Oslo

Normal warm weather resumed as we moved from the west to the east of Norway, which was something of a relief for the photography.
The first day was something of a ship day. Pat particularly wanted to see the Kon Tiki exhibition.

Both the Kon Tiki and the Ra 2 were on display the first Ra having sunk
This is Ra2 made of reeds by natives from Lake Titicaca.








This is the Kon Tiki made of freshly felled balsa wood trunks.




There was a film about the Kon Tiki expedition introduced by Richard Dimbleby, so you can tell how old it was!

From there we went to visit to Fram exhibition. The Fram was the ship used by Amundsen on his trip to the South Pole in 1911. The ship is so large that is was impossible to photograph but we were able to walk around inside it. There was a model of it, however




This is the building where it is stored and some traditional small Norwegian boats in front.




This 'sculpture' stands outside the buildings overlooking the sea








A schooner that John was interesting in, but is not open to the public. Built in 1916 it is still in use and makes a number of voyages under sail each year.
Behind it you can see a cruise ship. We saw as many as four of these within a day, plus the normal Stena ferries.




We then went on to the Viking ship museum. The ships had been used for burials and two of the three are in very good condition. This is the Oseberg ship which was excavated in 1904 and is believed to have been built around 820 and was used as a burial ship in 834 for two women.








The Gokstad ship which was excavated in 1880








Also found in the burial mounds were magnificently carved sledges and other artefacts
















From here, we wandered back to the port area to jake the ferry to the Town Hall Square and then back to the hotel for a rest and supper.




An Oslo drain cover Pat spotted on the way back to the hotel.




After eating, we went for our usual stroll and encountered these hens. We had passed them before but getting a photo late in the day was always a challenge.




The next day, we first visited the Munch Art Gallery (so no photos) and the neighbouring botanical gardens.




We wandered around the Akerhus fortress which was not far from our hotel looking out to sea and the Town Hall Square.
















Finally, we went down to the modern waterfront area, just off the Town Hall Square which is mostly shops and restaurants, but well designed.








After a meal at the hotel, we went to the Vigeland sculpture park. Munch who never received any commission from a Norwegian state organisation, was very annoyed that Oslo supported Vigeland so generously.
















Finally we returned to the hotel, stopping for a beer on the way.

The next day Pat had to leave Oslo at about 13:00 for her flight to Stansted, so we went back to the Akerhus fortress to see the resistance museum. This documents the Second World War as it happened in Norway. It is appropriately housed in the building occupied by Quisling during the war.




John had a few more hours before his flight to Edinburgh, so wandered around with his camera. This is the cathedral which is quite small and has a royal box.













The next day, Pat was at a retirement event in Cambridge



and John spent the day in Glasgow with his niece and family. (These are the great nieces)




We met again in Luton for our flight home.

Pat and John on tour

Bergen

When we arrived in Bergen by train it was raining and it continued raining for most of our stay. France, the UK and Oslo were all experiencing hot weather and we were not really equipped for puddles. Even in the wet, Bergen is a beautiful city.
This is the station




We arrived in the evening, so the first stop was to find some food. On our wanderings, we came across the old fish market which is now mostly restaurants. We were only just in time, the cafes were about to close so perhaps it was the wrong time, but the fish and chips were less than impressive.




We took a few photos and hoped for better weather on the next day, but it was not to be.






In the morning the rain continued. Apparently it has been known for there to be rain in Bergen for 85 consecutive days .... We were only there for one night.
We wandered around the area of the port where many of the tourist attractions are.
This is the Kjøttbasaren, built in 1877 as a market hall and is now home to upmarket food stores




A selection of photos from around the immediate area
















A cruise ship was in port, so the main tourist area, Bryggen was full of people




The houses in Bryggen were built of wood in the 14th century and so are susceptible to being burnt down. Following a fire in 1702, the area was rebuilt in the same style. There are narrow passage ways between the houses with interesting buildings not immediately visible from the main street












This area was being excavated during the reconstruction of a house that burnt down relatively recently.




After lunch nearby, we went to see Bergenhaus fortress which dates back to the 13th century. This comprises the Haakonhall (named after King Håkon who lived in the 13th century),








and the Rosenkrantz tower. Both were badly damaged during the second world war when a German armaments ship that was moored along side the fortress, blew up - an accident as far as the Germans could tell.




Buildings in the centre of the fortress.




St Mary's church in Bryggen was closed for structural repairs.








We were able to take a tour of the tower and hall.




The fortress is still used for state occasions with the hall used as a dinning room.




Rosenkrantz was a Danish tax collector and he and his wife (photo below) lived in the tower in the 16th century. They enlarged it and made it as it is today. His cannons pointed both out to sea and at Bryggen which was run by the powerful Hanseatic community whom Rosenkrantz distrusted.













On our way back to the hotel, we spotted this drain cover, depicting Bergen.





Then it was time to collect our cases and go to the station to catch the train back to Oslo. So we chugged across the harbour on a convenient tiny ferry to our hotel.
The train journey was again very picturesque starting off along fjords. After half an hour the train stopped in a tunnel and we were delayed by a widespread power cut which took down the signalling system halting all trains. After a few minutes we were allowed to exit the tunnel and wait at the first little station so that people could at least stretch their legs. We eventually reached our Oslo hotel 1.5 hours late and past midnight.
Pat and John on tour