Oslo, Norway

Traveling north, we took a 1-hour flight from Stockholm to Oslo.  With transit across Stockholm, an early airport arrival, our flight, and then traveling across the city in Oslo, it was mid-afternoon before we arrived at our new apartment.  With only 8 days scheduled in Norway, we departed Oslo just 3 days after arriving.  We crammed a lot into our short visit.  

Having purchased the Oslo Travelcard at the Central Station, we were ready to explore. Vigeland Park (aka Frogner Park) was first on the agenda.  Seeing a preview of Vigeland’s work at the Thiel Gallery in Stockholm, turned out to be a perfect introduction.  At 80 acres, this large park not only features 210 bronze and granite sculptures designed by Gustav Vigeland, but also the landscaping which he designed.  Beautiful flowerbeds grace the grounds, featuring over 150 species of plants and Norway’s largest collection of roses.  The highlight of the park is the Monolith, which depicts 121 human characters in a design that rises roughly 46 feet.  Carved out of one solid piece of granite, it is surrounded by 36 structural groups also depicting humans in various forms.  A bridge, lined with people engaged in different activities and age groups, leads to the Monolith.  Vigeland spent the final 22 years of his life working on sculptures that he donated to the city in exchange for being given a place where he could live and work.  Open 24 hours a day, all-year-round the park is a source of great pride to the residents of Oslo. 

Traveling early the following morning across the city, we headed to the Viking Ship Museum.  The Oseberg ship built around 820 and the Gokstad ship built around 900 are the main attractions here and are the world’s best-preserved Viking vessels.  Both were used as burial ships for royalty at the end of their useful sea life.  The ships were buried in mounds along with the items that the deceased would need in the afterlife, including animals, dish-ware, and tools.  A short interactive film takes visitors on a visual journey of a Viking ship, from their construction through to their use for burials. 

Staying with the nautical theme, we moved on to The Fram Museum.  Two buildings house the Gjoa, the first ship traveling through the Northwest Passage, and the Polar Ship Fram.  A wide-screen film, available in 10 languages, provided a 12-minute introductory story on the history of polar exploration. We were able to climb on board the Fram featuring a 270-degree surround sound experience with the ship traveling through stormy seas.  The Fram is considered to be the strongest wooden ship ever constructed, built to withstand the crushing ice of the polar regions.  

Following the morning’s navigation focus, we decided to return to the city by ferry.  Located along the city’s waterfront, a number of food trucks provided lunch options.  Alan was able to indulge in his favorite, Fish and Chips, though a more traditional prep in this country is cod boiled in saltwater and served with mayonnaise.  City Hall, the site where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, was our next stop.  Massive murals recount the country’s history and are supplemented by a free, English-language tour.  

Moving on to the Akershus Fortress and Castle, built around 1290, we had great overviews of the harbor.  We also stumbled upon the Norwegian Resistance Museum.  German forces invaded Norway on April 9, 1940, and due to the overwhelming threat, the Norwegian government capitulated on June 10.  Over 350,000 occupying troops threatened to annihilate the populace, so the move was taken to save lives.  Within 2 months of the Nazi invasion, a strong underground resistance movement was in place.  The underground provided invaluable information and assistance to the Allied forces.  Five years later, on May 8, 1945, Norway was finally able to celebrate its freedom.

With around 17 hours of daylight plus additional hours of twilight this time of year at this latitude, getting to sleep can be a challenge.  But it definitely adds a lot more recreational hours to the day!  Luckily, United Airlines had provided us with Spiderman sleeping masks for the flight from the U.S., so they are coming in handy now.

Renting a car the next morning, we moved northwesterly from Oslo toward Bergen and the renowned Norwegian fjords.