The Vasa is a ship that sank on her maiden voyage from the harbor at Stockholm. She laid where she sank, forgotten for over 300 years. She was raised and restored over the last fifty years. The wood is actually quite dark, the golden hue is a trick of the lights and film. Still she's a huge magnificent ship.

The port side.

The stern quarter on the port side. Note the longboat in the lower left, it's where the waterline would be. No wonder the Vasa sank, she was top heavy.

The starboard side at the stern.

A view of the ornate carving at the stern. The whole ship was carved in the same grand manner. The color is more accurate here.