Train from Bergen to Oslo

Today, we took about a 7–hour train ride from Bergen to Oslo. The logistics weren’t great. European trains usually don’t have baggage cars, so all luggage, including heavy and large suitcases, have to be carried up the steep train steps and then stored in racks. Not so easy to do for some of our group, including me. I had help in doing this and I again thank those who helped me, who also had to help others.

The train ride from Bergen to Oslo is described as one of the most scenic ones in Europe, but the first part of the ride we had already taken when we had traveled by train from Bergen on the Norway in a Nutshell tour, so the scenery, though beautiful, we had already seen. After Mydral, we were high in the mountains, but we could view only small snatches of the scenery as we went on many bridges with the view blocked by the enclosed sides of them and also by many tunnels. After we descended from the mountains, the scenery got better.

I would have preferred to have flown from Bergen to Oslo with no luggage problems and to have more time, perhaps, for our first day in Oslo.

Photo: High up in the mountains.

Train from Bergen to Oslo

After crossing the high mountains, we came to very desolate areas where buildings were few. Hard to imagine the life people have who live in areas such as these. This is a sheep ranch.

Train from Bergen to Oslo

Then we were treated to new beautiful views of the Norwegian countryside. At Oslo, the train’s conductor was on the platform below the steps and asked me if I wanted any help with my suitcases. Of course, I said yes. A very nice, helpful man.

I have put my photos of our train ride from Bergen to Oslo on a slideshow. Go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/bergen–to–oslo/

(Slide Shows, Scandinavia/Estonia, Norway, “Bergen to Oslo”).

Oslo Opera House

We arrived in Oslo about 2:45 p.m. Lunch was on our own on the train. By bus, we drove a bit around Oslo on the way to two museums. Photo: The Oslo Opera House, built to resemble snow fields and floating ice. It opened in 2008.

The Parliament Building

Seen on our drive: The Parliament Building, the Storting Building, is the seat of the Norwegian parliament, which is called the Storting. It was built in 1866.

The Royal Palace

Seen on our drive: The Royal Palace, built in the first half of the 19th century and the home of King Harald V and Queen Sonja.

The Viking Ship Museum

Our first stop was at the Viking Ship Museum which houses three Viking ships that were unearthed from their use as burial tombs. The photo shows the Oseberg ship, which was unearthed in 1903. The corpses inside it had died in the year 834.

Also at the museum is the Gokstad ship, which is the world’s best–preserved Viking ship, unearthed in 1879. The earliest ship unearthed is the third ship at the museum, the Tune ship, in 1867, but it is not in good condition.

The Kon Tiki Museum

The second museum that we visited was the Kon Tiki museum, which I thought was fascinating as it contains not only the actual Kon Tiki raft but also the Ra II. The photo is of the Kon Tiki raft. Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl was the leader of the Kon Tiki expedition in 1947. He proved with his voyage that people from South America could have settled in Polynesia in pre–Columbian times.

The Kon Tiki Museum

Photo: Ra II. Heyerdahl made two voyages across the Atlantic Ocean from Morocco. The first was on Ra, but it broke apart. The second, on Ra II, successfully reached Barbados, demonstrating that early seamen could have made trans–Atlantic voyages.

I have put my photos of our drive around Oslo and of the Viking Ship and Kon Tiki Museums on a slide show. Go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/olso–city–and–museums/

(Slide Shows, Scandinavia/Estonia, Norway, “Oslo: City and Museums”).

Vigeland Sculpture Park

Our third stop was at the Vigeland Sculpture Park, a sculpture park of more than 200 sculptures by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. The theme of the park is the “circle of life” or the “cycle of life.” Photo: the Monolith totem.

Vigeland Sculpture Park

There are 36 figure groups surrounding the monolith. No fig leaves were used by Vigeland on his sculptures.

Vigeland Sculpture Park

More of the park with a fountain and a bridge with 58 bronze statues on its sides.

Vigeland Sculpture Park

One of the most famous statues in the park is Sinnataggen, of a really angry boy. It is said that Vigeland gave a child chocolate, then took it away, to get this reaction.

I have put my photos of the Vigeland Sculpture Park on a slideshow. Go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/vineland–sculpture–park/

(Slide Shows, Scandinavia/Estonia, Norway, “Vigeland Sculpture Park”).

Dinner in Oslo

We were on our own for dinner tonight. Lyn and I ate outside at this restaurant a short walking distance from our hotel.

Dinner in Oslo

My US$32 hamburger for dinner. I still was not used to the prices in Norway, so I was a bit shocked. But at least, it was very good and wine with it helped with the price shock. Lyn had steak which she said was also very good.