Tag: Oslo

I've been fortunate since I arrived in Oslo to have a wonderful tour guide. My cousin Petter took a few days off from work to show me around and take me to some great places throughout the city. He had to work today, so I set out to explore on my own.

Oslo has a great public transit system. When I arrived, Petter suggested I purchase a one week bus pass, which I did. Sound advice that has proven to have been a bargain. The bus stop is literally steps from Petter's front door, and in a few minutes ride connections can be made to other buses, trams, subways, and trains. The pass covers all of them, plus some boats and ferries.

My first stop was the Vigeland Sculpture Park. One can't be bashful about seeing nude statues here, as the place is full of them. The park features a lifetime's work of sculptor Gustav Vigeland, who- in exchange for a place to live and work, created this amazing sculpture park. The park is huge, and people use it- both visitors and locals alike. I spent a few hours at the park- part of that time waiting out a rain storm under a tree, as others were too. When the rain stopped, the sky cleared, and the sun once again came out.

Continue reading “Nude Sculptures and Viking Ships.”

I was excited for the opportunity to see another relative that I have been in contact with, but never actually met. While Petter and I were having lunch, he received a phone call from Aud, my third cousin, who lives in Oslo. She would like to meet us, and has invited us to join she and her friends during the walk through downtown Oslo in memory of the tragic attacks on the community last Friday.

First of all, if the news at home makes Oslo sound like a "war zone" of sorts, please don't believe it for a moment. The city is very much alive. People are out and about the city, and the streets are bustling.

We took the bus and metro (subway) downtown, both packed with people- many carrying bouquets of flowers. When we emerged from the Metro to ground level, the streets were already filled with people.

We met Aud at a cafe near where the march was set to begin. It was great to finally get to meet her, and to meet some of her friends. Very nice people.

By this time the streets were really filling, so we made our way to an area near where the march was to begin that would commence through downtown and end at Oslo Domkirken. Standing shoulder to shoulder, in the distance we could faintly hear the prime minister addressing the people of Norway and the world. Everyone was holding flowers that they held high. Word soon came that the planned march had been called off due to too many people, but the crowds marched anyway.

The streets were packed, I did my best to keep with people that I knew, and fortunately they kept track of me too.. As far as I could see in front or behind me was a sea of people. Some estimates indicate there were 150,000 people, while others closer to 200,000.

It was an absolutely amazing experience. Many that I met seemed apologetic that this incident was in some way degrading my experience of Norway. In actuality, the opportunity to share this moment with the people of Oslo is a time I will never forget.

Continue reading “Oslo, July 25”