Norwegian Days

Since November, Jay has been traveling to Oslo on a sales pursuit.  With the sales cycle coming to a close at the end of March, Helen took advantage of Jay’s recent trip and joined him for a few days of Norwegian sightseeing.  With winter fading we were happy to be greeted by sunny skies in this modern, well-heeled Norwegian capital with a history that stretches back over 1,000 years. 

From 800 – 1000 AD, Norwegian history is interwoven with the Viking age.  Like Swedes and Danes of that time, Norwegian Vikings sailed longboats to neighboring lands to trade, plunder and settle.  More westward looking than their neighbors, Norwegian Viking settlements have been found in Britain, Ireland, Iceland and Greenland.  Viking pride points to the “discovery” of North America centuries before Columbus’s encounter with the New World.  We often wonder how the North American Indians felt about being “discovered” . . . but that is another story in itself.

Over the centuries, Norway was in political union first with Denmark (1523 – 1814) and then Sweden (1814-1905). Independent and impoverished at the dawn of the twentieth century, Norwegians invested in education and use of its natural resources in timber, hydro-electric and more recently oil.  Norway now has an enviable standard of living for its 4.8 million inhabitants.

We started with a walking tour of the imposing Akershus Fortress.  Construction on the fortress started in 1290 and continued for centuries, providing protection for the harbor.  The fort has never surrendered under siege.  It was only in 1940 when the Nazis entered neutral Norway and the Norwegian government evacuated the capital that the fort was occupied.  A memorial stands today for those who did resist.

Oslo Fjord Coast Line

Next was a two-hour fjord boat ride.  Like Swedes, Norwegians are keen to have a summer cottage in the archipelago.  Many summer homes found on the islands adhere to a building code requiring homes to be no larger than 30 square meters and be painted white, red or orange.  Traditional small bathhouses dotting the rugged, rocky fjord coastlines add to the quaint and postcard picturesque imagery.

The Kon-Tiki 

Best preserved ship at Viking Museum 

On Monday Jay headed to the office and Helen bought a 24-hour Oslo Pass giving her pre-paid admission to museums and travel on public transport. The first stop was Museum Road.  The Kon-Tiki Museum was the most interesting, displaying boats and artifacts from Thor Heyerdahl’s famous expeditions.  Also visited was the Fram Museum displaying a ship that traveled to both North and South Poles and the Viking Museum with excavated ships that had been used as tombs.

A reception room in Oslo City Hall

The Nobel Peace Center was closed, but right across the street was City Hall, open to the public. This is where the Nobel Prizes are actually awarded. The 28 ft. high walls in several rooms were surprisingly decorated with huge murals depicting various Norwegian scenes.

We completed our touring with a marvelous dinner at a 300-year old restaurant.  Another memory added to our European adventure.