Oslo Day 8

A jam packed day of sightseeing in Oslo. It was a bit drizzly at times today but not the rain all day that was predicted so I’m calling that a win. And it didn’t make me alter any plans I had so that’s even better. On the bright side the flowers are super vibrant and the grass a bright green.

First stop was at the Fram Museum. This museum holds the 128-foot steam and sail-powered ship that took Ronald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen deep into the Arctic and Antarctic further north and south than any vessel had gone before. It’s quite an epic story and I’m pretty sure my mouth was hanging open hearing about it from this guide. You actually get to walk onto the ship and there are video screens all around you simulating what the conditions were for the ship - even seeing polar bears on the ice around the ship. It’s really well done and comparing it to the Vasa which I saw in Stockholm I liked this much better. But this ship sailed in 1903-1906 and the Vasa in 1628 so not really an apples to oranges comparison. My pictures don’t do it justice because it’s huge!

Next a visit to Vigeland Park. This is really the pride and joy of the people of Oslo. The park contains a lifetime of work by Norway’s greatest sculptor Gustav Vigeland. He designed 192 bronze and granite statue groupings - 600 figures in all that are all about the cycle of life. It’s spectacular and set in a pristine park and the figures almost brought me to tears. Totally free and open to everyone so don’t miss it.

Next stop City Hall. In Scandinavian capitals City Halls are very important because democracy and the running of the town to make the city good for all the citizens is extremely important. This beautiful building was started in 1931 but not finished until 1950 due to WWII. It’s very detailed both on the inside and the outside telling the story of the history of Norway through statues and murals.

The Nobel Peace Center is in Oslo as well. The ceremony takes place in the main central hall of City Hall (the other Nobel prizes are given out in Stockholm) but this is a museum totally dedicated to the works of the Peace Prize winners. I didn’t go in but I know that the curved bench in front of it is designed in that way so that when people sit on it they have to sit next to each other. There is an inscription below the bench from Nelson Mandela that says “The best weapon is to sit down and talk.”

I spent a couple of hours at the beautiful new National Museum. A brand new very modern building that just opened in the past 2 years. Much larger I was told than the old museum and really wonderful. As I mentioned yesterday Edvard Munch is from Norway and has a separate museum recently opened here - but I knew the National Museum had a fairly large collection of his work including his most famous painting done in 1895 “The Scream”. So since I only had time for one decided to go with the National Museum and I’m so glad I did. So many great artists featured and also a big section of Scandinavian furniture and design. Also a fantastic fashion exhibit of gorgeous dresses dating back to the 1930’s to current years with gowns from the two most recent Queens of Norway and various celebrities gowns they wore to the Met Gala and the Cannes Film festival. Also the very first Monet painting that was ever purchased. Who knew it went to Norway!

I happened across this familiar face while walking. Hello Mr President! A statute to Franklin D. Roosevelt to thank him for the help the US gave to Norway during WWII.

My dinner tonight was at a place I’ve walked by a few times close to the water. Café Skansen got good reviews so I had a lovely dinner of cod, potatoes, asparagus and radishes in a cream sauce. It seems everything comes in a cream sauce but it’s delicious. I ate every bite😋

So many pretty boats in the harbor. Actually it’s the Oslo fjord but tomorrow I’m heading into the mountains for hopefully great views of the fjords. I’m super excited and can’t wait to see in person what I’ve seen in pictures so often. Fingers crossed the weather holds up. On to the fjords!