Visited: Oslo
Stay: Norway/Sweden border- large parking area, picnic tables, information centre, toilet, shower payable. GPS 59.9303 12.2410
After a very peaceful night, we caught the train once more down the mountain into Oslo.
Not only in London!
At 9am on a Sunday morning, it was like a ghost town with very few people about. The one thing that was open was the City Hall (free) which is the political and administrative heart of Oslo. It was opened in 1950 and is decorated with delightful motives from Norwegian history, culture and working life. The Great Hall serves as a venue for major functions.
The Festival Gallery.
We were able to walk through various rooms and halls with their modern paintings on the walls.
We then took the opportunity with our 24hr transport ticket to take a 50min round trip on a ferry to some other islands in the fjord close to the city. It was possible to hop on and off but we decided to return to the city to continue our explorations there.
We walked up to Christiania Torv, the city's first market square, with its fountain with a gloved hand.
From here we made our way to Karl Johans Gate, the main boulevard of Oslo. With the parliament (Stortinget) at one end and the Royal Palace at the other end.
It was a pleasant stroll past stately Neo-Classical buildings that are now department stores, cafes and hotels.
St.Hallvard- city symbol
French toilet block
We continued through the gardens and along the beaujois end of town.
We went to visit the Oslo City Museum (free) which had a great exhibit on the history of Oslo.
Solar recharging stations
We then strolled through the Vigelandsparken, a park whose 212 sculptures depict humanity in all its forms. We went over the bridge which is lined with 58 bronze statues representing various stages of life.
A very popular one is of a baby having a tantrum!
We then passed the fountain with 6 giants carrying a vessel on their shoulders surrounded by 20 groups of figures in amongst trees.
Behind this and up the steps was the 17m Monolith, comprising of 121 human figures supporting and holding on to each other. Around it were 36 groups of granite figures depicting the cycles of life and relationships. Some where quite moving.
Then it was time to return to Bluey and we enjoyed a final view of Oslo as we decended the mountain.
We were only stung with one 35nok toll as we left the city on our way to Sweden. We were happy to have arrived at the border just after 5pm before the Motorhome crowd hit its peak and managed to get a spot to stay overnight.
Peace Memorial.
The tourist office is quite unique as it has the border line running through it...great photo opp!
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