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