Oslo, Norway! Wandering...Day 1.5

We went to Oslo to go to the Genealogy/Heraldry conference and made sure we got there a day and a half early.  That way we could get our bearings, find the conference location and figure out what the time might really be.

It was late when we got to the hotel, so we only managed to find dinner and then get some sleep.  But right after breakfast the next day, we hit the streets.

The city is full of architectural details and statues, some of my favorite things to photograph...

Our hotel was directly across from an old Christiania Sparebank building that was undergoing renovations.  The Sparebank was Norway's first savings bank, established 1822.

 

 

 

 

Even though it was raining, the conference site wasn't very far from the hotel and there was a lot to see on the way...

"WIND" by Hilde Rodahl

Oslo’s oldest marketplace, from the early 1600’s when the capital of Norway was called Christiania - in this square, originally a water station, is the fountain monument with the Glove of King Christian IV. This Glove symbolizes the King’s words, when he declared: “The new town will lie here!” (after a huge fire in 1624 burnt most of the original town structures).

 

Edvard Hagerup Grieg  - Norwegian composer and pianist

We found the conference site in the Akershus Fortress, where Dave found a new toy... 

After locating the meeting site, we continued wandering around just to see what we could see... 

Christian IV

 

In our wanderings, I found two new friends! 

 

We finally stopped to eat, where we found a few greedy creatures... they conveniently hang out next to the outdoor tables...

 

Next up - Oslo Cathedral...





What I Learned on My Summer Vacation

(in no particular order):


I like rain.  

 Not the Texan "oh, look at me!  I'm a fierce storm!...here, have a tornado!...oops, gotta go!" type.  

The kind that gently falls down, making everything smell clean, and making colors deeper.  And lingers for a day or so in a town that is prepared for it (i.e. the sidewalks drain and the streets aren't flooding and there are spots to walk around whatever puddles are there).  The kind that makes you want to own yellow rainboots again...
 

I love our TempurpedicTM mattress.

They are worth every penny.  There should be a law that all hotels should have them.  Be assured, they don't.



 

While I like cathedrals and abbeys (they have amazing art...), I prefer Parish churches.  They better suit my faith.

 
  



Even on my slowest day, if I have my camera, I take a minimum of 50 pictures (I know everyone is shocked...).
 

I love my husband more each day.  

He is so very patient and takes really good care of me.  I am very grateful.






People are fascinating.  I can sit on a bench and watch them for long periods of time.




 



Well-conceived, efficient modes of public transportation are miracles.  I particularly love train travel.





I can control my shopping urges...it was a good exercise in not expanding my level of "stuff".


I don't like guided tours.  Listening to "blah, blah, historic, blah, blah" detracts from the enjoyment of the space/time.  I prefer to take it in, buy the guidebook, and then read about it.  It allows me to remember how I felt and then add facts to that.  Also, the guide's opinions, especially about art, are not required...I overheard one say that "oh, that one means nothing..."... I mean, really?


I will not ever travel again without a way to back up my pictures each night.

 

FantaTM orange is really good;
FantaTM lemon/lime is not. 

I do not like mushy peas, neither Norwegian nor English.

Next time I am only taking 1 suitcase, instead of one suitcase and one carry-on case.


I thought I was liberal, until I entered a sculpture park in Oslo.  My response to some of the sculptures froze my shutter finger...no, really.  There were sculptures there I wouldn't have wanted to explain to my grandchildren; not even the older ones. 

British tv is both wayyyyyy better and worse than ours.  They are a season ahead in Downtown Abbey, have a different Who Do You Think You Are, PLUS another one that unites adopted children with birth parents, separated siblings etc.  BUT they also have awful game shows and some terrible programs from the States.

And that is just some of the things I learned on my Summer vacation. 

Guess I'll start going through pictures now. 

It will take some time...I took 2,243 and Dave took over 2,300 (he went for a walk without me one day in Oslo while I was resting...that's the only reason he has more than me!)...thank goodness we don't always take pictures of the same things!  Otherwise, the picture sorting would get kinda boring.