Likewise. People frequently told me to go see the Vasa and I rather expected it to be something like the Mary Rose; historically interesting but the bare shell of part of the hull of a boat. Basically some wet wood.
When I went inside the museum in Stockholm and saw the ship my reaction was essentially "OMG that's f'ing HUGE!" so it really is worth making time to see it.
Reading this thread of comments make me feel like an idiot.
I live in Stockholm and curiously enough – if I read the map correctly – I'm even very close to where the Vasa sank. My favorite means of transport into central Stockholm is via ferry. One of the stops is a very short walk from the Vasa museum. It takes me probably all of 30 minutes door-to-door to get there.
I love museums. I love history. I love anything maritime. One of my favorite museum visits when i lived in London was the national maritime museum in Greenwich.
Alas, I've never been to the Vasa museum.
Fortunately, it's an easy problem to solve – I'll go next week. Thanks for (unintentionally) kicking me into gear, much obliged!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I've lived in London for about 20 years and really must get around to visiting St Paul's Cathedral one of these days :)
Not only is it huge, it has lots of ornaments (figures, carvings), was originally painted colorfully, and best of all: the Swedes built the museum around the wreck, so that you've got access on five(?) levels and can get pretty close.
Yes, all of this is stuff that surprised me - I'd also add that the smell of the thing is an intimate part of the experience; you're in no doubt that this spent a lot of time in a marine environment :)
When I went inside the museum in Stockholm and saw the ship my reaction was essentially "OMG that's f'ing HUGE!" so it really is worth making time to see it.