step. Luckily, stops were made for the significant scenes, and I was extremely grateful. The tour idea was to walk through most of the old town, which we did, and see the more important places, such as the Royal Palace and Vasa Museum, which is definitely worth the time. Of course, the Swedish Royal Palace's decorations won't match those of Peterhof or Catherine's Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. Still, it did win in the art category. It was built in the 17th century and is noticeably smaller, valued at only a few hundred dollars. However, it has many more portrait paintings and sculptures, most depicting previous kings and queens of Sweden. Each image seemed to have a story, such as when a queen plotted to overthrow the crown or when King Gustav III made a public change. Although it was interesting to hear the tales, I realized the paintings were oddly narcissistic. However, that's usually the case with wealthy countries. The only moment I found a shard of respect in the rulers was the idea of using the other guests' porcelain. Paintings also held symbolic value, such as representing the phases of a man's growth and even certain religious beliefs. Surprisingly, the one religious sculpture wasn't Lutheran but Greek. It explained how the Milky Way was formed, but I couldn't tell you how. Stockholm, when you look at it, is a great city at heart. It performs many positive deeds, such as offering numerous beneficial deals. There is free health care, free schools, and free colleges, even with high-income taxes, and it sounds much better than the USA. In addition, it handed out the Nobel Prizes at the Grand Hotel, and the banquet for the winners was held at Stockholm City Hall. Karma does its job and returns the deeds to Sweden. 【紅霞譯】
斯德哥爾摩“原木浮島”是瑞典的首都，俗稱“北方威尼斯”，由於港口水位淺，難以容下像“公主·帝王”號這樣龐大的遊輪，因此算不上理想的海濱城市，而我們停泊的尼奈斯“少女”港碼頭與首都之間需要大約個把鐘頭的車程，當然小型客船完全可以巧取哥特運河及波羅的海直搗城內沙礫湖，說來甭提有多省事，何況一路上所經十四個大小島嶼風景如畫，斯德哥爾摩同樣叫人賞心悅目。
歐洲歷史上出現過以天皇王后為最高統治者的君主制度，他們不惜訴諸武力強奪它國地盤，瑞典便是這樣一個征服被征服的國家。十六～十九世紀期間，瑞典四處征戰，統治芬蘭長達四十年之久，後來又失手讓給前蘇維埃政權；當時斯德哥爾摩不過是一個默默無聞的小鎮，但是打那開始昔日古城舊貌換新顏，逐漸發展成為今天頗具現代化規模的繁華都市，不少慕名前來拜訪的遊客在目睹巨大變化之餘無不感觸極深，這裡雖然高科技發達，但當地人始終沒有把摩天大樓開發市場納入城市規劃之中，倒是有意添加許多調劑生活情趣的溫馨元素，譬如北歐海洋酒店著名的冷凍酒吧，可惜現在六月初夏什麼東西從那裡拿出來都會蒸發融化，要知道半個世紀前，這家酒店曾以歐洲之最而聞名遐邇。總而言之，斯德哥爾摩在保持民族傳統的前提下，不忘注入時代氣息，從而使歷史文化別具魅力。
我知道當地人即使整天在古城老區里逛盪絲毫不會發一句牢騷，可自己做不到，誰叫古城到處都是德國人一手修建的鵝卵石馬路，稍有疏忽便會遇到麻煩，因此我不得不追求實際，與其抬頭看景不如把注意力放到腳上，幸好每到一處大家都要停下腳步稍事休息，真是謝天謝地。其實今天出遊純粹為了徒步遊覽古城，這正是為什麼剛才我們馬不停蹄走街串巷，此外像皇宮及沉船博物館之類的代表性景點也值得花些時間好好看看。
毋庸置疑，瑞典皇宮遠不及俄羅斯聖彼得堡磐石宮和聖潔宮奢華，但其藝術作品別有特點，該宮殿建於十七世紀占地面積較小，沒有什麼價值上兆的罕世極品，不過卻展出不少肖像繪畫和宮廷雕塑，其中前任天皇王后所占比例極高，每幅作品都隱含各種各樣的趣事軼聞，打個比方來說，王后略施小計推翻天皇、國王神仆三世當眾更衣。以本人所見，閒暇之餘聽些天方夜譚也蠻有意思，然而畫中人物顯得自負冷艷，衣食無憂的國家通常都會這樣，我幡然醒悟統治者只有在一定的時候方才意識到他人存在。繪畫本身極具象徵意義，例如將時間凝固在一個人成長過程中某一階段；還有些繪畫帶有宗教色彩，其中有一幅作品對本國所信奉的路德教避而不談，相反竟出乎意料地渲染希臘天主教，並由此推論銀河系的形成，拜託嘍，千萬別問我怎麼來的。 當你身在其中肯定認為斯德哥爾摩是一個非同尋常童話般的人間仙境，市民們福利豐厚，享受公費醫療，從小學到大學學費全免……即使個人稅收高昂，聽起來仍然好過美國。此外，斯德哥爾摩先在自家開設的大酒店向世人頒發諾貝爾獎，然後再到市政廳為獲獎者舉行盛大的慶功晚宴，好人必得好報，愛心回報愛心，瑞典以此為榮。
Today in History(歷史上的今天): 2016: Nynashamn—1912 Olympic Sailing, Sweden(瑞典尼奈斯港·奧運帆船賽地) 2016: Stockholm—Beauty on the Water, SWE(瑞典斯德哥爾摩·水上仙境) 2016: Stockholm—Venice of the North, SWE(瑞典斯德哥爾摩·北方的威尼斯) 2016: Stockholm Palace, Sweden(瑞典斯德哥爾摩·王宮) 2015: St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican(梵蒂岡聖彼得大教堂) 2015: World's Smallest Country, Holy See(梵蒂岡·世界最小的國家) 2015: Roma―the Eternal City, Italy(意大利羅馬―永恆之城) 2015: All Roads Lead to Rome, Italy(意大利―條條道路通羅馬) 2015: Roman Colosseum, Italy(意大利羅馬角斗場) 2014: July 4th Party(獨立節聚會) 2013: 四年級獨立節(4th Grade Patriots) 2012: 三年級獨立節(3rd Grade Patriots) 2009: 天生的節拍(Natural Beats)  Regal Princess Docked @ Nynashamn
(停泊在尼奈斯港的 "公主·帝王" 號遊輪 07-04-2016)  Stadshuset by Riddarfjärden
(騎士峽灣畔市政廳 07-04-2016)
 Balls after the Nobel Banquet, Golden Hall of Stadshuset
(市政廳金色大廳·諾貝爾頒獎晚宴後舞會所在地 07-04-2016) 
Golden Hall w/ Gustav Vasa，Stadshuset (市政廳金色大廳—神仆國王)
Gloden Hall w/ Mälardrottning, Stadshuset (市政廳金色大廳·沙礫湖女王 07-04-2016)
 Windows of Gloden Hall, Stadshuset
(市政廳金色大廳·窗戶)  Blå Hallen, Nobel Banquet Room @ Stadshuset
(市政廳藍色大廳··諾貝爾頒獎晚宴所在地 07-04-2016)  Upper Level of Blå Hallen, Stadshuset
(市政廳·藍色大廳樓上) 
Guard of the Royal Palace (王宮·門衛 07-04-2016)  Clocks Collection of the Royal Palace
(王宮·鐘錶收藏 07-04-2016) 
Stock Exchange Bldg @ Källargränd (地下室街·築城島證券交易所大樓 07-04-2016) 
House of Ribbing (肋排屋 07-04-2016)  Nobel Prize Museum @ Stortorget
(大廣場·諾貝爾博物館 07-04-2016)
The Old Well @ Stortorget (大廣場·舊水井 07-04-2016)
Storkyrkan w/ Memorial Obelisk to Gustav III (築城島大教堂與神仆三世國王紀念方尖碑 07-04-2016) 
Sun Rarely Reaches Solgränd (太陽胡同·難見天日的巷子 07-04-2016) 
Science Fiction Bokhandeln @ Västerlånggatan (西長街·SFB連鎖科幻書店 07-04-2016)  House of Nobility—South End w/ Statue of Gustaf Eriksson Vasa & Inscription of CLARIS MAIORUM EXEMPLIS.
(貴族院——南端為神仆國王一世雕像並刻有 "以先祖為榜樣" 07-04-2016)  Riddarholmen Viewed from Kungsholmen Island
(從國王島眺望里達霍爾門 "騎士島" 07-04-2016)
 Gamla Stan (老城 07-04-2016)
Riddarholm Church (騎士島教堂 07-04-2016)
 Strandvagen (斯特蘭德 "海濱" 大道 07-04-2016)
 Vasamuseet, the Only Almost Fully Intact 17th-Century Ship in the World
(瓦薩 "麥穗" 海事博物館·世上唯一一艘幾乎完全保存完好的17世紀船隻)  Vasamuseet (海事博物館 07-04-2016)
 Vasa Model @ Vasamuseet (海事博物館·沉船模型)
 Bar of Bishop's Arms (主教雙臂餐廳·吧檯 07-04-2016)
 Lunch @ Bishop's Arms (主教雙臂餐廳·午餐)
 瑞典麵包、瑞典沙拉、瑞典肉丸和土豆泥
 Falun Gong Practitioner outside City Hall
(市政廳外練法輪功者)  Barnacle Geese (白頰黑雁)
Crosslinks(相關博文):
Sweden(出遊瑞典)
Europe(歐洲掠影) 7th Grade(初中二年級) |
