Norway
Norway
Oslo
I landed in Oslo this morning with the sun low on the horizon, snow on the ground, and fog thick in the cool air. After a quick trip through immigrations, my bags and I were on a train bound for downtown Oslo. From Oslo Central Station I hopped a tram that dropped me off in front of the hostel where I left my bags in a locker and ventured out through the city.
Stop one on the bus was the Vikingskiphueset to see three Viking ships that had been preserved buried in clay. They are so incredibly graceful and massive at the same time. I checked out a lot of Viking artifacts that were found buried with one of the ships and then took a 20 minute walk down to the Frammuseet to see the Fram which sailed to the North Pole and which Roald Amundsen sailed on the first successful expedition to the South Pole. Compared to the scale of its adventures this stout boat seems pretty small. I caught a bus back up the hill to wonder around the grounds of the Norsk Folkemuseum. It is an amazing reconstruction of 17th, 18th, and early 20th century Norwegian log and sod farm buildings and stave church. It was really fantastic to wonder around there for an hour.
All the while it never seemed to get any brighter. Not only are the days shorter, but the light is much dimmer.
I got lost a few times, went to a closed museum, and never found a few places in my guide book, but it has been a good day and a great start to this adventure.
So now with a pinto of beer in my belly, and no sleep for close to 36 hours, I am ready to crash.
Caleb, I saw this wheel and thought of your collage project. Grace, How would you like to go t school in a schoolhouse like this? With sod on the roof?
Monday, November 3, 2008