Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Oslo


We wake-up the next morning and we are in Oslo Norway. Oslo is at the end of a long fjord that we cruise up to in the dark. This is a wonderful city way up north. The Norwegians have a very socialistic government and since they have oil off their coast, which they do drill, they seem to have money and there-for they share it by paying good wages to everyone. It truly is a high standard of living up there. The people are friendly, warm, educated and as it looks to me, very happy. This is my second time in Oslo and Rusty's third. When we were here last, just a few years ago, it was summer, the first day of summer in fact. The days are so long because of the high latitude the sun doesn't set for many hours in the evening and rise very early. It was great. They really do celebrate this day with parties, games, bonfires on the beach and drinking. We had good time, but this time it is winter and dark with ice in the harbor and cold. We bundle-up and set out for the Vigeland sculpture park.
Gustof Vigeland donated his entire life's works of art to this city and a park was
set-up to show it off, free to the public. He has done his sculptures
in both bronze and stone showing the various stages of life, in both men and
women, young and old, beautifully. You stroll through the incredible gates, also by him, and pass the bronze fountain of beefy men holding the huge bowl of
over-flowing water, over the bridge lined with stone figures to the
central feature of a stone column entwined with people and surrounded by many sculptures of people in various embraces. I really do recommend going there if ever in Oslo.
We then catch the tram to another museum that shows us about the people and how they used to live. There are recreated buildings, that show their way of life and how they came about, it was interesting. After the museum it is time to get back to the ship so we catch the bus and ask the driver to let us know when we are closest to the skip enough to walk.
Back on board we dress-up for dinner and share adventures with everyone at our table. We are to be at sea for two days in order to reach Hamburg Germany, where we have both never been before but are looking forward to it.