The second day in Stockholm we took the T, a ferry, and a trolley to the world’s oldest open-air museum. First the ferry ride.
He and his mate are new to the area so we do not know who they are.
The ferry ride was short but exciting all the same.
We had our first talk in the church.
Sweden has been a Christian country at least since the 1200s. Sitting inside we learned about how the church was the center of the community. The minister kept records of births, deaths, transgressions and anything else he thought important. The stocks were used to embarrass transgressors. They were always welcomed back with the flock the following week.
Families lived in one room houses. There are curtained berths for beds to the left of our guide, one for children, grandparents in the other. The young woman on the right is sitting on a pull-out bench where the parents would sleep. The students in the center are leaning on the fireplace. The cabinets right of center hold all their household goods.
Strangers were not allowed further into the house than the ledge over the 3 students heads. In winter, farm workers would sleep in with the family on exceptionally cold nights. The barn was attached and the roof was thatched
Tapestries were hung for special occasions. They depicted scenes from the bible. Members of the community were expected to know their scripture.
We would need more than a day to cover all this ground. We had a free hour here after the tour and before lunch. The students headed to see Nordic native animals. The adults learned about the people’s house. That is a house shared by workers. They got food and board and they kept the farm running.
