March 14: Bergen to Oslo
The cruise ended on the morning of the 14th, and instead of flying back from Bergen, we booked a train to Oslo, which left Bergen at about 7:30 AM and arrived in Oslo at about 3:00 PM. The
Bergen-Oslo route is described as one of the most scenic in the world, and did not disappoint, even though the skies were not always clear.
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| After leaving Bergen |
The following pictures are actually in color, although the mist and fog makes them look black and white.
When we arrived in Oslo, we had to walk only about 300 feet to our hotel, which was actually *in* the train station.
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| Hotel is at the far end of the station |
The hotel was another one of those hipster hotels, which cuts back on the amenities to keep the prices low. Among the amenities they cut back on were pillows (only 2 tiny ones for the two of us), any kind of storage for our clothes, drinking glasses, and a telephone in the room. So, when I wanted to get some extra pillows, I had to go down to the reception area to ask in person. On the other hand, the location was terrific.
After we arrived, we wandered around the center of the city.
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| Karl Johans Gate, the main pedestrian street |
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| Further down Karl Johans Gate (no longer a pedestrian street) |
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| Royal Palace, at the end of the street |
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| Norwegian Parliament Building |
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| Grand Hotel |
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| View from our hotel room |
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| Oslo Opera House |
March 15: Oslo
Most of the day was spent travelling to and visiting museums on the suburban island of Bygdoy. Our first stop was at the
Viking Ship Museum.
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| Outside the Viking Ship Museum |
The museum houses three Viking ships that were built in the 9th century, and dug up in the 20th century.
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| A sled that was buried with one of the ships |
After leaving the Viking Ship Museum, we walked through Bygdoy. Along the way, we passed some very nice houses that we couldn't afford.
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| Housing in Bygdoy |
Our next destination was the
Fram Museum, which housed a couple of Arctic exploration ships, the
Fram, and the
Gjøa.
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| Exterior of the Fram Museum |
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| The Gjøa |
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| On the deck of the Fram |
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| In the galley of the Fram |
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| What they ate on the Fram |
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| An officer's bunk |
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| Waiting for our bus back to Oslo |
And so our trip ended, after an uneventful flight back to RDU.
