St. Lucia Day

Today was St. Lucia in Sweden, thus the early morning choral concert. When we went down to breakfast the singers were there and a different group serenaded us at a fabulous Nobel Lunch at Uppsala Universitet.

Prior to our lunch the boys and I were treated to a lovely mini-tour of the new building (built in the 1880s) and the University Museum, including the Anatomical Theater. My boys will not, I think, forget too soon that organs cut from cadavers were handed to professors who then sniffed and sometimes licked them. Off to a permanent collection with a Carl von Linné exhibit and an Art Cabinet that was, well, shall we say, all inclusive. Stone inlay designs, carvings, depictions on one side from the old testament on the other from the new and at top a tribute to Neptune and Venus (just in case?) We also learned that the King built up his army to tax the church and positioned his canons to face the Cathedral, which he apparently did destroy at least once. They have the canons there now, facing the Cathedral from the bulwark known as the "Bishop Controller."



After lunch all four us walked along the canal, where oil lamps jutting from the stone walls above the water burned - the reflection of the flames bounced off the opposite side of the canal so it looked as though it were lit on two sides. We went up past the Cathedral to get back. Walking between the Cathedral and it's side buildings - administrative? Former convent? We saw young women getting ready for Lucia concert in their white robes with red sashes and lingonberry leaf crowns.


Back to Stockholm for a rest. On the way in we saw that Town Hall had a candle in every window. It was beautiful. Jack and I rested until my mother called to say that the BBC show on the Laureates was on. The boys and I caught the second half the medicine segment (Jack did not want to see himself on TV) and even got to see a nice shot of our cat Oliver looking out the window for prey. We all caught a glimpse of my sister Karen applauding in the audience at the Nobels.

We had a nice dinner at an Argentinian restaurant in Gamla Stan and are gearing up for one giant day of sight seeing tomorrow. Who would have thought an Argentinian restaurant would be the one to satisfy three vegetarians and an omnivore?

The streets of Old Town (Gamla Stan) were quiet this Sunday night. The shops were all closed and without the crowds you could actually see the charm of the alleys and walkways, appreciate the holiday lights and relax. Good thing we didn;t relax too uch as we caught the tail end of the dinner seatings! We had been waylaid a bit at our hotel by a new Lucia Chorus singing in the lobby and bar when we were on our way out. Swedes can most certainly sing.

Happy St. Lucia Day.