Europe 2011
Oslo, Norway
Maritza meets me at Oslo airport and we catch the train to Oslo and then a ferry to the museums.
The Viking Museum was following by the Kon-Tiki Museum. I cannot remember when I had read Thor Heyerdahl's famous book but he was a very impressive character, putting his time and life where his mouth is, proving a theory by simply doing it - building and sailing a balsa wood raft to prove that people from Peru could have settled Polynesia this way.
Maritza still on modeling duties. A sculpture of Camilla Collett by Norwegian sculptor, Gustav Vigeland who is one of Norway's most famous artists and was behind the Vigeland Sculpture Park which is on top of a hill to the north of Oslo, see below.
 |
 |
The next day we walked to and over the new Opera House.
Inside above and outside, below.
It is very impressive with a very gently sloping roof so people can walk to the top and enjoy the view.
We catch the train to Kristiansand where we catch a bus to Mandal, the southernmost town in Norway. Then a taxis to Maritza's place about 10km upstream. Ole has lent me his bike, so the following day we ride into Mandal for lunch and a look around. On Friday, we ride all the way to Kristiansand, about 50km, to have dinner with a friend of Maritza's, Janne and watch a Norwegian film on DVD.
Beaver attack on a tree beside the road.
It actually rains the first half of Saturday, but in the afternoon we go for a 2 to 3hr walk, behind Maritza's place on tracks she tells me she skis on, cross country. I am suitably impressed, they are steep and hilly. The above cave like boulder structure is quite ancient. Sunday sees another ride, this time up the valley to a Cafe run by a couple of Germans Maritza knows.
On Monday, it is up early to catch a taxis to a bus stop. My first bus stop where one can indulge in some bus stop bouldering.
 |
 |
then the bus to Kristiansand, then the bus to Kristiansand Airport, plane to Oslo, sprint through Oslo Airport (never good to get off a plane to see "gates closing" for your connecting flight). Nevertheless, I was not the last on board. Less than 2 1/2 hrs later, I am in Vienna.