A View From Skogskyrkogarden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Final Resting Place of Screen Legend Greta Garbo
Close-up of the Tomb StoneI woke up around 7:00 this morning, turned around and slept again until 8:00. The problem this morning was that my stomach was really upset and I didn't feel like doing too much. It was clear that I would have to cancel my reservation for the smörgåsbord, which I will have to try some other time. I am not sure what is to blame. Last time, it was nerves about my finances and adjusting to new surroundings. I am guessing it could be something I ate (the shrimp, mayonnaise, wine, metre long candy, slush, beer, souffle, sorbet... many likely culprits...).
I went downstairs and had my breakfast and then worked on my blog for a while at one of the computers in the business centre. Then, I went back to my room, shaved, got ready and called Hans. It was around 11:00 a.m. then, and I wanted to let him know that I had waited for him last night until around 10:00. He told me he got there around 10:00, so we must have just missed each other. In any event, he said that he was just hanging out in his garden this morning, and if I wanted to, I could come over for coffee or something. So, I had a pleasant stroll through a park and got to his place about a half hour later. Hans's house is really quite nice. It's a corner flat in a townhouse condo thingy, and across the street from his house is the southern shore of Södermalm. Hans kept apologizing for the mess at his place, but I said that my place was always messy, so I didn't think his was. We sat on his back deck for a while, just chatting and admiring the view. I took several pictures. He then asked me what my plans were for the afternoon. I said that I had not really made any, I was just trying to take things easy and rest a bit after doing so much the past few days. I was pretty sure I wouldn't want to do another museum today. So he suggested that I go for a walk with him across the canal, on Hammarby, an area I had not yet been to. We took a ferry to Hammarby, and Hans showed me the small library he likes to go to to read the paper and listen to music. It looked like a very quaint spot. From there, we walked around for a bit until Hans said he should do some grocery shopping. I suggested that since I was south of Södermalm, it might be a good occasion for me to continue further south to get to Skogskyrkogården, the cemetary where Greta Garbo is buried. Hans told me that would be a great idea and that I should take plenty of pictures, because he has never been there. He escorted me to the bus that would take me to Slussen so that I could take the subway south to Skogskyrkogården.
I was very tired -- and not having lunch did not help things -- but I took the bus to Slussen, all the while struggling to stay awake. I thought it would not be a good idea to fall asleep on the bus, because then I would have no way of knowing where I'd end up. I got to Slussen around 2:00, and took the subway something like 8 stations south from there.
Skogskyrkogården is a stunning cemetery set in the woodlands. It was designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site, and I can see why. I took several photographs while I was there. At the entrance to the cemetery, there is a map indicating where Greta Garbo's grave is located, so I made towards that spot. After a while, it became obvious to me that I would simply follow the tourists. There were not that many, but they were clustered in one area near where the map had indicated she was buried.
When I got there, it was a very beautiful grave site, set aside from all the other graves. There is an elegant grave marker with a very long bed of red roses. I sat on a bench near the tomb and remembered scenes from movies she had starred in. Then, I took out my iPod and listened to the only song I could think of that had some connection to this site: America's "Right Before My Eyes", which has the line: "And then just like Greta Garbo, Staring like there's no tomorrow".
I slowly left the cemetery and gradually made my way back to the Skogskyrkogården subway station to take the subway back to the hotel. I got to the Skanstull station around 3:30 and stopped at a grocery store to get a small baguette. I was starving, and with my very upset stomach, I didn't want to risk anything heavier. So that is pretty much where I am at right now. I may very well decide to go back to some TV this afternoon. If I rest up well enough today, perhaps tomorrow I can tackle more museums.
Thinking of you, Troy.
I miss you.
M.
I went downstairs and had my breakfast and then worked on my blog for a while at one of the computers in the business centre. Then, I went back to my room, shaved, got ready and called Hans. It was around 11:00 a.m. then, and I wanted to let him know that I had waited for him last night until around 10:00. He told me he got there around 10:00, so we must have just missed each other. In any event, he said that he was just hanging out in his garden this morning, and if I wanted to, I could come over for coffee or something. So, I had a pleasant stroll through a park and got to his place about a half hour later. Hans's house is really quite nice. It's a corner flat in a townhouse condo thingy, and across the street from his house is the southern shore of Södermalm. Hans kept apologizing for the mess at his place, but I said that my place was always messy, so I didn't think his was. We sat on his back deck for a while, just chatting and admiring the view. I took several pictures. He then asked me what my plans were for the afternoon. I said that I had not really made any, I was just trying to take things easy and rest a bit after doing so much the past few days. I was pretty sure I wouldn't want to do another museum today. So he suggested that I go for a walk with him across the canal, on Hammarby, an area I had not yet been to. We took a ferry to Hammarby, and Hans showed me the small library he likes to go to to read the paper and listen to music. It looked like a very quaint spot. From there, we walked around for a bit until Hans said he should do some grocery shopping. I suggested that since I was south of Södermalm, it might be a good occasion for me to continue further south to get to Skogskyrkogården, the cemetary where Greta Garbo is buried. Hans told me that would be a great idea and that I should take plenty of pictures, because he has never been there. He escorted me to the bus that would take me to Slussen so that I could take the subway south to Skogskyrkogården.
I was very tired -- and not having lunch did not help things -- but I took the bus to Slussen, all the while struggling to stay awake. I thought it would not be a good idea to fall asleep on the bus, because then I would have no way of knowing where I'd end up. I got to Slussen around 2:00, and took the subway something like 8 stations south from there.
Skogskyrkogården is a stunning cemetery set in the woodlands. It was designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site, and I can see why. I took several photographs while I was there. At the entrance to the cemetery, there is a map indicating where Greta Garbo's grave is located, so I made towards that spot. After a while, it became obvious to me that I would simply follow the tourists. There were not that many, but they were clustered in one area near where the map had indicated she was buried.
When I got there, it was a very beautiful grave site, set aside from all the other graves. There is an elegant grave marker with a very long bed of red roses. I sat on a bench near the tomb and remembered scenes from movies she had starred in. Then, I took out my iPod and listened to the only song I could think of that had some connection to this site: America's "Right Before My Eyes", which has the line: "And then just like Greta Garbo, Staring like there's no tomorrow".
I slowly left the cemetery and gradually made my way back to the Skogskyrkogården subway station to take the subway back to the hotel. I got to the Skanstull station around 3:30 and stopped at a grocery store to get a small baguette. I was starving, and with my very upset stomach, I didn't want to risk anything heavier. So that is pretty much where I am at right now. I may very well decide to go back to some TV this afternoon. If I rest up well enough today, perhaps tomorrow I can tackle more museums.
Thinking of you, Troy.
I miss you.
M.
A song tribute to Greta Garbo at her grave. You are a great big sentimental teddy bear. Rest up, feel better. Turn off the TV! You can do that when you get home. LOL
ReplyDeletePS: we won $2.00 on the last ticket! I will treat you half an ice cream when you get back! LOL
Let's not spend it all on one thing! LOL
ReplyDelete