Our First Impressions of Oslo
There was no doubt Marc and I were excited to be in Norway. It was the only country in Scandinavia we had not yet visited. We visited Denmark and Sweden in 2003 but not Norway. This time around, we were happy to return to this part of the world. Our first impressions of the city? Expensive!!! We were forewarned about how expensive Oslo was going to be but nothing really beats seeing the prices of everything for sale live and in person. Whoa, a slice of pizza for US $18, a happy meal for US$ 20. A slice of cake for US $15. I can go on and on.
Karl Johan and the Royal Palace of Oslo
On Karl Johan with a view of the Royal Palace in the background
Another view of Karl Johan's Gate (a better one) with the Royal Palace of Oslo in the far background
Cafes along Karl Johan
I must say, Europeans do love hanging out in outdoor cafes. In Northern Europe where it can get cloudy and rainy even in the summer, one does have to take advantage of the sunny days.
Taken opposite the hotels and cafes on Karl Johan.
The National Theater
The statue of Henrik Ibsen in front of the National Theater
The monument dedicated to Ludvig Holverg
Ludwig Holverg (born 3 December 1684 and died 28 January 1754) was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian, and playwright born in Bergen, Norway during the Dano-Norwegian double monarchy, who spent most of his adult life in Denmark. He is considered the founder of modern Danish and Norwegian literature. (Source: Wikipedia)
A closer view of the statue of Ludvig Holverg
In front of the statue of Henrik Wergeland
Checking out the map
The garden of the Royal Palace of Oslo undergoing remodel in time for the city's anniversary in May on 2014
On our first full day in Oslo, we visited and joined a tour of the Royal Palace. I found it interesting when the official palace guide asked us, the visitors, if we knew who the Norwegian Royals were and nobody from our big group did. Needless to say, unlike the British Royals, the royal families of continental Europe keep a very low profile.
This was one image I found very eye catching. We first saw a stately and grand old building close to the Royal Palace. I first thought it was the National Gallery. It turned out it was just an office building. Its reflection on the steel and glass framed building on the opposite side of the street was very nice.
Ibsen's statue right in front of his museum a skip and a hop away from the Royal Palace.
The Ibsen Museum
Due to time constraints, we didn't get to visit this museum anymore. We could have gone given that it was included in the list of museums we could visit with our Oslo Card. We simply ran out of time.
The Royal Palace of Oslo
The equestrian statue of King Carl Johan unveiled in 1875 in front of the Royal Palace. It serves to memorialize the king of the Norwegian Swedish Union who initiated the construction of the Royal Palace.
Next to a friendly guard of the Royal Palace of Oslo
Unlike the guards of other royal palaces, this young Norwegian guard was not too stiff and even told me where to stand before I had my picture taken with him.
Kids scrutinizing one guard of the Royal Palace of Oslo
Security at the Royal Palace was tight. Photography indoors and out was not allowed.
The Seven Eleven where we bought our tickets for the Royal Palace Tour. IT struck me as very odd that we had to purchase our tickets for the Royal Palace tour from a 7 Eleven. Never heard of such a thing.
The interior design store where I bought some porcelain dolls
Frustrated that I haven't been able to shop at all since we began our vacation, I was delighted to see some tiny figurines on sale for little to nothing here at this Oslo Home Design Store along Karl Johan. They were a cross between the Russian nesting dolls and the Japanese Kokeshis. Price for each one, take this, US$ 2. I bought a set of four.
A mural of the Virgin Mary and Child on the facade of the St. Olav Catholic Church
Once again, another St. Olav Church. We just saw one in Tallinn a week earlier.
St. Olav Catholic Church
An old Norwegian House in the middle of modern buildings in downtown Oslo
Another view of St. Olac Catholic Church in downtown Oslo
A street scene in Olso
On the way to the National Library
I wondered what the building was with such high columns. We walked up but didn't see anything significant. I believe it was part of the National Library building.
In front of the National Library, Oslo
Henrik Wergeland