This post about the capitals of Nordic countries inspired me to write @MortenSI and @DanniS. My post isn’t such magical, fabulous as ‘Magical Winter in Lapland’ by @Ruxellan, not such tasty and cozy as ‘To the Stockholm Fairy Tail by Ferry’ by @JaneBurunina. Nevertheless, I will try.
Well, I visited the capitals of Northern Europe some time ago and the details have already been erased in my memory. But the general impression remained and I could well make a rating of the Northern capitals. At the time when I studied geography at school, these five countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland) were called the Scandinavian countries. Now Denmark, Sweden and Norway are considered Scandinavian, and together with Finland and Iceland they are the Nordic countries. (I was once corrected in my geographical knowledge by @TorM. ?I will try to be more accurate this time.)
So, let’s start.
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Fifth on my list of Nordic countries is Oslo. Norway is considered the richest of the Nordic countries (judging by GDP per capita). And I know that the most beautiful landscapes are in the west of the country. Numerous ?fjords crash into land and form a rugged, jagged coastline. On that trip, I wasn’t particularly able to see Oslo, because the trip was short-lived and I stayed in a hotel outside the city. But, what struck me was the fact that in early December the weather was cloudy and foggy in the city, and the real winter outside the city in the mountains. I stayed at a hotel near Voksenkollen subway station. Approaching the hotel, I felt like a taste of champagne. The mountain landscape, the snow-covered firs and pines, the light frost caused me a real delight. From the window of the hotel a breathtaking view of Holmenkollen Ski Jump opened. Walking next to the hotel, I met many people skiing and sledding. The terrain in the mountains near Oslo is the best place to celebrate the New Year !!!
In the city, I managed to visit the Viking Ship Museum and Vigeland Park. In the museum of ships, I saw several ships of the Viking era. (They turned out to be funerary.) The exhibition of the Viking era also includes sledges, horseshoe, buckets and other utensils. The theme of the Vigeland Park is the state of man. Each of the sculptures conveys a specific set of emotions. I was already almost at sunset in the park (and the sunset in Oslo at the beginning of December at 15.20 ?) and therefore I wasn’t able to take a beautiful and high-quality photo. Also, just before leaving, I managed to run through Karl Johans Gate. Karl Johans Gate is the main pedestrian street in Oslo with a large number of souvenir shops, restaurants, hotels. I would stuck there for a couple of hours !!!
Oslo in my list of capitals Nordic countries in last place only because I couldn’t properly consider this Northern capital.
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The next fourth place in my list of capitals Nordic countries takes Helsinki. It reminded me of the Russian city of St. Petersburg, especially in the area of Senate Square. And it isn’t surprising that in the 20th century filmmakers all over the world made films about Russia on Finnish streets. Also in Helsinki I remembered Aleksanterinkatu pedestrian street with plenty of shops, restaurants, cafes. On Market Square they sell fish, vegetables, fruits, all kinds of souvenirs. You can even get yourself a ?deer skin. In Helsinki, many people do sports, run, ride a bicycle. And there are all conditions for this. Walking around Meripuisto park, I was surprised at the length of the bicycle and pedestrian paths and overlooking the sea. In a hurry, I managed to see Kaisaniemi park. I saw a greenhouse, many trees, flower beds and a crowd of young people walking in the park.
Helsinki is a great city for relaxation and a quiet lifestyle.
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The third place on my list is Copenhagen. This city has everything, old quarters, palaces, modern buildings. The symbol of the city is the Little Mermaid, which is located on Langelinie promenade. There are always a lot of visitors next to this bronze figure.
The place that struck me the most was Nyhavn, a city canal with a length of just over 1 kilometer. On the left side of Nyhavn there are many bars, restaurants, cafes where you can enjoy a cup of warming latte. Previously, the local Red Light district was located here.
In Copenhagen, I happened to see 2 palaces. These are Amalienborg and Christiansborg. Amalienborg Palace is the residence of the royal family. The ceremony of changing the guard takes place in front of the palace everyday at noon. Christiansborg Palace is the building of the Danish Parliament.
Kastellet fortress seemed very photogenic in Copenhagen. The fortress still has the status of a military facility. Surprisingly, I just found out that the island on which the barracks are located is a pentagonal star.
Well, I would also like to refer Tivoli Gardens (a park with the same name is in Minsk, Belarus) and Freetown Christiania to the sights of Copenhagen. In Freetown you can buy handmade souvenirs and plunge into the world of hippie culture.
Copenhagen really fascinates, immerses in the world of fairy tales and sea adventures !!!
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Second place on my list of capitals Nordic countries is Reykjavik. Of course, no one comes to Reykjavik to enjoy only the capital of Iceland. In Iceland you need to watch the whole island. But Reykjavik itself is a place that creates a lot of impressions. The smell of oil and something fried is spreading throughout the city. Showcases beckon with their lights. I would go to the bar and have a glass of beer. There is a feeling that you are at the edge of the world, but you can’t say otherwise. And it is worth seeing Hallgrímskirkja Church. (?Yes, I know, I’m a master at telling something without providing a photo.) Unlike the Belarusian church, the interior decoration is very concise. It looks absolutely unusual from the outside !!! It looks like a space rocket pierces the sky. And of course, the magnificent promenade of Reykjavik. Architectural works here are confronted with works of nature art. The coast overlooks the ocean and mountains. The Sun Voyager sculpture on the promenade in the form of a ship attracts all tourists and doesn’t get tired of numerous selfies. The landscape is cold and tempting.
Reykjavik is the smallest of the Nordic countries capitals. But this doesn’t prevent it from taking second place on my list due to his indescribable atmosphere.
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And finally, the winner of my rating. This is, you guessed it, Stockholm. Stockholm can be called the capital of all of Scandinavia. It isn’t surprising, because during the heyday of the Swedish Empire, it included part of modern Finland, Norway, Latvia, Estonia and other territories. The landscape of the city is the embedding of ?water into the land (the influence of a glacier). Numerous islands alternate with sea bays. For this reason, there are many bridges in Stockholm. How beautifully black trains rush over bridges over the water !!!
In Stockholm, it seemed to me, there is a unique, one-of-a-kind architectural style. (I saw a similar one only here in Niaśviž, Belarus.) And of course, 2 more famous sights won me over. This is Karlsson’s roof (there are still many alleged Karlsson roofs in Stockholm) and Nobel Museum dedicated to the Nobel Prize. These 2 sights are located on Stortorget Square in the medieval town of Gamla Stan. Among the sights that I would like to visit is Junibacken Museum dedicated to the creation of Astrid Lindgren.
Well, don’t forget that Sweden is one of the legislators in the world of design. And it is felt everywhere, on street screens, on posters, in transport. The graphics in the city are simply striking in their thoughtfulness and conciseness. But what a wonderful Stockholm subway !!! It is rightly considered the best in the world. (I don’t have a photo of the subway, but a photo of the Arlanda Airport.) The subway is cut in the rocks and the original reliefs decided to leave.
Stockholm is a capital city, however, it remains a great city for relaxing and sports. Visit Stockholm is a must.
That was my rating of the capitals of Nordic сountries. And you, my friends, I recommend traveling more. (?What we are doing successfully !!!) After all, traveling isn’t only a way to know the world, but also a way to know ourselves !!!
