The first stop on our city tour of Stockholm was at the Stockholm City Hall (the Stadhuset). It was built using 8 million bricks in 1923.

The top of the tower. You can climb up to the top.

From the side facing the water.

We didn't have a tour group photo taken, but this photo has most of the group in it.

Statues in the park in front of the City Hall.

The Blue Hall. This is where the Noble Prize banquet is held.

At its top.

Looking at the Blue Hall from above.

Another view.

At the top of the staircase.

Through a hall with many busts.

Another one.

A reception area?

Government chambers.

The ceiling.

Another part of the ceiling.

The fabulous Golden Hall, where the Noble Prize winners do their partying. The hall is decorated with over 18 million glass and gold mosaic pieces.

I believe this is the Queen of Lake Milaren.

Part of the mosaics' theme is East Meets West. Here is the West: New York and the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower.

The Statue of Liberty and the American flag.

The Eiffel Tower.

The East: The Hagia Sofia.

The East: An elephant.

More of the mosaics.

More of the mosaics.

A castle.

More of the mosaics.

More of the mosaics.

More of the mosaics.

More of the mosaics.

The scales of justice.

More of the mosaics.

Medusa.

More of the mosaics.

The doors leading out of the Golden Hall.

View from the City Hall.

On the bus: one of the ferry docks.

A bridge between islands.

Another ferry dock.

View from the bus.

Lamp post on a bridge.

Crossing a bridge.

A cafe with Rainbow Flags in honor of Gay Pride Week.

I think this store is selling ice cream.

The Vasa Museum, our next stop.

The Vasa sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 after sailing about 1,400 yards (1,300 m) from its berth in the Stockholm harbor. It had about 150 people on board (100 crew plus family members). About 30 drowned.

The warship was top heavy with an extra deck of canons and fell over from the wind hitting it.

The Vasa was rediscovered at the bottom of the Stockholm harbor after 333 years. It was raised in 1961. Note the wooden carved figures decorating the ship.

The Vasa is the best preserved ship of its age. More than 95% of its wood is original.

Its prow.

The lion on its prow in honor of the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus, who was known as the "Lion from the North." He commissioned the ship.

An 1:10 relica of the Vasa.

A long boat also recovered.

What people of the era would have dressed like.

Replicas of the carved wooden statues painted as they would have been on the ship.

Close-up.

Close-up.

Close-up.

Close-up.

Close-up.

The pigments that would have been used on the Vasa.

Another museum across from the Vasa Museum.

Back on the bus.

Seen from the bus.

Seen from the bus.

Seen from the bus.

Seen from the bus.

Seen from the bus.

Seen from the bus.

Seen from the bus.

Seen from the bus.

A gypsy in front of McDonald's. We saw a number of gypsies in Stockholm.

Seen from the bus.

Seen from the bus.

Our last stop: at the Royal Palace. The photos continue on another slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/stockholm-gamla-stan-old-town/ (Slide Shows, Scandinavia, Sweden, "Stockholm: Gamla Stan (Old Town).