Ski jumps, Vikings, & Nobel Peace Prizes...OH MY!

WARNING: EXTREMELY LONG POST!!!**

Our Norwegian hosts have done a spectacular job of scheduling a wide variety of events – all aimed at helping us better understand Norwegian culture, history, industries, and all around way of life.  Today was no exception.  We jumped in two cars [Torstein & Hakon at the wheel] and headed north to Oslo.  Once in Oslo we wasted no time and went directly to the Holmenkollen Ski Jump!   The view, albeit a little scary, was breathtaking!  We could see all of Oslo.  Along with the ride to the top or the jump, we were able to walk through a museum focused solely on a favorite Norwegian past-time, skiing.  Of course followed up by a quick stop in the museum gift shop for a couple of cheesarific photos:

 [Torstein trying to prove that Vikings aren't that scary]   

                                                                    


Afterwards, we proceeded to Frogner Park to get our walk on.  The park was filled with statues and is apparently a common destination for Norwegians & tourists in the summer months.  A great place to enjoy a picnic or even sunbathe.

Then off to walk on the roof of the Opera House.  Yep you read it right!  The Oslo Opera House is a very unique design and visitors can actually walk atop the roof.

After an extended tour of the city [we may have taken a couple of wrong turns and extra loops around the city center] a Rotary member hosted us at his place of work for lunch.  Kaj is the HSEQ Superintendent at Wilhelmsen Ship Management.  It was so fascinating to learn about this international shipping company.  They originally started as a cargo shipping company but have expanded into so much more. An interesting side note - it was a Wilhemsen ship that rescued the 438 Afghan refugees back 2001 off the coast of Australia in what is known as the "Tampa Affair"

[Kaj with a model of a Wilelmsen ship]

Following our tour of Wilhelmsen Ship Management, we went “old school” with a visit to the Viking ship museum.  I was floored by this experience.  Viking ships have been excavated [and very well preserved I must say] and are on display along with many other Viking paraphernalia. 

No trip to Oslo would be complete without a visit to the Nobel Peace Prize museum.  Another truly amazing experience.  This museum has captured the spirit of so many inspiring individuals that have changed the world.  [including our very own President Obama & Dr. Martin Luther King.]

And we weren’t done yet!  We attempted to go to the Resistance museum [documenting Norway’s resistance efforts during WWII] however we arrived shortly after it closed.  We took advantage of the location of Akershus Castle and walked around the fort for a little bit.

I rounded out the evening with a lovely dinner with my host family.  We had a truly Norwegian meal of potatoes, salad, and trout.  And what do you know I LIKED TROUT!!  I just knew that coming to Norway would help me overcome my dislike for fish.  My “I will try anything once” philosophy has paid off once again and I highly encourage you to give it a shot the next time you think “Oh I don’t like that…” as you never know!

Sorry for the extreme length of this blog entry – we just did SO MUCH today and I wanted to share every moment with you [and preserve the memories for myself down the road].  I promise to not be quite so long winded in the future.