Oslo

Oslo 

Hi everyone!  Sorry I have been unable to write lately but I am on a Disney Cruise to the Baltic, visiting European capitols!!  It was kind of short notice but basically, my brother Jeff, is da bomb!!!  We started with Oslo...

Oslo was very overcast as I headed to breakfast.  The fjord where we were docked is right next ti the Akershus Fortress and in the distance you can see the Olympic ski jump.  It was our first port and so I did not know what to expect on the tour but was very excited to be in Norway!!  Our guide began to tell us of the history of the city.  The City of Oslo is fairly new, within the last hundred years.  The king decided to move the Capitol to the fjord because inland, the town had been burned down more than 20 times and so he felt they could be better protected by water.  He also made wooden structures outlawed and brick became the new norm.  The city is beginning to have a very modern look and construction is going on everywhere you look.  The new opera house is a site to see and is right on the river with a ramp actually to the water for boats.  Oslo is surround by small islands and is heavily wooded with forests.  It is beautiful.  In the winter the entire waterway freezes and they have to have the ice "cut through" by a freighter so the canal is still accessible.  Driving through the city, you could really be anywhere.  well, except for the Royal Palace at the city center!  We started at a museum called the Con Tiki.  My guide book highly recommended this museum but I really didn't enjoy it very much.  The Con Tiki was the name of a ship made out of papyrus (basically straw).  This guy Than (Norwegian) wanted to prove that you could make a ship out of paper.  I think his goal was to prove the Polynesians might have been able to discover America or something.  It was hard to focus for me b/c all I could think was why would you build a ship out of paper???  It was 1947, there was no need!!  He lasted 54 days on his first attempt and then had to be rescued.  On his second attempt it took 101 days.  6 guys were on board and they were all from different countries proving they could co-exist or something...fascinating yada yada yada.  Where is the Viking ship!!!!  After the Con Tiki we went to the maritime museum.  I really should pay closer attention when I sign up for tours.  all I saw was Viking ship and in the words of my dad said "sign me up" Lesson learned!  The maritime was ok but I was at this point worrying about missing the true Oslo heritage.  Then we went to the Viking museum...I don't know if the Viking museum was really that impressive or that I had just been to the Con Tiki bit it was AWESOME!!  It made me want to set off with me mates to pillage and plunder, whatever that means?!?  The ships were impressive and the detail in the carvings along the ship were beautiful.  Those barbarians had class!  After the Viking museum we had the option to go back to the ship or stay in town.  I opted to go exploring through the streets of Oslo on my own and then head back to the ship.  I started to head toward the Royal Palace and happened apron their changing of the guard.  Lucky!  They were really fluffy hats that look like a horse tail.  and they look so young!  Or I am getting old, either way, it was cool!

Norway is the most expensive city in Europe, so I'm told.  They have Kroner as their currency.  I did exchange some money for Kroner but did not want to buy a troll which were everywhere.  I really don't know why but I tank it has something to do with parents telling their kids to be good or they will turn into trolls??  I missed the Ice Bar but did get to see the opera house up close and the theatre as well.  on my way back to the ship, I toured the fortress grounds.  It was beautiful.  I got a little lost, big surprise, and ended up getting to see some police women in training on horses.  Lucky again!  Once I was back on the ship, I headed up on deck to take some more pictures.  As we left, I saw more of the fishing village side of Oslo as apposed to the city.  I have never been to Alaska but I imagine it looks somewhat like that.           


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