And Then There Was Norway

 

The Grand Hotel, Oslo, Norway

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 Old Norwegian postal sign

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Typical Norwegian shrimp salad sandwich...yum.

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National Theater, Oslo

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Royal Palace, Oslo

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How was I to know I would find my likeness in Oslo?

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City Hall (Radhuset)

This is where the Nobel Peace Prize is presented each December.

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Inside City Hall, in what's known as the central hall, are magnificent murals depicting Norway's simple rural beginnings through to its Nazi occupation and beyond. Here the Peace Prize is awarded.

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It's a wonderful place to stop and rest a while--to take in the surrounding artwork.

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The paintings are filled with the most incredible colors.

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Every room is surrounded by murals.
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I'd hate to have to mow this roof.

Traditional Norwegian homes preserved at the Norwegian Folk Museum, Oslo

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In our traditional Norwegian clothing, Mr. Lush and I blended-in quite well with the natives.

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Inside the beautifully decorated homes at the Folk Museum, children re-enacted rural life in Norway. This particular bucolic scene had me spell-bound. The light coming in from the windows, the painted furniture, the silent needle-work, the adorable children, the costumes...it was all fabulous-ness to an extreme.

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Frogner Park, Olso

This 75 acre park is filled with the life's work of Norway's most famous sculptor, Gustav Vigeland. He made a deal with the city of Oslo in 1921--in return for a studio and support from the state, he'd spend the rest of his life filling this park with his sculptures. From 1924 to 1943, he made over 600 figures--all nude.

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 Vigeland also designed all the landscaping at the park himself. It's a free sculpture garden for all of Oslo to enjoy. Definitely one of our favorite spots in Oslo.

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This sculpture is the spitting image of Mr. Lush and me when we're arguing.

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This particular Vigeland sculpture is my favorite. It reminds me of what it feels like to be tired and fussy--even as an adult. It also reminds me distinctly of The Coffee Lady.

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Norway was, by far, one of our best vacations ever. We loved Oslo. We also loved getting outside the city and traveling westward into the fjords. We took the most breath-taking train ride one day, followed by a wondrous boat ride, and ended up in what can only be described as a little piece of heaven.

 

My next post will show you our trip to Flam, Norway and the gorgeous scenery there. It will make you wish you, too, were Norwegian...at least in the summer time.

XX E

Comments

[Limecat]

My roof looks like that. My clothes look like that.

Maybe I need to get out more.

[blackbird]

Gosh.
What amazing pictures.

[Frogdancer]

That deal the sculpter made?
Absolute genius!
(I wonder if I could swing a deal like that over here? I can knit and make quilts....)

[Tuli]

Brilliant photos, E! Absolutely brilliant.

Now I must run. I have 6 dogs in my house this weekend.

I am a crazy person.

[Lynn]

Those re-enactor children clearly are on valium or similar. My children look more like the Coffee Lady cranky baby sculpture. As do I. And what are those naked people looking at in their tight cluster?

P.S. That last photo reminds me uncomfortably of Astrid and Veronika...

[Badger]

DUDE! My friend Karla the Texpatriate lives in Oslo! I totally would have hooked you guys up if I'd known you were going there.

[Paola]

The beauty, the photos, the envy.

[Amelia]

Lovely! What a divine holiday. Those sculptures are fabulous.

[kristina]

Oh I miss Norway. I was exchange student near Oslo in high school and haven't been back since college. Sigh. But I still have loads and loads of pictures from Frogner Park!

[The Coffee Lady]

Is this how it's going to go for a while? Pictures of some buildings, then your lunch, then you looking loopy (with or without glass of booze), and then scenery? Just checking. Just. Checking.

[green girl in wisconsin]

The cranky baby would make me annoyed to look at, but the rest? So nice. Even your likeness in the fountain--your likeness with a home perm.

[rc helicopter reviews]

Impressive blog! -Arron