If this is how they start summer in Norway, then I’d hate to see winter! It was about 4ºC this morning as we headed towards town for a day in Oslo. On the way in, we stopped at Holmenkollen. The sight of the 1952 Olympic Ski Jump arena. We climbed to the top and went through the museum for a look down onto Oslo and its fjords. Unfortunately, our day on Oslo was not as great a success as we wished. It was a public holiday, so a lot of sights weren’t open.
Hollmenkollen, Oslo, Norway
We did, however, manage to walk around Akerhus Fortress & Castle, where we went into Hjemmefrontmuseet (Norwegian Resistance Museum), which was a great little museum detailing Norway’s resistance to the Nazi movement in World War II.
From there we drove to the Kon Tiki Ra Museum, which was dedicated to Thor Teyerdahl, a Norwegian sailor/scientist who built three rafts (Kon Tiki, Ra I and Ra II) with papyrus wood in a traditional style in order to sail the South Pacific. His aim was to show that it was possible for early African and Middle Eastern explorers could sail to Polynesia, hence explaining similarities in the cultures. He also has eight men of different nationalities with him in order to prove that people of different cultures, religions and languages could work together in adverse conditions. None of the boats looked safe enough to float on Tuggerah Lakes, but each travelled over 7,000 kilometers with only the Ra I not completing its journey.
Kon Tiki Ra Museum, Oslo, Norway
Dinner was had had at Peppe’s Pizza, with Roberta, Jacki and I sharing a pizza which cost the equivalent of AU$45. It was been a very expensive week!
The day ended at Frognerparken, which is a park containing over 200 sculptures by artist Gustav Vigeland, who also designed the park. Each sculpture is meant to capture to spirit of life. The masterpiece is a 40-foot, stone carved, monument featuring numerous human bodies. No words can justly describe it – you have to see it to truly enjoy it.
Frognerparken, Oslo, Norway
The Monolith, Frognerparken, Oslo, Norway
The Fountain, Frognerparken, Oslo, Norway
Man Under Attack From Genii Spirits, Frognerparken, Oslo, Norway
Frognerparken, Oslo, Norway
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