Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Adventures of a Global Wanderer
It was now past noon and I was finding many of the museums closed today for the May 1 holiday. I found the Stockholm City Museum on Sodermalm Island just south to Gamla Town which was also closed. Nearby was the Stockholm Mosque I'd planned to visit and timed it for Friday Prayers.
It was one more metro stop to where the Mosque was. When I came out the metro there were large crowds gathering for marches so it was hard to make my way thru or find the Mosque.
Eventually I could see the dome and minaret so tried to make my way thru. It was very festive with many banners, drummers, and a large group of bikers. The main street had been closed to traffic.
What I didnt factor in visiting the Mosque was today was a public holiday so it would be packed solid. It was already full and you could barely get thru the doors. There was no room in the main hall and people were trying to make their way to the upper floors.
I was on the 3rd floor and squashed against a cabinet. After prayers I could slowly make my way down to see the main hall.
The design was more like a railway station with large overhead steel beams and large windows. I didnt know the Muslim population was this big in Stockholm. There may also be a limit on building Mosques in some European countries to account for the crowds along with the public holiday.
There was also a community store selling books, clothing, dried foods and other items.
Outside it was quite crowded and festive on this public holiday and felt like Eid celebrations.
Back in the main square there were other drumming groups keeping things festive. In the distance I could see the large Stockholm Sphere which I debated going to. There is an outside track that takes visitors to the top for a city view but it was too far too walk and I'm not good with heights.
Finally I got a large burger from one of the local stalls as there was nothing else to eat other than Burger King. It cost 95K ($13.5) and I was starting to look like a burger after eating one every day.
It was one more metro stop to where the Mosque was. When I came out the metro there were large crowds gathering for marches so it was hard to make my way thru or find the Mosque.
Eventually I could see the dome and minaret so tried to make my way thru. It was very festive with many banners, drummers, and a large group of bikers. The main street had been closed to traffic.
What I didnt factor in visiting the Mosque was today was a public holiday so it would be packed solid. It was already full and you could barely get thru the doors. There was no room in the main hall and people were trying to make their way to the upper floors.
I was on the 3rd floor and squashed against a cabinet. After prayers I could slowly make my way down to see the main hall.
The design was more like a railway station with large overhead steel beams and large windows. I didnt know the Muslim population was this big in Stockholm. There may also be a limit on building Mosques in some European countries to account for the crowds along with the public holiday.
There was also a community store selling books, clothing, dried foods and other items.
Outside it was quite crowded and festive on this public holiday and felt like Eid celebrations.
Back in the main square there were other drumming groups keeping things festive. In the distance I could see the large Stockholm Sphere which I debated going to. There is an outside track that takes visitors to the top for a city view but it was too far too walk and I'm not good with heights.
Finally I got a large burger from one of the local stalls as there was nothing else to eat other than Burger King. It cost 95K ($13.5) and I was starting to look like a burger after eating one every day.
- comments