Farmers and Sailors!

This was our first full day in Oslo. It got off to a lazy start, as we planned what to do, over breakfast. I wanted to see Vigeland Sculpture Park and we also wanted to visit the museums on  the Bygdoy Peninsula.

We decided to go to the tourist information office near the main train station and ask the best way to get from one place to another. The offıce runs on a ticket system. We worked out how to get our ticket and waited our turn. The girl who dealt with us was extremely helpful and using a map outlined the different ways to travel, bus, tram or ferry. She also recommended the 24 hour public transport ticket at the cost of 75 kroner. This proved to be extremely good value as the ferry alone was 50 kr. Hubbie surprised me by electing to go by ferry. He goes green just at the mention of a boat. But the ferry would only take 15 minutes. We had to take the No. 12 tram from outside tourist information to take us  to the harbour area of Aker Brygge. From there we would catch the ferry. We did well, found it left from Platform B. We went and waited.....and waited. No tram. We eventually noticed a sign that told us, due to roadworks our tram was going from Platform F. It's just a well we decided to make these a relaxed few days. We were now about 3 hours behind my original schedule.

We'd found our way, now Hubbie checks the time of the next ferry.

Next, to the ferry. While waiting we were approached by two men,  each given a bar of chocolate and a leaflet, explaining that this was because we were celebrating the Dalai Lama's birthday today.

The ferry? No, not this one

This one.

We boarded the ferry and in no time at all we reached our destination. There was a "toy" train if we wished to take it to the musuems but we elected to walk. Better for our health and our pocket! On our way we passed some beautiful houses. This area must be like Ailesbury or Shrewsbury Road in Dublin, the dearest roads on the Monopoly Board!

Beautiful houses on the Bygdoy Peninsula

Most of them were white.

.....with a few exceptions

We arrived at our first stop, the Norwegian Folk and Culture Museum. You could easily allocate a whole day to spend here. It is an outdoor musuem. They have brought over 140 buildings from all over Norway, mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries, and reconstructed them here, according to region.

A typical farm.

I can't get away from it...........the schoolhouse!

An outdoor theatre

A signpost.

The Presbytery Garden

The grass roof covered in wildflowers was prevalent.

A storeroom

A farmhouse built in the 1800's and modernised inside in the 1950's

Part of the barn and farmyard.

Does anyone remember these tractors?

Of course it wouldn't be a farm without livestock.

Fancy washing the clothes in this machine?

 Going back in time again. A guest house from the 1800's. Inside all the walls and ceilings were painted in a rose design. This is now preserved behind glass

The Gamlebyn, the Old Town is a reproduction of an early 20th century Norwegian town.

The Old Town

A street in the Old Town

But it was this old garage that really caught our fancy.

This transports us back in time!

The most impressive building for me was the Stave Church, built around 1200 and shifted to Bygday in 1885. These churches are named for their  vertical supporting posts  and are also noted for their detailed carved designs, dragon headed gables, like the prow of the Viking ships and their beautiful almost Asian forms.

Gateway to the Stave Church

Stave Church

The entrance.

Finer Detail

The dragon heads and elaborate carving

The inside is very dark. This is some of the detail inside.

As the day moved on we decided there was only time to visit the Viking Ship Museum and we would leave the Sculpture Park until tomorrow. Aching feet, flat camera battery (my head is really bad these days, two spare batteries were in the apartment) and once again, no tripod. I hadn't thought I'd lug it around the city, this meant I was struggling with trying to find a setting to deal with burned out skies. Sometimes I despair of ever learning to find my way around this camera.

The Viking Ship Museum

The museum though small is impressive. It holds the Viking ships Gokstad and Oseberg as well as a few boards of the Tune. They were built in the 9th century and later pulled ashore and used as tombs for nobility. It is mindboggling to think of the seafaring skills of these sailors as they sailed all the way down to the Mediterranean. Off course, they stopped off in Ireland, plundering, trading, settling and leaving a large number of their genes behind them.

Oseberg

The remains of the Tune

The Oseberg from floor level

Reproduction of the prow.

Cart found buried on the ship

Prow

Yet another one.

We had one last task for the day. Hubbie had to buy a new cap. He forgot to pack his and the sun is not kind to his receding hairline!

Hubbie's Viking cap.

Cilgin Kiz Heads for Cooler Climes!

Today our Norwegian adventures began. The planning that began a year ago is finally coming to fruition. Yesterday, while packing my suitcase, I received a text from SAS telling me that I could now check in online.Thank God for the text! Our flight was two hours earlier than originally scheduled. Hubbie was doubly grateful because the seats in the emergency exit row were free. No, he didn't want to bail out midway, he had room to stretch out his long legs.

I was amazed when we were leaving the bags at the bag drop in the airport. My case came in under 20kg. Now that was a surprise. Packing had been bit of a nightmare. We have come for almost 4 weeks and have been told by one of our house swop families to expect anything from 30C to 10C and "sideways" rain.

We landed to beautiful sunshine and 23C. This was a real bonus. We have had so much rain at home and looking at the temperatures in Bodrum, I sometimes wondered why we decided to come to Norway. But weather isn't everything and I've been promised a photgraphers paradise. I'm told they say in Norway "There is no such thing as wrong weather only the wrong clothes"

We took the Flybussen into the central bus station where we were met by Jan, the owner of the apartment  we have rented for three days. We were literally 2 minutes walk from the apartment. He took time to show us everything, invited us to use the basic supplies in his kitchen....but not all please .....and then recommended some of the sights to be seen in the next couple of days. A warm welcome indeed.

We caught our breath and sat on our balcony drinking coffee - or water in my case. As it was late afternoon we set out for a short wander, to find our bearings. Outside the main train station, we stopped to look at our map and a lovely lady asked  if she could help. We explained we had just arrived and were not looking for anywhere in particular. She directed us to Karl Johans Gate, a long street, part pedestrianised that leads in a long straight line up to the Royal Palace. She said it was the most beautiful street in the city. I didn't have my good camera with me as we were just out for a short stroll but these photos taken with my compact will give you an idea of the area.

One of the beautiful buildings that line Karl Johans Gate

Hubbie studies the street map, The Grand Hotel is in the background

One of the many fountains. I was regretting not bringing my Olympus Pen to slow the shutter speed.

Bird brained? Feather headed? .....Oh Crap!

The palace is surrounded by parkland, open to the public. In this it is unique in Europe. But what a delight, rolling lawns, ponds  and beautiful mature trees. People were just sitting here and there on the benches or on the grass enjoying the late evening sunshine. No "Keep off the grass" signs here.

The Royal Palace

Guard Duty

The Palace Gardens are open to all

Yet another pond

Hubbie allowed into a picture for once

Peace and tranquility in the city centre.

Looking back down Karl Johans Gate from the Palace

Taking this I lamented  I'd left my tripod back at the apartment.

After that it was time to head back and get something to eat. Now there was the ouch. €47 for a pizza, meatballs, coke and a glass of water. And we thought Ireland was expensive! Oslo is in the top ten most expensive cities in the world. This holiday could be very good for my figure!!