Sweden by Rosemary Barrass

From Ireland, you will fly to Sweden. It will cost 432€ to go on a one stop flight to Stockholm from Dublin when flying with Czech Airlines. You can exchange $1000 for 7937 Swedish Krona (SEK). To get a rental car, it will cost 1508SEK for a mid-size car for three days. You will stay three nights at the Hotel Bentleys which will cost a grand total of about 2477SEK. You will be left with about 3952SEK.

First, you will go to the Nordiska Museet (Nordic Museum). There you can find all the things from Sweden past. This museum showcases much of old Sweden's cultural life. They showcase some of the odd fashions of the Swedish people in the 1890s. When you first enter the museum, you are greeted by a humongous, pink-tinted statue of Gustav Vasa, one of Sweden's great sculptors.

Next you will go to Rosendals Trädgård (Rosendal Botanical Garden). This can be one of the most appealing places in Sweden for anyone who has every tried to grow a plant. In 1817, this garden became the place for the Rosendal Palace that sits on a hillock above the biggest and most varied commercial organic gardens in Stokholm. The Swedish Horticultural Society movec their headquarters to these amazing gardens, proving just how important these gardens have become to plant-lovers.

Skansen is the next place for you to visit. It was the first ever open-air museum to open in the world when it was finished in 1891. This museum is often called "Old Sweden in a Nutshell". This museum has over 150 reconstructed dwellings that mimic the buildings that were around in the 18th-19th centuries. Admission is 50-80SEK.

Next, you will visit the historic Vasa museum. The Vasa is the oldest complete and identified ship in the world. When the ship left the harbor on its voyage in 1628, it capsized and sank almost instantly. When they salvaged it in 1961, it was an engineering and archaeological triumph. Over 4,000 coins, carpenters' tools, sailors' pants, and other items were found when they brought the ship up. Also, they were able to recover many of the sculptures that have been carefully restored and returned to the vessel. The cost of admission is a total of 80SEK.

You should go out to eat at the Cattelin Restaurant for the true taste of Sweden. This restaurant has been around since 1897 and has remained a well-priced, nice place to eat through all of the wars and fads that have swept through Sweden. They serve all kinds of preparations of beef, salmon, trout, veal, and chicken.

You can go to Stockholms Auktionsverket (Stockholm Auction Chambers) if you're interested in some shopping. This auction company is the oldest in the world, founded in 1674. About 150,000 auctions are held there every year. You can find anything from pottery to Picasso at thes auctions, and all at a great bargain.

For some relaxation and a good drink, the Icebar is the place to go. This is the world's first permanent ice bar. Yes, it's a bar entirely made of ice. Every piece of furniture and all the glasses are made of ice, so wear your warmest outfit so that you won't freeze in this "cool" bar.

Another great place to go is Drottningholm Palace and Theater. The palace is grand and regal where it sits on its island in Lake Mälaren. The royal family still lives in the palace, but they live in a sectioned off part of the palace that is heavily guarded. The palace is referred to as the Versailles of Sweden because of its beauty and complexity. Admission is 120SEK in total.

Next on your trip is Riddarholm Skyrkam. This is the second-oldest church in Stockholm. It was made in the 13th century as a Franciscan monastery. It is now a virtual pantheon of Swedish kings. The last king to be buried there was in 1950, King Gustav V. Some of the greatest monarchs of Sweden are buried here. As you walk through, you will be basically walking on the tombstones of loyalty. Admission comes to a total 60SEK.

Den Gyldene Freden is the place to go for fantastic Swedish food. It is one of Sweden's oldest taverns, having been opened in 1722. Many Swedish famous singers have eaten here, like Carl Michael Bellman. You can get some really good traditional Swedish food here like fresh Baltic fish and local game dishes, or more modern foods like sauteed duck breast with pickled pumpkin and warm rose-hip soup with vanilla ice cream.