My friend and I had the opportunity to go onboard this peculiar ship when it docked at the Stenpiren harbour for viewing. It seemed as though it was a favorable chance for us since we didn’t know it was there and we were out that day for a summer stroll in the city. With full stomach after taking our lunch at a Chinese restaurant, we decided to take a walk from there not knowing how far or near it would be to the city centre. When we saw the ship from the distance we didn’t recognize at once that it was the historical and phenomenal Ostindiefararen (the Swedish Ship Götheborg). We took a closer look of the ship and finally knew that it was. Even if we live here in the city where this ship originates we have a hard time seeing it at a close range, moreso going onboard is out of the question. Then finally day it was open for public viewing and touring for a minimal fee. Well, we could have paid lower than we did if we did not pretend as tourists. I was shocked to hear the ticket seller spoke to us in English when normally most speak Swedish first before switching to English if they needed to. We joined the group with an English-speaking guide and that’s it! The fee was higher than a group with a Swedish-speaking guide. Duh! But it was worth for a random chance like that.

This ship is a revision of the original one built in 1738. After three successful trips to China, it sank when it was approaching the Gothenburg harbour. The new ship was built with traditional methods and same raw materials as used before. The ship made its historical expedition to China in 2005 and returned to the home port in 2007.

I found out later that this Swedish Ship Götheborg would stay by the Stenpiren harbour here for seven weeks. Then its summer ending trip will include a trip to Sail Amsterdam and Sail Bremerhafen.