Stockholm - Fourteen Islands. Archipelago.

Stockholm:  Aim for the Old City

This is a town on fourteen islands, so choose an easily found destination -- usually the old town is well marked.  Park safely, and walk. Find sculptures, this one of a joyous guitar, is held by -- who?  We wrote it down, have to find the log.  Meanwhile, find more unusual instruments at http://siegelproductions.ca/fiddlefarmers/unusualinstruments.html

First impressions of Stockholm:  old and new, side by side. Surprises around corners.

Evert Taube, Stockholm, Troubadour, Old Town, Gamla Stan

Statues are in settings for a purpose.  Here, the waterfront is at the heart of the work of one Evert Taube: Troubadour, who especially loved and collected sailors' songs.  He lived from 1890-1976, and is much beloved -- hear and see him from 1921 at Evert Taube, YouTube, Byasan Lull. Go for more at  Evert Taube, YouTube again.  He was a singer and a songwriter, not just for mariners, see bio at http://evert-taube.co.tv/#Biography.
More songs:  Brevet fran lillan, here on YouTube

Taube is a noble family, see its coat of arms at http://armorialblog.wordpress.com/category/swedish-heraldry/page/3/ Evert Taube's son, Sven-Bertil, was also a musician, and you can hear him at the armorialblog site. Click away. Or click for YouTube here

The Old Town:  manageable. Park and walk.  Here is a walking tour site, at http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/city-guides/stockholm-walking-tour-1/

Stockholm view toward Gamla Stan

Repurposing old ships.  In Antwerp, these were called flotels. If you can't find a room in a port city, try the docks.

Stockholm, old vessels become hotels, restaurants

The water is good quality, enabling fishing right downtown.

Stockholm, active fishing nets

No railings make for easy on and off the boats, and right off the docks if you are backing up for a better picture on the shore. In Europe, you are supposed to look where you are going.

Stockholm waterfront. Watch yachts, and water buses and huge tour boats pass

King Gustav III in 1792 began a museum, the Museum of Antiquities located in a wing of the castle in the Old Town. He had been in Italy 1783-84, was obviously impressed, and brought back sculptures and sculptures; and artifacts. It was never quite finished, see photos at http://www.stockholmgamlastan.se/lang_en/se_gora/antikmuseet.php

Stockholm, King Gustav, Gamla Stan, Old City

Then take a short water ride around.

Stockholm view to government buildings

Dan Widing in Stockholm, waterfront

Be careful not to direct your subject to back up too far.

Dan Widing upstages palace guard, Stockholm

From this fjord archipelago of so many islands, the waterway fans back and widens to pass Vasteras and Orebro, the fjord depth enabling a prosperous water trade for centuries.  Settlements once on the water, however, are now inland with the silting.