Gallery

ABBA Museum in Stockholm

ABBA museum in Stockholm is a highly recommended place for not only ABBA fans, but for everyone who is interested in music history! It’s not only an exhibition of ABBA memorabilia such as instruments, golden records, outfits but a great interactive experience that invites you to dance, sing and mix music. As said at the entrance – Walk in, dance out.

In the early 70s, when Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad became ABBA, all four were already well-known in their home-country of Sweden. This part of museum shows and tells the stories of their early years.

The Polar Studio and Viggso Writing Hut were ABBA’s most important working environment, they felt there the most at home.

Nobody who has ever seen ABBA’s spectacular stage costumes will ever forget them. There is a wide range of costumes from different tours and promotion visits on display of the museum.

Being an internationally famous pop group means plenty of journeys across the globe. ABBA received a legendary reception in Europe, Australia, the United States and Japan. The list of ABBA awards is huge and some of the them are presented at the museum.

The time has come to enter the 80s, and at the same time the ABBA era was drawing to its close. The group’s 8th and the final studio album, The Visitors was released in November 1981.

The ABBA went their separate ways at the end of 1982, Bjorn and Benny took on task of composing a musical. The musical “Help wanted” premiered at the Orion Theatre in Stockholm in 2013, and contains music produced by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.

Gallery

Beautiful Stockholm

Stockholms strom, also known as Strommen, is a bay of the Baltic sea.

Kastellet is a small naval fort located on the top of the hill on the small island of Kastellholmen just outside of the old Stockholm city center. The Swedish flag, flying above the citadel, signifies whether or not the country is at peace. When it’s up (like in the pictures below) all is well in Sweden. The practice dates back to 1667, when the citadel was first built.

Nybroviken is a small bay in the central Stockholm which connects to the south with the bay Ladugardslandsviken.

Gamla Stan island is the city’s old town with the cobbled streets and colorful 17th and 18th century buildings.

Fika is a concept, a state of mind, and important part of Swedish culture. Many Swedes consider that it’s important to make time for fika everyday which means making time for friends and colleagues to share a cup of coffee or tea and a little something to it. There is a great variety of beautiful and cozy cafes in Stockholm where you can enjoy fika time.

Riddarholmen is a small island in central Stockholm, which forms part of Gamla Stan and houses a number of private palaces dating back to the 17th century.

Gamla Lundagatan is another charming old area on the island of Sodermaln.

Jenny Lind, a Swedish opera singer often called the “Swedish Nightingale”, statue is located in a beautiful park near Djurgardsbrunnskanalen, a canal in central Stockholm.

Founded in 1891, Skansen is the world’s first open-air museum which offers an amazing look into historical Swedish life. You can explore five centuries history with over 100 reconstructed farms and houses from different parts of Sweden. It was very interesting experience to meet the local characters working as farmers, carpenters, bakers who tell you the stories about different events and historical facts. Seglora Church is a wooden church dating back to the early 18th century. The town quarter shows urban life in Sweden during the 18th and 19th century.

The Älvros farmstead from the mid 19th century shows life in the north of Sweden, and traditional farm-bred animals.

Nordic animal at the Skansen park.

Astrid Lindgren’s Fairytale World Junibacken is situated on the island of Djurgården in the centre of Stockholm. It was an amazing experience to take a theme-train ride through the world of Astrid Lindgren’s books, with one “stage setting” for each of her well-known works, such as Madicken, Karlsson-on-the-Roof. There is also a great exhibition of different fairy tale characters inspired by amazing books. Brought back so many childhood memories.

Nobel Prize museum is located in the former Stock Exchange building and contains all essential information about the most prestigious prize in the world. Its main aim to spread knowledge and create interest and discussion around the natural sciences and culture.

Vasa Museum. The ship Vasa capsized and sank in Stockholm in 1628 ans after 333 years on the sea bed the warship was salvaged. Today Vasa is the world’s best preserved 17th century ship.

Night time is Stockholm.

Gallery

The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is taking place in 11 Russian cities this year. Football fans and tourists traveled to Russian cities from all over the world to see their teams, matches and simply enjoy this great atmosphere. The atmosphere is unbelievably friendly. I think even if a person isn’t interested in football at all, he/she will enjoy those World Cup vibes of unity that can be felt by everyone. It’s a very pleasant feeling to see almost all nations together singing and dancing in the streets finally having forgot about politics and wars.

 

Zabivaka (Russian: Goalscorer) is the official mascot of the World Cup. It represents a very cute wolf which became very popular among football fans.

People are literally dancing and singing everywhere in the streets (even in fountains). You can hear so many different tunes, national songs of every country etc. I’m definitely going to miss that!

There were many unusual ways of traveling to Russia. For example, Iceland fans arrived to Russia in a Lada Niva (Russian car which they won in lottery in Iceland). Fan from Germany and his cute dog came to Russia in a tractor. But the most amazing story is connected with Argentinian cyclist Maty Amaya who left home in 2012 and since then has been traveling by bicycle for 5 years, crossed 37 countries and 80000 km. And finally he is in Moscow, enjoying World Cup. I don’t usually take pictures of myself because I prefer being on the other side of the camera. But I couldn’t resist temptation of having a picture with him 😊

The World Cup is not only about football. It’s also about unity, understanding different culture and getting new experience. For example, there was a Mexican festival which showed their beautiful culture and traditions including Day of the Dead celebrations. Mexican House attracts thousands of visitors from all corners of the planet everyday.

Peru House located in the Manege Moscow exhibition centre showcased the best of the country, highlighted the South American nation’s culture including Shaman rituals, art, gastronomy top tourism destinations and leading exports.

Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and introduced their culture and traditions in Moscow.

Qatar_2022_0001

FIFA World Football Museum hosted several exhibitions in Moscow. By the way, ball on the 1st picture was used in final match between France 🇫🇷 and Croatia 🇭🇷 in Moscow.

And this picture is probably one of my favorite ones. It shows the real meaning of such events as World Cup.

FIFA World Cup_0000