Visby, Sweden

 Visby, Sweden                                                                                 Tuesday, May 31. 2022


Entry to old Visby which is a walled city.

            On Gotland Island in the middle of the Baltic Sea, Visby is the leading city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site as of 1995, due to its medieval city center. It dates back to the Viking Age and is known today as the “Town of Roses and Ruins.”  The well-preserved city walls stretch for 3.5 km and encircle Visby's old town.  Inclusive of the requisite towers and gates, the limestone city walls date back to the 1200s.

            It was wet with a heavy drizzle and wind, so we were grateful that the ship provided a shuttle bus to the Dalman Gate (we think that’s the name) into the old city.  A bit too windy for our trusty umbrella, we simply bundled up and trudged ahead, Jerry hiding his camera inside his raincoat and Jen putting her backpack purse inside her coat and looking like the Hunchback of ND.  We had chatted with the city rep on the ship and secured a map, so we were ready for the particular sites and the steps up to the level above for a grand view over the city and to the Baltic Sea.  Would have been a superb photo in the sunlight but oh well.  You and we can use our imaginations.

Typical street, typical Jennifer. (she looks warm and dry.... )

Within the ruins, we were able to find an opening inside a structure since a party was being setup. A balloon suddenly popped and surprised us all.  Still in close enough proximity to the war in Ukraine and still heartsore due to USA shootings, I couldn’t help but think of the gunfire and the fragility of life.  We couldn’t get inside of the ruins of the 13th century St. Catherine’s Church, so we took photos from the outside and through the bars of the gate.

We walked through Market Square, but most shops were just opening so we didn’t go inside.  The cafes seemed to be overflowing.  Restaurants and bars signal the active nightlife in this popular resort city.




Lots of ruins - likely 7 church ruins were viewed

St. Mary’s Cathedral is the only one church that is still standing and functioning. This one dates to the 1100s and its three towers regally soar over the city.  Inside, the pulpit is carved walnut, dates to the 1600s, and has ebony inlays. The pulpit comes from Lubeck where we’d visited 11 days ago.  An adjacent chapel is much newer with large modern glass windows and an upright piano.  Walking through the large nave of the cathedral, I think I counted three organs other than the exquisite pipe organ above on which the organist was practicing and we enjoyed a free concert of sorts. 

A depiction of the book of Revelation (a question from the editor)



We decided that the shuttle back sounded really good, so we piled on and headed back to hang out coats and clothes, to get dry shoes, post some info to you, then go and play some bridge.  Trivia today is at 4:30 and then we will play bridge again at 5 before dinner at 6:30.  Unique entertainment tonight called Duo Yalba, multi instrumentalists with interesting bios.  

Overlooking the old city

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