Oslo - Part Two
The Viking Ship Museum - a cross-shape layout gives the building a unique feel for a museum.
My last blog ('Oslo - Part One' - click to see) showed the first part of a summer trip to Oslo in which my girlfriend and I explored some of the city, visited a few museums and took a boat cruise on the Fjord. Here's the second (and final) part of our trip.
This part picks up where we left off - after visiting the Folk Museum we went to the Viking Ship Museum rounding out day two. The following day we explored the harbour area starting off with the Nobel Peace Center, followed by the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, the Akershus Castle and the Opera House, all topped off with a lovely seafood meal looking out across the Fjord (no food photos I'm afraid!).
So please look through my photos and enjoy!
Standing above the entrance of the Viking Ship Museum, looking straight through to the opposite end of the building.
It's not just boats on show. Items like this, carved with ornate Norsk detail, are displayed..
Standing in the centre of the museum and looking straight up inside the museum looks like this...
...the corners curve down to meet...
...these staircases. They allow you to get that bit higher in each wing of the building...
...to view the boats from above.
The sweeping curves of one of three Viking boats at the museum.
The route between the city centre and the Folk/Viking museums is scenic and peaceful.
The sun begins to set on day two.
A tree casts a shadow on the window of the staircase inside our apartment building.
Day 3 - setting off from Frogner House Apartments, our accommodation during our visit. Recommended if you plan on visiting Oslo. Click here to see their site.
Visiting The Nobel Peace Center at the harbour.
Reflections against copper-style plated floors and walls.
These stands tell the story behind different winners of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Photos of Prize winners illuminate this room through animated screens.
Looking out to the Oslo City Hall through little-faces of Nobel Peace Prize winners on a window.
An interactive book. As you traced your finger across the page the shapes (projected from above) would move.
Metal mini-me made from recycled materials. Many items from the gift shop were made by recycling items such as tin cans and rubber from tyres.
Hannah soaking up the sun.
The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art.
Several pieces of sculpture are placed around the outside of the MoMA.
A surprising space - behind the MoMA lies a beach looking out towards the Fjord.
Sculpture by Anish Kapoor, (Untitled, 1997).
This sculpture, 'The Kaleidoscope City' by Olafur Eliasson doesn't look too impressive, however...
...when you look inside the cones you see a kaleidescope-type effect.
An upper floor roof tapers dramatically.
Colourful window blinds on the opposite part of the MoMA.
A guard doing what he does best at the Akershus Castle.
Detail of a canon. I'm not sure if it's intentional but I've always thought this handle looks a bit like an elephant.
Hannah waits patiently for me as I take photos.
A drinking water-fountain/sculpture combines function with public art.
Artwork by Konstantin Dimopoulos.
The Oslo Opera House.
The unique design of The Opera House allows you to walk around and on top of it.
Inside The Opera House there are eye-catching details...
...such as these walls designed by Olafur Eliasson.
Leaving The Opera House to end day three.
Day 4 - En route to the train station. People sat around this water feature that reminded me of a dandelion.
Children leap for a large bubble. The man making the bubbles has a message on his card that reads - "Never look down on anybody unless you are helping them up. God bless you"
Freia (a popular brand of chocolate in Norway) on show on a large clock. This is visible at a distance from The Royal Palace as a road runs straight down to it.
Arrivals at the airport pass above us as we wait for our flight.
Up, up and away. Above the clouds of Norway as we fly home.
So that's the end of my trip to Oslo. It has taken a while to get round to editing these photos, but at the same time it's been quite nice to look back on them nearly a year on, rather than just editing them straight away and not looking at them for a while. Better late than never!
If you enjoy going to clean and friendly modern European cities that retain their history I think you would enjoy Oslo. I felt very comfortable walking around the relaxed atmosphere of the city, and as for the more touristy aspects I was impressed by the standard of the museums we went into and by the display of public art dotted around the city. If you like a bit of culture in a holiday then there's plenty to choose from. I would also recommend the 3 hour boat cruise. At about £35 to see the Fjord with a shrimp buffet it was a highlight for me.
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