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Published: February 21st 2020
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I don't proclaim to be a 'foodie' but I do enjoy a good buffet breakfast and I've had my share during our many travels. I have to say, the breakfast at our hotel was very impressive and there was so many options to choose from that I ended up going up three times. I had two new experiences during breakfast too - a ginger shot (a blend of ginger and fruit juices served in a shot glass) and brown cheese (a favourite with Norwegians - actually known as Brunost - Gudbrandsdalsost, and has a slight taste of caramel and goes well topped with jam).
After breakfast we did a quick walk around the block to test out the air temperature and it 'jumper, 2 pairs of thermal pants, waterproof hiking pants, thick wool socks, waterproof jacket, beanie, gloves, scarf and waterproof boots. We've been told there's no bad weather in Norway, just bad clothing choices.
Satisfied we were warm enough, we picked up a map from reception and headed to the Visitor's Centre to book a day tour. Siri had recommended the Oslo Discovery Tour, which visits some of the main attractions and went for 5 hours. The pickup
point wasn't until 10.15am and we had a bit of walk (plus it had started raining) so we ramped up the pace so we didn't miss the bus.
The tour started with a drive through the city and our very knowledgable guide Yarnika shared with us lots of fun facts and information. We then headed out of the city to the popular Homlenkollen Ski Jump, which is perched on a hilltop and offers panoramic views of Oslo. Today, however, you couldn't see squat because it was SNOWING !!!! Like excited little kids, we couldn't stop beaming as we got off the bus and snow was falling all around us. Who cares if we couldn't see the ski jump, this was so worth it already.
Next up was Vigeland Sculpture Park, which I had read up on and was keen to see. It comprises of over 200 sculptures in granite, bronze and wrought iron created by sculptor Gustav Vigeland, and has been referred to as "the weirdest statues in the worl". The sculptures consist of human figures, exploring the human form and the life cycle. The most famous sculpture is of a toddler called "Angry Boy", and I wondered
Holmenkollen Ski Jump
We didn't see the ski jump but we saw SNOW why his hand and penis were gold. Although cast in bronze, it reacts with substances in the environment to form a film that protects the metal surface and is known as patina. By constantly touching the same place on the sculpture, the patina fades leaving it shiny and golden. What more can I say????
It was then off to the museum district, which is home to six different museums . Our first stop was the Fram Museum, which pays tribute to Norwegian Polar exploration and you can go onboard The Fram - the strongest wooden ship ever built and holds the record for sailing the farthest north and farthest south. Lastly, we visited the Viking Ship Museum, which houses three Viking burial ships and other artefacts from the era. Thanks to the Netflix series, we are both fascinated with Viking history so really enjoyed this museum.
With the tour now over, the bus dropped us back at the drop off point and we started walking back to the hotel. On the way, we bumped into a couple from the tour, Jo and Craig, and compared stories of our day. They were heading to the Magic Ice Bar so
we decided to join them, as we hadn't visited one before. Upon arrival, we were given gloves, a warm poncho and a Norwegian cocktail and could spend as long as we wanted in the Ice Bar. Personally, I think it was over rated, as there wasn't that many ice sculptures but we've been there, done that now.
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