Oslo

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Blog 1: Oslo
It took 34 hours from our door at Copa to the front desk at the Perminalen Hotel, there were no hassles just 3 airports , 3 flights and little drug induced zedding. We had 6 hours on middle leg
Dag 1 (bit of Norwegian
Oslo is a delightful small city of about 460 000 (pop of Norway=Sydney). We spent the day walking around and discovering it. It is also possibly the most expensive city in the world,a coffee or icecream $8, beer $12 and a large pizza $50.
The locals love visiting other countries because everything is so cheap for them. Our hotel was excellent in a great location a couple of minutes walk from the fortress, small boat harbour and main stretch with all the sights.Its the right time to visit not hot or crowded

Dag 2
Took a ferry across the Oslo fjord to a beautiful spot called Bygdoy Went to 5 museums there using our senior citizen's discount Oslo pass.The top viewed items were giant Viking burial boats 24m long, the huge Kon Tiki and Ra rafts which Thor Heyerdal crossed oceans, one was made of balsa wood logs, the other papyrus reeds.There were 2 huge Easter Island statues on show .The Fram museum was built around the Fram ship which took Amundsen to Antartica and Nantsen north (nearly to the North Pole) an amazing boat.We also spent a coupla hours at the Norske Cultural Park (Old Sydney Town of Oslo-V Good).Highlight was the wooden stave church with its many tiered roofs clad in pine shingles.Even though it rained all day (drizzle)it didn't spoil it for us.Dan had trouble watching me juggle the umbrella and camera with my recent track record of camera dropping!

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Photos

Karl Johanns Gate
Main street in Oslo cobbled mall,,wide road,sidewalk cafes Drivers actually stop for pedestrians.

Ice cream in Oslo
Best ice cream ever, low cholesterol, low fat. for only $8. (hope it wasn't made from pig fat)

Oslo harbour
Franklin Roosevelt smelling the flowers above the harbour, many islands and a large variety of boats

Oseberg Viking Boat
Found under large burial mound 821AD, 21.5m long and 5m wide. Made from oak.

Prow head of the Viking Ship
Example of Viking craftsmanship.

Stave Church
Gol Stave church 1200, one of 30 in Norway. Many tiered roof, wooden shingles.

Farm House
This was in outdoor folk museum, note herbage growing on the roof.

RA II
Another Thor Heyerdahl craft made of papyrus reeds, sailed across the Atlantic in it, I suppose someone's got to do it.

Easter Island Statue
Heyerdahl visited Easter island and made identical casts of two on display.

Kon Tiki
Thor Heyerdahl spent 101 days on this with 6 others in 1947 crossing the Pacific. the raft was made from balsa wood.

Bygdoy Wharf
The ships were the Stavanger and Gjoa up on chocks. The Gjoa was used by Amundsen to go through NW Passage in 1905.

Comments

[Heather Ted]

Oslo
Great to hear from you. Loved the photos. The long journey over would leave you knackered! Safe travelling and look forward to more news. We have just had 6 days away with our Probus group to the Temora air show. Real boys toys but I did enjoy it too. Freezing cold all day. Regards Ted and Heather

[Kaye]

Good to hear from you, all sounds very interesting. Isn't that viking ship incredible, hard to imagine 5 mtrs wide. Kaye.

[Freddy brandes]

Take care
Hi guy's, sounds great, I almost went to Oslo 30 years ago, who knows what may have eventuated if I had. Regards Fred

[Gail Jeanette Russell]

Hello
Wow, what a great way to communicate while away, congrats! Oslo looks fabulous, thanks for the photos. Enjoy your trip Keep well - Gail PS we are still unpacking!!! but enjoying Tassie immensely

[Des & Maureen]

OSLO
Thirty years since we visited Oslo. Drove there from UK. Remember the Heyerdahl museum and the Oseberg long boat very well. The stave churches are amazing. Also remember that it was just as expensive back then.

[Puk]

Very interesting.I have never been to Norway and may never afford to but at least I can travel vicariously. I was interested in the Kon Tiki things as we went to Easter Island and he was much talked of there though his theories have been questioned now.The island was covered with those statues that you have in your photo. The icecream looks good but I can get something similar if not as good for 60 cents on Central Station. $8 seems exorbitant. I envy you everything but the plane trip. Look forward to hearing more, love Puk.

[Deanne Curby]

Great blog page
You must be thrilled with this - how fantastic to be able to post photos and comments - all ready for when the trip is over. Keep up the info its great for us non travellers! You look as if you recovered q

[Harry and Jo]

Kon Tiki
Hi Dan and Lorraine, really enjoyed reading your blog. Was that really the Kon Tiki, it doesn't look much like a balsa wood raft does it. I imagined it would look more like the Ra II. Looks a bit cool there. Weather here warmish and windy, very dry. We leave on Monday week, we are taking the laptop with us so hope to be able to receive more blogs from you. Jo and Hazza

[Grant henry]

I thought France was expensive. You wonder how the locals live. Great pictures- i like the Viking boat and the the Ice Cream. We are in Pontarlier after a quick run through lower Switzerland- all very nice. We are heading down to Chamonix and a lift ride up Mt Blanc and across a big valley. We are hoping for fine weather. Keep up the blogging. Granta and Jo

[Margot]

I am very impressed with the Thor Heyerdahl boat I have memories of reading the Kon Tiki book way back in the Dark Ages. And the grass growing on the roof of the house ?? It must be meant as an insulation layer. I don't think it will take off over here though. Dan I think that ice cream eating whilst travelling is a must, I hope that you enjoyed it even though it was expensive.

[anne and Phill]

expensive ice cream
Hope you enjoyed that ice cream Dan at about $1 a mouthful!!!! I am sure it was worth it. Have funxx

[Graham and Jan Ford]

Hi from Jan and Graham
Hi Dan and Lorraine What a great idea to document your holiday in this way. We have enjoyed your comments and photos. Luv Jan and Graham