Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Oslo - first taste of Norway

We have had 3 nights and 2 full days in Oslo after arriving by train.  We are staying half an hour out of Oslo central in Vinterbro, with my cousin's son Chris and his family (4 children including 5 year old twins). It has been nice to see the suburbs rather than just the city centre, and to also get first hand info on life in Norway.

The Norwegians seems very friendly, far more so than the Swedes.  People actually say hello to you if you are out walking in the forest - not so in Sweden.
Prices are a huge step up from Sweden, and from Australia.  Today I had to pay almost $2 to use the toilet at Oslo's central bus station!  A burger, chips and a drink at Burger King costs at least $15.  When we stop for a cold drink it's almost $5 each for nothing more fancy than Lipton Iced Tea.  Tomorrow we start cooking our evening meals.

 Houses on Byggdoy Peninsula where many of the museums are

 Me with Chris, Sylvia and the 3 youngest children

 The Ra - a reed boat sailed by Thor Heyerdahl of Kon Tiki fame

 In the Viking museum

 from the ferry back - you can see the ski jump in the distant background
About 1 in 5 Norwegians owns a boat

 Parliament House

 They like purple pansies and petunias

 looking toward the Royal Palace

 view of Oslo from Holmenkollen ski jump

 from the top of the ski jump

 Oslo city from Akershus castle

 one of the amazing statues at Vigelund Park - more below



Unfortunately the Edvard Munch museum was closed today, but we did see a roomful of his paintings at the National Museum, including "The Scream", "Madonna", and "The Sick Child".  "The Scream" is behind very thick glass.

Off to Bergen by train in the morning, where we'll be meeting our son Jonathan  :-)

1 comment:

  1. Where's Graeme? Do the children jump all over him like ours use to?

    Photos of Oslo look bright and sunny, how lovely to be staying with family and shown around by the locals. And you're only half way through your trip. Enjoy ! Ruth

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