Oslo, Norway
Oslo is located in southern
Norway along the border with Sweden.
*** Please note: There are a few pictures of nude statues on
this page. Nothing obscene, though. ***
Oslo is the capital and largest city of Norway, with a population of 500,000. It is located on the southern part of the country and is a major port city. The water has been an integral part of Norway’s past, as is evident in the Viking ships and their legends. Manufacturing is also a major part of the economy, with shipbuilding, electrical and electronic equipment, chemicals, textiles, processed food, wood and metal items, machinery, and printed materials heading the list.
Oslo
is a modern city, but has strong links to the past. The University of Oslo, the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and
Letters, the Norwegian Nobel Institute (more on that later), and the National
Archives are all located here. There
are also many museums and art galleries.
One of the most famous collections of sculptures is located in Frogner
Park, also known as Vigeland Park (more on that later, too). Across the bay, a 20-minute ferry ride, is
the Viking Museum.
Oslo
was first settled around 1050, and became the site of the royal residence about
1300. After Oslo was destroyed by fire
in 1624, it was rebuilt by Christian IV of Denmark and Norway, and was renamed
Christiana in his honor. It did not
resume its original name until 1925.
During WWII, Norway and Oslo were occupied by the Germans. In 1952, the Winter Olympic Games were held
here. The ski jump is still visible on
a nearby mountaintop.
Driving into Oslo, I had to
think about how much this looks like parts of Wisconsin.
One of the first views
coming into Oslo is the Akershus Slott (or castle).
The band performed in the
open courtyard one afternoon.
Oslo Harbor. The Harborfront shops and restaurants are
located on the far side of the picture.
Food was VERY expensive in Oslo.
A “Mc-Happy Meal” was about $7, and a real sit-down meal started at
around $25 and easily topped $60-70 just for a steak or seafood dinner. A 1-liter bottle of Coke was $4. YIKES!
Oslo Harbor – sailing ships
at sunset.
Oslo Domkirke church.
The front door of the
Domkirke was this immensely heavy iron masterpiece.
Oslo Domkirke pipe
organ.
The organs in most churches
in Europe seem to be in the back balcony area.
That may not be unusual during a service, but during a recital, the audience
sits and looks forward while the organist performs behind them. Applause is not commonly given, due to the
solemn nature of churches. Rather
impersonal, eh?
This fierce-looking
wrought-iron creature was in a nearby park.
At the Oslo harbor, a
fisherman sells his catch from the previous evening.
While I was in line to get
food at one of our concerts, I met this officer, a Russian
Lt. Colonel with the Russian
Embassy in Oslo. We had a nice
conversation,
and he gave me his business card.
If you don’t have enough
stress in your life, you can buy it here.
Oslo is one of the locations
where the Nobel Prize is awarded each year.
When I knocked on the door
to pick mine up, nobody was home. Darn!
A musician with a Russian
street band.
One of many outdoor cafes in
Oslo.
A statue of 3 chickens in
Oslo. I don’t know what they did to
deserve a statue,
but it must have been good.
Frogner Park is one of the
most talked-about and most-visited sites in Oslo. Here, you will find over 200 works by sculptor Gustav Vigeland –
works done in bronze, wrought iron, and granite. All statues are nude, but none are shown in any obscene
manner. In fact, his works are about
life. We see people in all stages of
life from infancy to old age, and in every emotion from laughter to rage. Not only did Vigeland design all of the
statues, he was also responsible for the layout and landscaping of the park. On many of the works, Vigeland designed and
crafted a smaller plaster model which was then transferred into iron, bronze,
or granite by a group of skilled masons, moulders, and blacksmiths. The entire
park was built over a 40-year period.
Perhaps the most famous
statue in Frogner Park is nicknamed “Hothead”.
Vigeland’s actual name for the sculpture was “Small boy crying”. This work has become almost a symbol of
Oslo, and appears on the cover of many of the Oslo city guides.
Oslo, Frogner Park. “Man with boy on his shoulders”. This sculpture
and “Hothead” are done in bronze.
Oslo, Frogner Park.
“Man and woman sitting with
infant between them”.
Frogner Park: Man with 4 kids. I think he has his hands full.
Mom doesn’t have it much
easier than the guy in the previous picture.
Yes, it’s a real
person! A real-life street mime. And a good one, at that.
This is the view up the main
street in Oslo, Karl Johans Gate.
The Royal Palace can be seen at the far end of the street.
Oslo Royal Palace
Guarding the Royal Palace
are these guards with automatic rifles.
Just for show???? I bet
they know how to use the rifles very well!
A traditional Norwegian
dress. This picture was taken at the
house of the American Ambassador to Norway.
The band performed there one afternoon.
The Oslo National Theatre.
Oslo National Parliament Building
On our last day in Oslo,
several of us rode the ferry across the bay to the Viking Museum. NO, ALL YOU
MINNESOTANS OUT THERE – THIS IS NOT A FOOTBALL MUSEUM!!!!! In this building are several actual Viking
ships, some restored to almost new condition.
A decorative sled used for
burial at sea in one of the Viking ships.
Back in Oslo, this motorcycle
policeman was keeping tabs on this sports car.
Nice bike! Honda ST-1100 with a V-4 engine.
Lion Heart, protector of the
Vodka.
Hope
you enjoyed Oslo, Norway!