First day of autumn, which started on 22 September at 16:21 this year. We continue our exploration of the Mälaren in the back season during the weekends, with great pleasure.
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| Lunch break at the Taxinge castle, close to Mariefred |
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| Arriving to Mariefred, with Gripsholm castle on the left |
Princess Isabella, alias Elizabeth, rests in the Strängnäs cathedral. In fact, she was born captive in 1564 in the Gripsholm castle and died there in 1566. The realism of the sarcophagus is quite moving. Looking closely to the face of the little daughter, an epidemiologist would certainly questioned the form of the nose that, in these times, could be the "saddle-nose", a sign of congenital syphilis. Syphilis was most probably introduced to Europe by returning Christopher Columbus. It spread rapidly, in particular through infected mercenaries coming from all over Europe to fight in Southern Europe at this time.
The altarpiece of the cathedral is magnificent. It is attributed to
Jan Borman, one of the best of his time, from Bussels. Look at the realism of the bad guy on the left of the picture, with the bones popping through the skin of the elbow!
Walls and ceiling are painted.
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| Holy spirit... |
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| A pregnant virgin on an anchor... |
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Amazing! Just in Sweden. The cathedral, just like any Ikea shop,
has a kids corner where you can drop your child the time for a prayer. |
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| "The sea tavern", where cormorant are serving... |
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| Early autumn leaves in the trees. |
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| Lilliput island in Mariefred. |
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| Another sundog over Belisama, as we leave her in deserted Mariefred for the week. |
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