Day 17 - Saturday, August 6 - Karlskrona, Sweden

 This morning we are moored in the harbor of Karlskrona, Sweden as there isn't a dock for the cruise ship. We will be taking a "tender" to the shore. The "tenders" are also the life boats and are suspended from the side of the ship. The water is quite choppy and they are bobbing like corks in the water this morning - I've taken extra Dramamine!

Karlkdrona is a city founded by the Swedish king in 1682 as a base for the Swedish navy so it is quite "new" in historical terms.

We took the tender in at 9:30 and it wasn't as bad as I was afraid of - made it without getting sick. We were fortunate that we came into the tender dock and not the main ship dock as we arrived right next to the naval museum. We arrived at the museum just as it was opening at 10am which was fortunate as it became very busy. It is an amazing museum, especially as it is free!. 

There are two full-size submarines in one wing, one from the 1930s and a recent one from the 1980s that you can go through both the upper and lower floors of the submarine. It was quite fascinating. Along the walls surrounding the submarines are exhibits about how submarines work, rescue techniques and the evolution from the 1700s until now. In another huge wing of the museum there is a history of the Swedish navy from its beginnings and what life was like in Karlskrona in the late 1600s. There is also a section under the water where one can sometimes see an adjacent wreck from the 1700s but the water was very cloudy. Outside, tethered to the museum dock are a anti-mine ship, an intelligence ship and a sailing ship.

We walked up the the square for a delicious lunch. I had chicken schnitzel with fries and of course, local beer. Carmen had a flatbread pizza with marinated tuna. Next door was an ice cream shop with the most amazing waffle cones with two scoops of hard ice cream topped by soft-serve ice cream and whipped cream. I wasn't able to get a picture and wanted to stop by later but we ran out of time and energy.

After lunch was a tour of the sights in the city although it felt like a bit of a forced march. Two of the churches we wanted to visit were having weddings - we were able to get into the German church after chasing away the wedding party.😏The very modernistic baptismal font in the German church has a mirror-smooth water surface that reflects the inside of the church. Due to the war in Ukraine, the ship building and naval base areas are completely off-limits and one isn't allowed to take photos even from the outside. A chamber in the rock under the main square was created after WWII and has room for 5000 staff. In 2010 it was sealed off with everything in it at the time as it was easier than trying to dispose of it - our tour guide hopes it will be opened up for tours. Our tour guide is a former naval officer.

Tender and where it is lowered from its parking space in the shp

Tender in the harbor

Naval Museum

Chicken schnitzel, fries & beer

Reflecting baptismal font in German church

Swedish church in main square



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