Our first train was delayed a bit on our way back to Trondheim and we missed the connection in Oslo by moments! The train customer service desk made an “exception” and booked us on the next day’s train back to Trondheim, so we had 24 hours in Oslo! Luckily we found a nice reasonable hotel room near the station, and set off to pack in the sights.
It was late afternoon, so we toured the outdoor attractions.
First Vigeland park with its amazing exploration of humanity.
Then we took the trikk back to the main drag, Karl Johan’s gate, starting at the royal palace, along to the Storting (legislative branch), and to a great pizza place for dinner.
The guards at the royal palace are friendly! But they are on duty.
We visited Gunnar Sønsteby with his bicycle, where he stood on April 9, 1940 as German soldiers marched through Oslo after invading Norway. Sønsteby participated in resistance efforts during the German occupation of World War II, sabotaging the Nazis in many operations, making him one of Norway’s wartime heroes.
http://www.newsinenglish.no/2014/01/14/war-hero-returned/
This is the Storting, Norway’s seat of government.
The next morning was Easter, and everything was open! We were one of the first into the Viking ship museum (before the tour bus), which is an awesome sight. One of my favorite places. They have 2 reconstructed Viking ships, made in part from their original pieces. This is the Oseberg ship. The largest excavation of a burial ship in the world. It was used to bury 2 Viking women in 834. It’s re-built in amazing detail and blows me away to think that this very thing was designed, built, and used by humans so long ago. https://www.khm.uio.no/english/visit-us/viking-ship-museum/exhibitions/oseberg/3-osebergwomen.html
There is also the Gokstad ship in another wing, which is slightly bigger and was designed to be sailed as far as Iceland! https://www.khm.uio.no/english/visit-us/viking-ship-museum/exhibitions/gokstad/
Then to the Folkemuseum with historical buildings and objects from Norway’s past, including a stave church, and stoic young women cooking thick lefse on an open fire. Then back on the train for a long ride home.
The stave church in the Folkemuseum, built around 1200. After Vikings converted to Christianity, they still used their ship-like building skils and dragon imagery. https://norskfolkemuseum.no/en/stave-church
A 50’s style Norwegian household detail. We had one of this little yarn-boxes, or grandma did? Dark brown? Now I want one again!
Back on the train again. The scenery is always a nice part of the trip.
Proof that Norwegians say “Uff da!” Thankfully, no one needed it.
