在斯德哥爾摩閑庭信步

一直都對北歐懷有莫名的好感，在眾神之王奧丁治理下的這片冰雪王國，從自然到城市、從音樂到建筑，無一不充滿了神奇而瑰麗的想象，閃耀著別樣的光芒。

相信大凡讀過塞爾瑪·拉格洛芙的《尼爾斯騎鵝歷險記》的人，一定會對她筆下美麗的瑞典印象深刻，這部奇特的作品也是諾貝爾文學獎上惟一一部入選的童話作品。信步于斯德哥爾摩街頭，原來童話即是現實，沒有緊張，沒有煩惱，連時間都慵懶了起來，這才是生活的真諦……

There’s no better 1)hub for exploring Scandinavia than the beautiful “Venice of the North，” Sweden’s capital， Stockholm.

From the cultured capital to the wild mountai-nous north， Sweden holds fascination for the arts and history 2)buff and the fan of outdoors’ activities alike. The country’s mountains begin in 3)Dalarna with gentle slopes that build up to a 1，900-kilometer (1，140 miles) chain 4)culminating in the magnificent snow-covered peaks of the far north. The

5)Lapps who live here off fishing and 6)reindeer herding have done an admirable job of retaining their distinctive culture.

But， unlike North America， in Sweden you don’t have to go to the remote north to encounter fresh air and pure water. In fact， in downtown Stockholm the water is so clean you can swim and fish right off the major 7)thoroughfares. One of the most popular spots for fishing is outside the royal palace. Here salmon and 8)sea trout are caught on their migration from the 9)Baltic to 10)Lake Malaren. Among the more humble species to be hooked are 11)perch，

12)pike， 13)zander and Baltic 14)herring.

The city of Stockholm was founded in the 13th century on an island where Lake Malaren flows out into the Baltic. As time passed the inhabitants spread out across the neighboring islands and mainland to the north and south. The current population of greater Stockholm is 1.7 million， with about 700，000 living within the city limits.

Stockholm is beautifully situated on 14 islands separated by wide bays， broad channels and narrow waterways. Surrounded by unspoiled countryside， the city is also peppered with lovely parks. In the heart of the capital the contrast between old and new is striking: an 15)ultra modern city center 16)adjacent to the cobbled alleys and medieval buildings of

17)Gamla Stan (Old Town).

Visitors to Stockholm are strongly recommended to purchase a Stockholm Card. The card gives you free entry to 75 museums and attractions， free travel by public transport， free sightseeing by boat as well as several other bonus offers. You decide whether you want a card that is valid for 24， 48 or 72 hours. The card will not be valid until it is stamped with the time and date the first time you use it. Two child cards can be purchased per adult card. The card is valid once per attraction and entitles you to unlimited

travel by metro， bus and 18)commuter train.

Stockholm’s 19)Viking heritage may be enjoyed by taking a boat trip to see the remains of the old capital at 20)Birka and the 1，000-year-old town of

21)Sigtuna. 22)Medieval Stockholm can be experienced by visiting the Medieval Museum or by merely strolling through Gamla Stan， where many of the churches and other buildings date back 800 years or more.

The Swedish royal family is very popular with the people. The Royal Palace in Stockholm is the largest in Europe still in use and the royal family lives in the 18th-century palace at 23)Drottningholm with its world famous theatre.

Stockholm is also a city of the sea， located as it is on the edge of the world’s largest 24)archipelago of more than 25，000 islands. Take a lazy cruise on one of the seven genuine stea-mers still in use. In service for a century， these old character ships have been beautifully restored to maintain their

25)Edwardian ambience. All the steamers boast first class restaurants in which you can enjoy lunch or dinner.

Water is a dominant element in the life of Swedes. In Stockholm， the “Venice of the North，” water adds immeasurably to the charm of this already captivating city. As Sweden’s international tennis champion， 26)Bjorn Borg puts it: “Sweden is surrounded by water and even away from the coast our lakes and rivers are the dominant feature of the landscape. I live outside Stockholm and some days I take my boat into the city when I have a business appointment. I 27)get a tremendous kick out of that. Who wouldn’t?”

Who indeed!

假如你想要探索斯堪的納維亞半島的話，沒有哪里比瑞典的首都斯德哥爾摩更合適了，這座美麗的城市被人們稱為“北方威尼斯”。

從文化氣息濃厚的首都到荒蕪的北方山地，瑞典不僅對藝術和歷史愛好者閃爍著迷人的魅力，也是戶外運動者的摯愛之地。這個國家的山地從達拉那省開始，平緩的坡地蜿蜒1900公里（1140英里）直到遙遠的北方那壯麗的冰雪皚皚的頂峰。居住在這里的拉普蘭人依靠打魚和放牧馴鹿為生，并絕妙地保存了他們獨特的傳統文化。

不過，與在北美不同的是，在瑞典你不需要去偏遠的北方才能邂逅新鮮的空氣和純凈的水源。實際上，就在斯德哥爾摩的市區，水域都是如此地干凈，你甚至可以在主干道邊游泳、釣魚。其中一處最受歡迎的釣魚之處就在皇宮的旁邊。在鮭魚和海鱒從波羅的海到馬拉倫湖洄游時捕漁，同時還能釣到其他種類更為一般的魚，如河鱸、梭子魚、梭鱸和波羅的海青魚。