No border crossings as we double-decker-bussed into Norway. Soon after arriving in Oslo, Marichka took us on a walking tour around the city. In addition to visiting a number of memorials, we experienced the very artistic city hall with its many murals, the place where the Nobel Peace Prize is given…
Our walk around Oslo included a visit to the enormous opera house on the harbor (like Sydney, but not). The day ended with a farewell dinner as three of us said goodbye to the rest, five off on another tour, the others going home (the next day we welcomed two more for the next leg of our “Complete Scandinavia” itinerary…
The next day, Sunday, was the Pride Parade in Oslo. Here are some pix and a coupla clips…
Our hotel, the Ankar, and environs. We also did laundry, organized stuff, and ML got a check up…
The next day was another free day in Oslo, so I got a 24-hour tourist card (good for most museums and all trams) and first went to the Munch Museum. Ya gotta be prolific to have an entire 12-story building to house some, but not all of your artwork – and he was. Here’s just a sampling…
Next, I took a long tram ride to the Vigeland Park, a vast sculpture garden honoring the work of Gustav Vigeland. Disconcertingly, there was also a 4th of July event happening (on June 30th) put on, I think, by cultural groups and expats. Interestingly, it was devoid of politics, but featuring sports, food, and cars…
I trammed over to the National Museum of Norway (their website) to be overwhelmed for hours in the labyrinth of exhibits there. This batch features some Rothko, Kandinsky, Picasso, a Modigliani, and numerous other modern artists – mostly Norwegian…
This batch transitions to older, more traditional art forms. While I’ve always tried to be open minded, I did start to question the aesthetic value of some modern art. For example, Rothko (and there was a lot) is crap compared to the myriad anonymous older masters who not only exhibit skill, but more ideas, more thinking, and much more beauty. Bamboozlement…?! For example, note the enlayed wood piece – just part of an amazing piece of furniture. The lace, the ceramics, the embroidery, all have more art to them…
The only actual painting in this batch (find the square one) is definitely modern art, but it represents the skill of the old masters, complex design thinking, and a whimisical sensibility far beyond some of the more famous hacks. In any case, the breadth of the collection (here note the fashion) was worth more than the price of the ticket…
This last batch features more whimsy, ancient carvings, industrial design, and a wide range of cultural artifacts…
Even the security guards had a hard time showing me to the exit, but I eventually found my way out of the National Museum popped over to the ferry station to catch a ride around the islands in closest part of the Oslo Fjord. Thought about disembarkation, but stayed on board to take in the views…
With only a half hour to go before closing time, I power-walked over to the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art. The building, designed by Renzo Piano, was great, but again I had the thought that some modern art is a travesty of bad taste.
After a long day of exploring Oslo (only some of it), and geeking out on museums (only some of the them), I trammed back to the hotel and met the boys (Aussie Steve and our new fellow traveler Craig from Florida) for some Eritrean food…
Congrats, you made it! We’ve left Oslo and I’m posting from a beautiful (6+ hour) train ride to Bergen, the next stop on our tour…