A day's excursion to
where the Nobel Banquet is held,

a UNESCO World Heritage Site

and attended

a Maronite Service of the Holy Mysteries..

Visited the Stockholm City Hall today..
The work of Ragnar Östberg, it was completed in 1923..
It is Sweden’s foremost examples of 'national romanticism'..

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This is the Blue Hall where the Nobel Banquet is held annually on December 10.. Original plans called for the bricks in the hall to be painted blue but Östberg had a last-minute change of heart and chose to keep the natural red color of the bricks instead.. At this point however the name Blue Hall was so firmly established that it was too late to change, so the name remained despite the fact that the hall isn’t blue at all..

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The Council Chamber..
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This is the Oval, a vaulted antechamber whose name is derived from its oval shape.. The walls of the Oval are covered with a series of five, 300 year-old tapestries.. These tapestries were made at Beauvais in France.. Every Saturday, civil wedding services are conducted here..

The walls of the Golden Hall are covered with more than 18 million glass and gold mosaic pieces, the work of artist Einar Forseth.. Using a Byzantine inspired style the mosaics depict portraits of historical figures and events in Swedish history.. This is where guests of the Nobel Banquet proceed to dance after their meal in the Blue Hall..


Sången by Carl Eldh at the City Hall Park..

Drottningholm Palace, the private residence of the Swedish royal family
and a UNESCO World Heritage Site..

One of many statues in the palace grounds..

The impressive library of Queen Lovisa Ulrika,

an excellent example of the Gustavian style by Jean Eric Rehn..

We weren't supposed to take pictures inside the palace actually..

But then you won't be able to know how it looks like inside..
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Ouch!

A royal guard in winter attire..

Was in the English Garden when a large, black dog appeared suddenly

and frightened a flock of geese into the air.. It was a beautiful sight..

Branch on the frozen pond..

I threw the branch there and challenged Kim to walk on the ice..

Gate to the English and Baroque gardens..

Geese..

Kim (aka Big 'Little Red Riding Hood') in the Baroque garden..

The shadows of Kim, myself and JJ..

More statues in the palace grounds.. I like this one especially..

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Ended my day with a trip down to Saint Eric's Cathedral for the twice a month Maronite Service of the Holy Mysteries with Kim.. It was a truly eye-opening experience..