Michele's Travel Blog: A Spin Around Oslo

Arrival in Oslo is not difficult. But one thing that was strange is that I was not asked for my passport or go through customs. Here is the deal. Norway, Sweden and Denmark are part of the Scandanvian countries. You need a passport if you enter outside these countries but not for traveling within these countries. Next adventure is to purchase my Flytoget train ticket at the kiosk. This is a cinch and off I go.

Now finding my hotel was a bit of a different animal. When you exit a station, the first thing of importance, is what street to exit. So when in doubt ask. I was told to exit the Karl Johans Gate, go through the park and I will see the hotel. I happily exit with my directions and meander through the park. I see tons of people and hotels but not mine. I ask a passerby for additional direction. Well just like the other cities I have visited there is more than one park. I was to go through the park by the Royal Palace, not the esplanade. I had to back track wheeling my luggage on the beautiful cobble stone streets. It’s a love and hate relationship with the cobblestones. Romantic, historic and pleasing to the eye, but a pain in the booty to transport luggage. Remember ladies, when you travel abroad less is more!

Ok, I am checked in and have a plan based on my consult with the concierge. Below is a glance of the spin in Oslo.

A ride on the T-band (Tram Car) to Frognerseteren, which takes you into the forested hills of the city.

Dinner at Frognerseteren Restaurnant – Famous for Roasted Rudolph . No, I dodn’t have Roudolph again.

A visit to the Holmenkollen Ski Jump – Hollemkollen has hosted many championships including the 1952 Winter Olypmics. In order to have the privilege of hosting the 2011 World Championships, Oslo agreed to build a bigger jump to match the newer ones. It was impressive as you will see from the photos.

A tour through the neighborhood of Bygdoy followed by a visit to the Viking Museum. I utilize the public transportation to get me there and back. Bus over and the ferry back. The trip to the Viking Museum was a fascinating. The ships were discovered in three large burial mounds where they had been buried to serve as vessels for their rich owners final journey to the realm of the dead.

The Oseberg Ship was built around 820AD and was used as a burial ship for a powerful woman and her maidservant in 834AD. The ship is constructed from oak timbers and is 21.5 metres long and 5 metres wide. The ship was fully manned with a crew of 32 men, including the helmsman and the lookout. In the burial chamber, two dead woman were laid out in a ready-made bed. The ship also had a collection of burial gifts for the use in the life hereafter; three sledges, a wagon, five carved animal heads, five beds and the skeletons of 12 horses.

The Tune Ship was the first Viking Ship to be discovered and it is exhibited as it was found. It is built of oak and dates back to about 900AD. It is thought that the Tune ship was a fast, ocean-going vessel.

The Gokstad was built around 890AD and used as a burial ship for a chieftain around 900AD. The ship is about 23 metres long and about 5 metres wide, and it was equipped with 32 shields on each side, painted alternately in gold and black. In the burial chamber lay the body of a man in his 40’s.

A tour through the town which includes the Aker Brygge harbor front, City Hall and a walk through Frogner Park. The City Hall was finished in 1950 after WWII. Norway’s leading artists contributed to the murals and statues. The art implies a classless society, showing everyone working together in harmony for a better society. Frogner Park is a 75 acre park that contains a lifetime of work by Norway’s greatest sculptor, Gustav Vigeland. The sculptor worked on-site from 1924- 1943 designing 192 bronze and granite statue groupings – 600 figures in all, each nude and unique. Some call it the porno park. You decide.

Now off to bed as I have a 6:30am train departure to Flam which is nestled in the spectacular Norwegian Fjords.