Mar 12 2009
Frognerparken, Akershus slott, and Bærums Verk (Monkia in Oslo part II)
Where does the time go. I had meant to post this update much sooner, a few days after Monika left not over a week later. Alas, here it is with my apologies for taking so long. I really will try to do better. With the sun coming out more there’s more to do and more photos to take.
So the second part of my sister’s visit was spent doing a lot of walking. First we went to a place called Vigeland park. As the photos show, it’s a beautiful but strange place, at least as far as the statues go. Why strange? Well because there are so many statues and they’re all of the same theme/topic. It’s like being surrounded by the past, but a human past. When walking in the park you’re not looking at cars or abstract art or even animals, but people. Every single statue has something to say to everyone. But not only is the theme moving but the execution is great. The statues are almost lifelike but not, yet they are tremendously emotive.
The next place on the list was a walk through Oslo sentrum. We visited the royal palace and Akershus slott (Akershus fortress). Since everything in Oslo is fairly close together we also saw the opera, the Stortinget (parliament), the national theater, and the Oslo rådhus (city hall). Once again I will point you to the photos to check it all out (though I don’t have photos of everything). The coolest thing in my opinion of course is Akershus fortress, started in 1100, which was built to overlook the Oslo fjord with additions throughout the following 700 years (or more). Sorry about the lack of photos of these places but both my sister and I had cameras and I only have access to the photos on mine, she took hers back to Canada before giving them to me.
After this Anne Marit joined us and we took a lovely bus ride to Bærums Verk (the ligature “æ” is pronounced similar to English “ah”). This is a little sub-town of a small town just west of Oslo. For those who know Ontario, it’s Norway’s version of St.Jacob’s. Here they sell all the stuff you’d expect from a former cottage industry hamlet; art, home supplies, handmade stuff, chocolate and candies, etc. are all available. If you have a lot of money it’s great.
From Bærums Verk it was back to Oslo and a dinner at Peppes Pizza which serves the best chicken pizza I’ve ever had.