23rd day (30.8.22)

In my hammock it was cool when the first light broke through the green tarp. I was snuggled deep in my sleeping bag, with only my face sticking out. I decided to get ahead of the previous day, bit the bullet, and opened my sleeping bag. I quickly put on my daytime clothes and started cramming my sleeping spot back into my backpack. It was not even six o'clock in the morning when I started running. I took the path back to the train station, where I wanted to make my reservation for the train to Malmö. I had already decided that I would take the night train and pay a little more for it. However, there were no counters at the train station, which I found out from the few employees, because they were closed due to the pandemic. So I booked the reservation online and also took a flyer with the map of Stockholm.

First, I went to the historic old town 'Gamla Stan, which was located on one of the many islands that make up the city. Through narrow alleys, I walked through the canyons of houses on uneven cobblestones. I felt like I was in a cooler version of Italy. There was a sweet café, an inviting pub, or a crazy bookstore on every corner. Stockholm had won me over in no time, and my enthusiasm grew with every step. The house walls were adorned with shop signs that revealed the names of the stores in white on black. Every now and then a church tower protruded over the roofs or a small square with statues and fountains reminded me of a clearing in the forest. I spent more than an hour on the island before continuing my exploration.

I had arranged to meet a couchsurfer in a park, and together we walked to an island where we both wanted to go to different museums. I went to the Vasa Museum, which exhibited a sunken warship, and he went to the Nordisk Museum, as he had already visited the first one the day before.

The Vasa Museum was absolutely worth its expensive entrance fee. The ship, which capsized and sunk on its maiden voyage in the 17th century and was salvaged in the 20th century, was a true masterpiece. Not in terms of its seafaring ability, of course, but the decorations and statues on its hull made it a (limited) floating work of art. Due to the ship's great height and the open cannon ports, it was only a gust of wind that condemned the colossus. Less than half an hour after leaving the port, in the middle of the city, the journey was already over. I learned about the history of the construction, the salvage, and the restoration. The court processes, the crew, and the significance. As well as Swedish culture and their approach to failure. After two hours, I left the museum with a full head.

In front of the gates of Vasa, I met up again with Oleksander, the Ukrainian traveler who studies in Slovakia. We talked about the visit, and he served as a tour guide since he had been in the metropolis for two days longer than me. We walked into the city to have lunch and then returned to the museum island for a walk, where ironically I saw my first deer in Scandinavia. After that, we sat down for coffee in the old town.

As evening approached, we walked to a high-lying park on another island, from where we had a view of the floating capital, and I started cooking dinner for us. Together, we produced avocado sandwiches and pasta alla pesto and enjoyed the meal as the sun set. We danced a little with a Chilean while the clouds turned pink until we descended back into the city.

We had arranged to meet with two Ukrainian girls, with whom we had a drink in a bar on Oleksander's invitation and had a lively conversation. As the evening turned into night, I said goodbye and we both left the bar. Oleksander accompanied me to the train, where we said our heartfelt goodbyes and thanked each other for the wonderful time.

I got on the train, found my cabin, and climbed onto the upper bunk assigned to me. I organized my things and freshened up. Finally, I lay down on my bed, where I am now sitting and writing.