Room 396
| August 9, 2009 | Filled under Blog |
For our kronor, this inn has more old-fashioned charm and authentic character than any other hotel in town. The third-oldest hotel in Gothenburg was built in 1859, predating the Swedish use of the word to describe a building with rooms for travelers. Many emigrants to the New World spent their last night in the old country at the Hotel Eggers, ad during World War II, the Germans and the Allies met here for secret negotiations. Today it’s just as good as or better than ever, with stained-glass windows, ornate staircases, wood paneling, and a distinct sense of history. (If you ask, one of the older staff members here will discuss the role of the hotel as a trysting spot, many decades ago, for Prince Albert, a member os Sweden’s Royal Family, and his long-time (the-secret) companion, Lillian.) — Frommer’s Scandinavia
CLH booked this hotel because it is within walking distance to his offices here. It’s also right smack in the middle of Drottningtorget Square, next to the train station and a major tram intersection. Outside I have heard football fans singing all day long, the squeal of tram brakes on the cobblestoned rails, the intermittent splatter of rain.
My room key is a real key, not a plastic card with a magnetic stripe. It is attached to a heavy keychain, metal, like a fancy nametag, with the room number in the slot where the name should be. The spiral staircase is covered with red paisley carpet. The hallways are decorated with old photographs showing the square in simpler times, with horse-drawn carriages and much fewer buildings. My comforter and pillow are both stuffed with down.
Things I learned about Gothenburg on my flight: in addition to being the birthplace of Hasselblad, it is also the home of Volvo. Locals call it “the biggest small town in Sweden.”
Also, did you know that Pippi Longstocking was a Swedish invention?
