Last night it did not became dark, twilight from midnight until dawn, at about 3 am, I think. I know I woke up often, thinking it was time to get up, only to find it was still 4 am, and so it went on. A very clear night, and the twilight night made us realise how far north we had driven.
The day has been brilliant, blue skies and sunshine. And no cold wind. For the first time we took our rain jackets off, not for the rain, but to keep the cold wind away from our bodies.
We caught the ferry to Bygdoy, a peninsula where the royal family have a summer residence, as do many foreign ambassadors and anyone who has plenty of spare cash. The peninsula also holds many museums. Our destination was the Viking Ship Museum. It would have been great to have visited the Kon-Tiki Museum, which houses original boats and exhibits from Thor Heyerdahl's expeditions, but no time sadly.
In the bright sunshine, the port of Oslo looked almost mediterranean.
Walter getting into the mood of the cruise, which took fifteen minutes.
An old ferry but it did the job. I think it only operates in the summer time.
My first view of a Viking ship, and it brought a shiver to the spine. So very old.
There were two complete ships and one partial one, plus sleighs that had been found in the boats. The sleighs were beautifully carved, as were all the other objects that were found in the ships. These ships had been used as burial ships for important people. First a wooden tent like building was built and placed in the ship, then the person, and on one ship two women, plus dead animals, grain, jewellery and household items were placed in the building, and the ship was then buried. A big task as the ships were large. The idea was that the dead person would need the items for their next life. Unfortunately, the ships had been looted over the centuries, and priceless objects had been removed.
The Vikings were amazing travellers and rowed their boats to the Mediterranean, the English Isles, Greenland, north America, Russia and to western Europe. English history focuses on the looting and plundering that went on, but the Vikings also settled in the countries they went to and brought with them farming skills, crafts, laws and trade.
The houses, and their gardens, on the peninsula were very large, and usually painted white. They looked almost American.
Once back in Oslo Central we set off to see Akershus Castle, which was originally built as a medieval fortified castle around 1300 to defend Oslo. There was much detail about the castle for us to read, but I found it an overload of information. It did appear that there was an awful lot of playground bickering going on, one minute Denmark and Norway were friends, and Sweden was out, and then it would change and Sweden and Norway were friends and Denmark was out. I am pleased that differences have been resolved.
A photograph of me, in a summer jacket and minus my scarf, just to prove how warm it was today.
A cruise ship leaving for some lovely destination. We could only wonder and feel envious of those on board. Our cruises happen only on ferries.
One of the side halls in the castle. The furniture, 16th century came from elsewhere.
The Hall of Christian IV. In the 1600s this floor was divided into smaller apartments, which functioned as the private apartments of the Danish-Norwegian kings and queens.
A view of Oslo through the castle window.
Walter stopped off at a shoe shop and bought two pairs of cheap trainers. He would have loved a pair of trendy Ecco trainers but they were too tight so he had to make do with the cheap ones, the second pair came at a greatly reduced price. He said they felt like feathers on his feet, compared to the heavy shoes he had been wearing. His broken toe has healed!
Dinner tonight was the mystery laden Swedish meatballs, shallow fried. I made a gravy but had to add some Worcestshire Sauce and tomato puree, in order to liven it up a bit. As a condiment we used the Loganberry Jam, from Ikea. In Sweden they use loganberries with many of their meat dishes, I noticed. I realise we are in Norway, but the food in the fridge tends to not know that we have changed countries.
I walked around the campsite this evening and there were no English numberplates at all, except ours of course. There were people from the Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland and of course Norway and Sweden. Very strange. I know people came to Norway in the motorhomes because I have read their stories in magazines.
We also went for a walk in the woodland beside our camping ground. Ekeberg Park, which is a very large wooded area that towers above the water on the left hand side of Oslo.
A view of the Oslo fjord from Ekeberg Park.
We discovered many sculptures. This one was a talking light. Very weird.
I am not sure what this audio video sculpture was about, but it was also rather weird. And spooky.
Two metal figures hanging from a tree. I think they could be dancing!
Joydens Wood. No this was Ekeberg Park, and quite different undergrowth under the trees.
Before I forget I must add that Oslo was called Christiana untl 1925, when it reverted to its original name.
I think we are museumed out, so looking forward to the outdoor life of the southwestern fjords. Ever onwards.
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