Oslo

It was exciting to arrive in Norway’s very civilised capital city, particularly as it was about five degrees warmer than icy Iceland!

And we enjoyed our three nights here very much, quickly adapting to the $20 beers and enjoying the unique scenery.

The Opera House, completed in 2008, is a masterpiece in white granite and marble that seems to rise out of the water. We joined the throngs for a walk up over the roof for some unique views of the city. The foyer, with fifteen metres of glass on one side and oak cladding on the other, is simply magnificent.

We also walked around the back of the building, past the set- and costume-design workshops, where the large windows gave a good view of these generally-hidden parts of the operation.

Gustav Vigeland (1869 - 1943) was responsible for the Vigeland Sculpture Installation in Frognor Park, full of his statues, and a wonderful open space filled with locals (Oslonians? Osloafers?) out for a weekend walk. He may have been a little odd, based on the number of naked people that adorned the bridges, fountains and paths of the park. Too many penises at eye height!

Once we had our fill of contorted, naked bodies, we moved on to the Norse Folk Museum and looked at some very interesting exhibits - whole interior rooms relocated from farmhouses and apartments, a 1950’s farmhouse kitchen you could walk through and endless (i.e. hundreds) barns, cowsheds, storage sheds and farmhouses in the outdoor section.

And that was the end of the group holiday. We had a fabulous Indian meal to finish off, along with excessive drinking again, then went home to pack and get excited about the next chapter.Leggi altro