A SPECTACULAR CAPITAL CITY OF NATURAL BEAUTY
PLACE VISITED: OSLO, NORWAY
NORWAY
Oslo, Norway (Dec 30 to Jan 1)
From Amsterdam, we arrived rather late in Oslo via Norwegian Air Shuttle flight. The transfer service from Lufthavnvegen was very convenient as we were at Radisson Blu Scandinavia in 30 minutes.
Next morning was 31st of Dec and we were up early, indefatigable as we are (should be!), ready to spend the last day of the year at the winter capital of the world. Buffet breakfast was really great at the hotel and fresh salmon was a hit for me and Eric.
Oslo was calm that morning, probably due to holidays and the streets were almost empty. We went to the Royal Palace which was just about a few steps away from Radisson, and were happy (and lucky!) to be there during the guard changing ceremony ( ahh, my husband has a thing with guard- changing sessions from our first trip in Athens, Greece, he always finds it entertaining and creative and has been filming every chance he can get😊😊).
There was a handful of tourists, few cars, and, in this chilly weather, surprisingly no bicycles. Shops are closed except for a few bakeries and coffee shops. We continued our walk thru the garden, down to the National Theatre and up to Karl Johans Gate to the Central Station where we got our train tickets for Holmenkollen to see Ski Museum (that climb to the Holmenkollen was really tough!). It was drizzling and the kids were not so happy about it coz rain, no matter how little, meant no playing with snow.
After two hours at the mountain, we took the train back and another bus to Vigeland Park. I had never heard of him but I read as per previous research, Gustav Vigeland is famous in Oslo and he turned his former home into a museum. His massive sculptures of naked bodies filled a whole park- stone babies, youths, adults, wrinkled oldies and skeletons pose in weird knobbly trees; naked mothers stoop to comfort naked sons. It was so amazing.. every sculpture is different from each other and each one is very detailed (some faces are scary-- i mean the emotions are so alive!).
It was only 3:30pm and up the top of Vigeland park was a nice spot to capture Nordic sunset.
A stroll in the other side of the city was next for us, fine dining and a walk thru the stunning marina and the waterfront national opera house, where so many locals and tourists spend time watching beautiful sunset over a cup of coffee.
Our New Year's Eve was spent at the Radisson's Summit Bar on its 21st floor, overlooking the whole capital city of Norway, watched city-sponsored fireworks with exuberant, lively and very friendly people.
Such a humbling way to end up a wonderful year on the top of the world, well, quite literally😊😊😊
From Amsterdam, we arrived rather late in Oslo via Norwegian Air Shuttle flight. The transfer service from Lufthavnvegen was very convenient as we were at Radisson Blu Scandinavia in 30 minutes.
Next morning was 31st of Dec and we were up early, indefatigable as we are (should be!), ready to spend the last day of the year at the winter capital of the world. Buffet breakfast was really great at the hotel and fresh salmon was a hit for me and Eric.
Oslo was calm that morning, probably due to holidays and the streets were almost empty. We went to the Royal Palace which was just about a few steps away from Radisson, and were happy (and lucky!) to be there during the guard changing ceremony ( ahh, my husband has a thing with guard- changing sessions from our first trip in Athens, Greece, he always finds it entertaining and creative and has been filming every chance he can get😊😊).
There was a handful of tourists, few cars, and, in this chilly weather, surprisingly no bicycles. Shops are closed except for a few bakeries and coffee shops. We continued our walk thru the garden, down to the National Theatre and up to Karl Johans Gate to the Central Station where we got our train tickets for Holmenkollen to see Ski Museum (that climb to the Holmenkollen was really tough!). It was drizzling and the kids were not so happy about it coz rain, no matter how little, meant no playing with snow.
After two hours at the mountain, we took the train back and another bus to Vigeland Park. I had never heard of him but I read as per previous research, Gustav Vigeland is famous in Oslo and he turned his former home into a museum. His massive sculptures of naked bodies filled a whole park- stone babies, youths, adults, wrinkled oldies and skeletons pose in weird knobbly trees; naked mothers stoop to comfort naked sons. It was so amazing.. every sculpture is different from each other and each one is very detailed (some faces are scary-- i mean the emotions are so alive!).
It was only 3:30pm and up the top of Vigeland park was a nice spot to capture Nordic sunset.
A stroll in the other side of the city was next for us, fine dining and a walk thru the stunning marina and the waterfront national opera house, where so many locals and tourists spend time watching beautiful sunset over a cup of coffee.
Our New Year's Eve was spent at the Radisson's Summit Bar on its 21st floor, overlooking the whole capital city of Norway, watched city-sponsored fireworks with exuberant, lively and very friendly people.
Such a humbling way to end up a wonderful year on the top of the world, well, quite literally😊😊😊
