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From Black Death to Cholera: Swedish Guide Tours Pandemic Places

Published June 15th, 2020 - 05:19 GMT

With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers avoiding crowds, a guide is trying to boost business with tours of the city's previous pandemics, from the black death to cholera outbreaks.

On a sunny Saturday, Mike Anderson led a group of history buffs on a 'Plague Walk' through Stockholm's Old Town, pausing by churches and in the shadows of narrow orange and yellow houses that line the streets to point out how the city was marked by pandemics past, according to AFP.

"I think it's quite interesting when you take things that happen today and connect it to history and see people have been through this before," said Anderson, 46.

Dressed in a long, rough cotton shirt over his clothes -- along with a long, beaked mask, his costume for the tour -- Anderson led the group through the cobbled streets.

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Tour guide Mike Anderson (R) takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics. AFP

Tour guide Mike Anderson (R) takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics, from the black death to cholera outbreaks. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics, from the black death to cholera outbreaks. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics, from the black death to cholera outbreaks. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Visitors are pictured on May 30 ,2020 during a 'plague walk' tour by guide Mike Anderson , taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Visitors are pictured on May 30 ,2020 during a 'plague walk' tour by guide Mike Anderson , taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics, from the black death to cholera outbreaks. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics, from the black death to cholera outbreaks. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Tour guide Mike Anderson (R) takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics. AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics, from the black death to cholera outbreaks. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Visitors are pictured on May 30 ,2020 during a 'plague walk' tour by guide Mike Anderson , taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics, from the black death to cholera outbreaks. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson (R) takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics. AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson (R) takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics, from the black death to cholera outbreaks. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics, from the black death to cholera outbreaks. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics, from the black death to cholera outbreaks. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Visitors are pictured on May 30 ,2020 during a 'plague walk' tour by guide Mike Anderson , taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Visitors are pictured on May 30 ,2020 during a 'plague walk' tour by guide Mike Anderson , taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics, from the black death to cholera outbreaks. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
With tourists confined at home and Stockholmers staying away from crowds, one Swedish tour guide is trying to boost his flagging business by offering coronavirus-weary Swedes tours of the city's previous pandemics, from the black death to cholera outbreaks. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
Tour guide Mike Anderson takes visitors on May 30 ,2020 on a 'plague walk', taking them around sites in Stockholm's old town related to pandemics of the plague in the 14th and 18th century, and an outbreak of cholera that hit the city in the mid-19th century. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

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