Islands, Stones, and Shadows: My Swedish Adventure
I’ve always believed the best kind of travel is the kind that leaves you a little breathless—surprised, inspired, and maybe even a bit haunted. My recent trip to Sweden delivered all of that and more. From ancient Viking history carved into stone to a surreal political speech from a sailboat, every moment felt like a story unfolding in real-time.
The journey began with a short layover in Iceland, and though it was brief, it was enough to give me and my traveling companions, my daughters Delainey and Rileigh along with their stepsister Kalyn, a taste of that windswept, alien world. Just walking outside the airport was an experience—cold, clean air, volcanic rock fields stretching in every direction, and that soft Arctic light that makes everything feel otherworldly. I grabbed a coffee in the terminal, looked out at the vast, mossy plains beyond the runway, and made a mental note: I need to come back here one day.
A few hours later, we touched down in Stockholm, and I was immediately struck by how the city manages to feel both deeply historic and effortlessly modern. Our base for the trip was the Hotel Nordic Light, a stylish, contemporary hotel with artistic lighting displays and warm Scandinavian design. What made it perfect, though, was its location—just a five-minute walk from Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town. That proximity made it easy to explore the heart of the city without ever needing a cab.
We wasted no time settling in. That first evening, as the sun dipped behind the rooftops, we joined a sunset ghost tour of Old Stockholm. Our guide, cloaked in black and wielding a lantern, took us down winding alleys and forgotten courtyards, spinning tales of plague doctors, public executions, and restless spirits. The cobblestones echoed under our feet, and the golden twilight gave everything an eerie glow. I remember standing in the very square where dozens were beheaded during the Stockholm Bloodbath and feeling a chill that had nothing to do with the breeze.
The next day, we returned to Old Town for a walking history tour that dove deep into the city’s darker past. This was Stockholm unfiltered—grisly murders, power struggles, betrayal, and torture chambers hidden behind otherwise quaint façades. We stood beneath the very windows where monarchs once watched enemies die in the streets. Our guide was blunt, brilliant, and deeply passionate about history. He didn’t sugarcoat anything, and I appreciated that.
After soaking up the city’s bloody past, we took a break from the urban landscape and drove about three hours into the Swedish countryside to see some of the country’s legendary Viking runestones. The drive itself was a treat—green fields, dense forests, and the occasional grazing moose. When we finally reached the stones, I was surprised by how unassuming they were. Some were nestled next to churches or tucked away in pastures, blending into the scenery. But up close, they were mesmerizing. Twisting serpent designs, Norse runes etched by hand over a thousand years ago—it was like reading messages from another time. I couldn’t help but imagine the people who carved them, what they were thinking, what they feared, and what they hoped would endure.
Back in Stockholm, one of the unexpected highlights was the underground city—or more specifically, the subway system, which doubles as the world’s longest art gallery. Every station felt like a different chapter in a surreal novel: cave-like walls painted with dreamlike murals, sculptures emerging from concrete, bursts of color and light in the most unexpected places. We made a point to enter every station we could just to see what artwork was waiting below. It transformed something as mundane as a metro ride into a daily adventure.
To experience the city from a different perspective, we boarded a boat tour that circled around Stockholm’s 14 islands. Gliding through calm waterways, we passed under arched bridges and alongside historic buildings, each with its own story. The contrast between land and sea, between old-world architecture and shimmering water, made Stockholm feel like it was floating between two centuries. There were moments in that boat, wind in my face, camera in hand, where I felt a rare kind of peace.
As if the trip hadn’t already offered enough, we decided to take a day trip to the towns of Sigtuna and Uppsala—two of Sweden’s oldest and most historically significant settlements. Sigtuna charmed me immediately. With its cobblestone streets, small cafés, and ancient ruins, it felt like stepping into a living museum. But it was in Uppsala that I experienced one of the most unexpected moments of the entire journey.
As we walked along the canal, we noticed a crowd gathering near the water. Curious, we joined them—and soon realized we were witnessing the President of Colombia giving a speech from a sailboat right there in the canal. The boat rocked gently as he spoke, his voice amplified over the water. It felt surreal, like watching history meet poetry. It was such a strange and beautiful moment—an international figure delivering a speech in a small Swedish town from the deck of a sailboat, surrounded by curious tourists and sleepy ducks.
When I look back on this trip, it feels like I squeezed a year’s worth of experience into just over a week. From ancient Viking stones to ghost stories at dusk, from underground art galleries to island-hopping by boat, Sweden was a nonstop blend of beauty, mystery, and history.
Was it a little expensive? Sure. Sweden isn’t cheap, and there were moments when the credit card winced. But honestly, every experience felt worth it. This wasn’t just a vacation—it was a journey into the past, present, and maybe even a bit of the supernatural. I came home tired, inspired, and already dreaming of going back.
Michael Hirsch
5/8/2025
Next Stop: Portugal!
I’m heading to Portugal, and this trip promises to be one for the books. I’ll be diving into the country’s rich flavors with local alcohol tastings—think Port wine straight from the source and a few shots of the famous cherry liqueur, Ginja. But I’m not just here for the drinks. I’ll be exploring medieval villages that feel like they’ve been untouched for centuries and joining a Knights Templar tour that winds through ancient castles and legendary battlegrounds.
Stay tuned—more from Mike on the Move is coming soon!
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