Skansen – something new, somewhere old

We love Skansen. And what’s not to love about it? History, fairground rides, pony rides, bears, wolves and wolverines (yes, seriously).

We love it so much that both boys are using it as the subject of their “My Stockholm” summer “homework” – a photograph of themselves at their favourite place in the city.

Yes, we’re pretty keen on the place.

A new discovery

And on a recent visit, we came across this engineering workshop that we’d not been to before.

I loved the old signs on the walls in there.

And I would not mind one of these at home to store stationary and washi tape and all sorts.

Are these blueprints wonderful?

All these tools remind me so much of my Grandad’s workshop when I was little. He had been a carpenter and had the most beautiful looking tools.

But one of the best things about the workshop was this industrial sculpture that you could contribute to. Little O was so fascinated by the different ways in which he could add the metals bars that he and I ended up staying there and losing the others.

He was very determined to have as little help as possible.

The history

Different buildings are open at different times of the year, but a few – like this farmhouse – are always open for you to wander around.

One thing that makes me smile is to see the staff in the city centre, in full costume, waiting for the trams to take them out to Skansen. They look much better in place in the old buildings, it has to be said.

Mamma’s favourite spot

While the workshop might be Little O’s favourite place (for the moment, at least), the artist’s studio (another place that we have managed to miss before) is mine.

The walls are covered in Julius Kronberg’s art and the place is just so atmospheric.

And I have not even started on the animals and the fairground rides and the special children’s zoo area yet. I think I will have to leave them for another post, another day.