Goin’ Downtown!

Today we’re off to see Oslo city center. It’s about a 35-minute walk from the apartment so we’re going to try our luck using the metro. Seems pretty straight forward and the cost is reasonable. Ticket prices are determined by the number of zones you enter for your journey. We’ll just be in 1 zone so the cost is 36 Krone or $3.50USD each.

Got our tickets without any issues and boarded the train (light rail) for downtown. This is definitely the way to travel. Walking has its place but this was much faster and easier. Besides, it’s an experience in itself!

Once downtown, we shuffled off to the Opera House. Opened in 2008, the building has 1,100 rooms and has a total area of 414,000sqft.  What’s unique about the design of this building? For starters, you can walk on the roof. Through a series of ramps incorporated into the building’s architecture, one can walk all the way to the roof to get a great view of the harbor. Today, it’s not crowded and it’s not raining so the walk is pretty easy, but I bet in the summer it’s packed. And in the rain, woo hoo, look out below. Pretty good views and the weather is cooperating, no rain, just a few clouds but a little cooler today with a high of 54⁰.

After all this sightseeing, it’s time for a pastry and coffee so we head over to the far side of the harbor where it looks promising to find a coffee shop. Nope, everything is closed but it was still pretty interesting. Who in the world builds a bridge and covers it with shirts? Apparently, this is an art installation by Kaarina Kaikkonen who thinks because we all wear shirts, we are all “one”. In her words, “All kind of people are together here, but we are still the same, we are no wiser than fish.” Well, there you have it, a few words of wisdom to live by. Funny where people get their inspiration.

Time for our fika. Good ole Google has found a coffee shop nearby so off we go. Just when you think the damn thing is working, it goes stupid. Not sure what’s going on with Google maps here in Norway, just doesn’t work but we found the coffee shop anyway. Break time.

Back on the trail, this time heading for the Akershus Festning, in English, the Akershus fortress. The fortress was built in the late 1200’s to defend against the Swedes. It worked, so for the next few hundred years it became the home of Norway’s royalty. During WW2 it was home to the Nazi contingent here in Oslo.

OK, since we’re on the topic of WW2, in 1940 a man named Vidkun Quisling, leader of Norway’s fascist party, did what all great leaders do, he announced on radio that he was the new prime minister. Since 1939 he had tried to persuade Hitler (remember him) that he could stand up a new government in support of Germany invading Norway. Wait a minute, Germany didn’t invade Norway until 1940. What kind of guy tries to entice a superpower into invading his neutral country??? And, what does this have to do with the fortress?

Well, just so happens that Vid the Kid (as he was known to his friend) had his office at the fortress. Pretty cool, huh. That is until 1945 and then he had his firing squad wall located at the fortress. Seems that from 1940 to 1945, the fortress was used to imprison and execute resistance fighters. Only fitting that Vid met with the same end.

While strolling through the fortress, we just happened to come across a TV film set for the series, “The Norsemen”. We looked it up and it’s a comedy set during the Viking times; kind of a Monty Python knock off. Of course, they wanted me to take part, give a few pointers on acting, sign pieces of paper, hats and bras, but I was with the little woman so no time for fans. Got to keep moving.

Still one more stop on today’s adventure, the Holmenkollen ski jump and museum. The first ski jump at Holmenkollen occurred in 1892 in front of a crowd of 12,000 people. The jumper, Sven Czechdisout, sailed for a whopping 21.5 meters (64’). After the jump he was reported to say to the crowd, “vat da hell was dat”?

Good thing we figured out how to use the metro because this would be too far to walk. Once there it was still a half-mile uphill walk to the entry. Fortunately, they have an elevator to the top, for a mere $15.30USD each. Done! No way in hell was I going to hike up those stairs! Once at the top, the views were excellent!

While staring out over the beautiful Norse landscape, I began to wonder what makes someone slide down a 360’ ramp at a 36⁰ angle and launch themselves off into the air? I’m still wondering…..

Finally, end of the day. Man, this touring stuff is tiring. It’s Miller time so back on the metro and head for home. Here’s a few more pictures from the day’s travels and the ski museum for my buddy, Doug.

Tomorrow is another busy day with touring the Folk Museum, the Gol Stave church and most importantly, find an ornament souvenir for Mom-Bear.

Later.