Oslo and the Fjords

After so many European cities, especially those in the same region, they, I hate to admit, start to loose some of their charm and uniqueness. Each town we visited had at least two museums, one of which was dedicated to ships, at least one massively ornate church, a town hall, main square, main pedestrian street and imperial castle/fortress. So when we arrived in Oslo, we sacrificed all churches, museums and town halls for something different. We left the boat, quickly passed all things city and headed straight to Vigeland park, home to over 200 bronze and stone statutes all created by Gustav Vigeland and representing the different stages of life. While somewhat touristy, we were still able to enjoy some of the peacefulness of the gardens by wandering down some of the more hidden paths.

After the gardens, we hopped on the metro and made our way up to Holmenkollen, Oslo’s ski jump arena, a mere 500 meters above sea level and only 10 minutes out of the city center. And although most visitors might have been disappointed that the ski jump was under complete renovation (a fact known to us before we began the ascent), we found the views from the top of the hill worth the visit. We had found a direct look out point onto the Oslo Fjord. It was refreshing to be able to get out of the “city” and enjoy some nature. I only wish we had had more time (dare I say, more time for a hike…I clearly had been on the boat too long).

With a mid-day departure, we made the obligatory hot lap past the city hall, palace and main shopping street before heading back to the boat. The remainder of the day was spent under the sun on the boat’s rear deck, drinking cold American light beer and watching the stunning Oslo Fjord unfold before our eyes.

We were officially heading back to Copenhagen and home.