Oslo in Winter
Feb 21
We arrived into Oslo via train on Tuesday afternoon from Gothenburg at the Oslo Central Train Station, which was very busy. We head out of the station straight up the Main Street towards our hotel. As compared to other European cities we have seen there was way more modern buildings with still a mix of older buildings. We got checked into our hotel and then headed off to look at some of the sights and stopped in to the National Museum of Norway. A very large museum with artifacts from the early ages to contemporary art. Norway needed to do a lot of trading over the past 1000 year as many resources were limited. While trading in other countries they also brought lots of antiquities from many other countries so there was a wide array of old items that they brought from all over the globe.
One thing that will amaze people is how expensive everything is here from a Canadian viewpoint. Two beers and an order of Nachos will run you about $40.00 about the same prices as Rogers Place.
Feb 22
When arrived into Oslo we picked up a 48 hour Oslo pass which gave us unlimited access to local transit and free admission to all of the museums and tourist sites. We made our way by bus to three museums about 30 minutes from our hotel. The Fram, Kon-Tiki and Maritime museums took up most of our day. The Fram museum shows how the Norwegians we’re trying to reach the North Pole via the Northwest Passage special ships were built to last these 3 years trips into the Arctic and excellent museum. On display was a photo exposition of the Nansen photos taken in the late 1800,s of another Arctic Voyage of 1000 photos from this 3 year journey incredibly interesting.
Next door to the Fram Museum was the Kon-Tiki museum which 6 Norwegian in 1948 build a raft out of Balsa-wood and reeds a floated -sailed from the coast of Peru to Polynesia to prove that people in Polynesia did arrive from the South American continent as historian’s did not think it was possible. These six Norwegians had no sailing experience, but we’re able to document the trip on film, and won an Oscar as the best documentary film in 1951.
Our last museum of the day was the Norway Maritime Museum which showed many artifacts and marine displays . All three museums were very well done with lots of English explanations and excellent displays. We ended the day by going out to a movie and experienced a Norwegian theatre experience. Tickets are purchased but you get assigned seating in the theatres, about 30 people were at the movie but we all sat next to each other in about two rows an a theatre that sat 200.
Feb 23
Today we visit the Arkus castle which contained two museums the Norwegian Resistance museum which displayed Norways resistance army against the Nazis in WW2. The Germans need access to Norways natural resources Iron ore to feed their factories to build the munitions. The resistance move was to constantly blow up bridges and sabotaged the German Military, again another really good museum. We then walk a short way to the Norwegian Military museum and it explained their role in many peace keeping missions around the world.
We wrapped up our day walking the Harbour around Oslo visiting a few older cathedrals and churches. The Oslo opera house a beautiful building located along the harbour, we were able to walk up on the roof of the building for an amazing view of the city.
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