May 20 - The City of Uppsala

So considering it's been 5 months that I've been calling Uppsala home yet haven't promoted it even slightly, it's about time I at least mention it on here. Would be pretty rude not to. So it turns out this it a pretty important place, boasting the oldest university in the Nordic countries for starters dating back to a modest 1447. One of its signature buildings is the main library building Carolina Rediviva where one can casually browse books on the shelf dating back to 1700 and beyond. And when the impressiveness of these ones wear off, one can head to the wing which contains Swedens most famous book: The Silver Bible. This beast was written in about 520 on purple parchment with gold and silver ink, and just to ensure its elaborateness would never be rivalled, is bound in solid silver. Sharing the same room is hand-written notes by Copernicus, Newton, and a hand-written score from Mozart. In short, its a pretty sweet library.


Also part of the university is the Gustavianum - an entire museum built in the building which originally housed some of the first 'academic' human dissections (ie those which weren't the result of simply killing a guy) for the University's medical students. Then once the novelty of this room wares off, which ill openly admit takes a fair while, one can check out some 10th century siccors and 8th century dice from the Vikings in the other parts of the museum - so modern looking they appear to look no different from the ones in my drawer.


Getting ready to be dissected, studies, and then feed to the dogs (seriously thats what happened) In the dissection theatre.

Jump across the road and you're outside Swedens largest Cathedral, and at the base of the massive 118.7 m high structure I admire every day from my kitchen window (and in a country this flat, its fair to say this one sticks out). Seat of Swedens arch bishop, the Uppsala Cathedral has an interior plastered with 13,000 square metres of paintings and is so big inside its like standing in a desert. Or perhaps like standing in St. Peter's in the Vatican - yeah I think that's a slightly more appropriate analogy Either way, the place is a claustrophobic's dream.. And in true Swedish style the whole cathedral is kitted out with wireless internet.


Viking boat graves, Botanical gardens, a bright pink castle, and Max (the Swedish answer to Mcdonalds). This place has it all - everything except myself, who in 2 short weeks will be leaving this city I've come to love and know so well, even if I can barely pronounce its street signs properly..


So there you have it, my plug for Uppsala that more than deserves it.