I have never understood why so many countries have national animals that don't even exist in the country - why are there lion emblems everywhere - instead of squirrels and moose?
The tail is carefully positioned to keep the picture "safe for work"
Today's adventure was into Stockholm Sweden, well a tiny sliver of Stockholm - Gamla Stan, the old town area. It is quite nice and well kept area and it also houses the Royal Palace - we watched the changing of the guard and we were wholly underwhelmed by the experience - but, we have seen it now!
The buildings are pretty and I have tried to cut out the crowds, but the day was sunny and there were a lot of tourists milling about and I felt like there were less shops and more eating places than the last time we were here, almost precisely 6 years ago. At that time, we didn't walk quite as much as today (19000 steps) because my wife was five months pregnant - but we still walked.
Rather than the lions, I think they should more aggressively market their Viking history. I don't know if you know my "theory" on why Scandinavians are so good looking, but I think it is a process of "natural" selection from Viking times.
They would travel abroad to places like England and France, raping and pillaging as Vikings do, but also taking prisoners and slaves. Most likely, the strongest fighters would survive and they would take the best looking women from their travels and bring them back to their lands. Over time, this meant that the "breeding stock" got stronger and better looking.
This also explains the looks in England.
True story.
Plausible at least.
Smallsteps is enjoying herself - mostly. She is trying at least, but we have to do some things that she doesn't enjoy either - like go into any shop whatsoever unless it is for her.
If it looks like this, she is happy.
Anything else....
This was taken during the changing of the guards in what the guard who ushered us out of the way called a "ceremony" - it was weird and awkward - but Smallsteps spent the five minutes it took hanging off a pole.
I hope this isn't her future.
Do what you love?
Spring is further along the way too and there is an area not far from the old town that is lined with cherry trees and both this and last time we were here, we were lucky enough to see them in full bloom. It is really pretty and Smallsteps loved it to the point that it was the best bit of her day in Stockholm.
But, there were a couple of disappointing things too, namely lunch and toilets. My wife found a place that has gluten-free cooking and while it seemed decent at first, the food was also taste-free and the "bread" so tough that a chainsaw would need sharpening after cutting halfway through.
The toilets?
Well, they were really hard to find everywhere including in the shopping centers and when they were found, the lines were so incredibly long that there was no chance to use them. In the end, we gave up looking for Smallsteps and caught a taxi back to the boat so she could go there.
This was weird in my opinion - if there are lines like that at upmarket department stores - bloody well put in a few more services, rather than drive people to leave. If we hadn't had to spend 45 minutes looking, we would have spent that time shopping - better for the bank balance at least.
But, now that we are back on the boat, it has been all in all a good trip so far and tonight, we are going to be eating at the infamous "cruise buffet" where people try to eat their money back in one sitting and hopefully, to get to a couple of the events they put on for kids. After the lunch we had, we are actually looking forward to the buffet tonight.
Back to "holidaying" - Talk soon :)
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
It might be because lion is one of the strongest animals that still alive in nature.
Smallsteps is so lucky to have been abroad since early ages. So, you travel to neighbouring countries? Any other European country like Italy?
Maybe, but it is still silly.
This is her first trip. I have been to Italy and many other countries, but we haven't travelled with her before, because she has some food allergies and the reactions used to be much worse.
Lions arent king in survival, team work, brain or easy of living...
Dolphin, squarrel, ants, seem eqaully successful in many things and because culture bias i Cant see them on a flag.
Great shots of smallsteps and Marian loves them. Enjoy and maybe we can send a lion or two to you guys. Our national animal is the humble Springbuck, although we have all of the others here.
Isn't it the Springbok that jumps really high?
Yep and it is also very fast, but I don't know the reason behind the selection.
I know that all of the big 5 were selected by other countries, but we have a scarce leopard that can only be seen in SA and I think that would have been a better selection.
All countries want to "look" stronger than other countries and want to "show their strength" to everyone.
The lion is a representation of the desire to dominate the "territorial civilization", only the lion can represent the savage sense of man to dominate the weaker and make others submit to the charisma of the superiority they have as influence.
Can the children of today's generation also understand the message? or do we also have to keep teaching them about how savage we are to have to control other people?
Yeah, but they don't exist here - so, it makes no sense - They may as well choose a dragon, like some places have - or a unicorn like Scotland :D
I agree with you. It's a little ridiculous when we boast about something we don't have. Moreover, make it our icon. How to account for it?
Is it enough to say that it was the imagination of our forefathers to foster a spirit of togetherness towards the best and most authoritative nation?
If the theory of imagination is able to move people to do something extraordinary, then that can be accepted, right?
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Scotland national animal is a unicorn. We rock :0D
Seriously? That is awesome. That might make up for the Vikings and then the English stealing all the lookers ;D
Yeah, it's quite hilarious. It almost makes up for the lookers being stolen!! :0D
Perhaps after the next economic collapse, we will to return to the good times of raping and pillaging and make up for it :)
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Yeah, it is a good time indeed :)
Great adventure with the family is the best one 😊
yep
These are very clear images taken with a camera of high image quality. Photographs are well positioned and shots was taken right. You really did a great job here.
Kudos
thanks.
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Dear @tarazkp, What animal is the symbol of Australia? I guessed it was probably either a koala or a kangaroo.😄
The koala beats the lion! 😊
How would Australian men react if I told Australian men that they were handsome like koalas?😁