As luck would have it, I got to visit Oslo for some on-the-job training and enjoy some free-time to walk around the city, too. Since my time was limited,
decided to traverse the city from west to east (for the most part).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVkEsooF6K-3WRWLYXff9IugxtR5a4kWI4FJUj3T1ikZUpBcVmUSQbhyckdpcfW7GIddgLeLAVLtBq_XNLOwN6H9RKm0YqjcuZB6WITsKa0b4591lD8FHqU_1dPHFPQCNcmmvGXJjyY-i/s1600/IMG_3839.JPG) |
Akershus Castle |
My trip actually began in Vienna, and I landed n Oslo just before midnight on Wednesday, and the
Flybussen dropped me off very near my hotel about 40 minutes later. The bus is very convenient, especially since you can get a return ticket and not have to worry about getting back to the airport (it's a very expensive cab ride, so I hear).
As an aside, if you're in Vienna, try the Ottakriger Radler. It's excellent.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3f5r_XKADVmRX0wV0HuXwbpVhkgp_oA5ml2-2kD0z2hzD0xTNytNNzCFnu3BHZoDZzekkXsgBYh8QvEaZQ-dTKkXkuXvfuCPseCpEYEPzxdR6-1ZNqL7RVx0PoSH_EFLrtT5JK6S3NJB/s1600/IMG_3757.JPG) |
RRR in Vienna, hours before his flight to Oslo. |
On Thursday after work, I watched the US-Germany World Cup game while the rain poured down outside. As the game ended, the rain also stopped. So, I figured that was an invitation to get touring and went outside. I started off at the Royal Palace and continued on into the Oslo city center.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Q4n5VB0puNROYEqoZwDgFJWejC0_femCeFC1oUIx4QjicUzOYFHScatFqHv8RwGSdGrbExTCO-KXKPUCagv6VVvDxBtvpWV7d6jO5D1rvSJddWczGSgJiM8XarNgbolxq7TleVCIZ_dK/s1600/IMG_3778.JPG) |
RRR and the Royal Palace |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1USvOrQWgjMoeHmpWeXP6M-PNT7CjGA5IJ_MNNcMt7z05cxPg1q7hFh7fHdhs3aZqnnQmGPZ8uoA_J3sG0kfeAXjrDcrkZK5YRgAe-lVNDp5A0AzhOhQGWme3WITCVinuYdxa8z0_Wsv0/s1600/IMG_3780.JPG) |
Karl Johans Gate |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVMfwmFUGdn6gKSHRb_2isX3pC5yqqUcR93KVqJv4ZDHa0FJSy-Cotes9U7WayJuqGpkwvg8zoIIXzeI-vqvOFwqfCcBcs7B4CeTBpskHfkLzzPCDgjIj30MPXaQJiZCoX8ulqVZmeElz/s1600/IMG_3782.JPG) |
Oslo's crest on a manhole cover |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBj7g4foMvKsntmq3FrglAR7ELWd3RLP-o7UmwDt7BTJjp-LHeBKXeulMCxc0cvb5Vihfa66a7z_T_8WmINWuvsdYLiMEiF5PHFlfHYqY4fi8CAq7UQ-MlHHuWiYmvNrxHCNegbJGtXNSf/s1600/IMG_3783.JPG) |
A bronze tiger prowling around the train station. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMU13GzTs5A3WVT9j594VclqtAhbYTOTjFHpehO7dEWetw3Ntk_VuW9sDrAca_HJZbvhrEQRah1pGENeMVKx-ljxCzOm5npI1U09BlkITCvRuEkioTjC6i78YF85W1frW-GrDWaxTeZu1/s1600/IMG_3790.JPG) |
The Norwegian National Ballet and Opera |
By the time I reached the Akershus fotress and castle, the rain began to fall again. To make matters worse, it had just closed 30 minutes ago.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5LWyt8r5L58IArS9KXOcuNPsNcjQd6_4AIhZlhtZAkNcDcQn8ZyVvgL6WbBC8ez_ZIXiyaBR2bpdFZqiTuv6TzlhZ9qrwFP-SGjOZy4MsWo92LgwMsEBDrOlBWaOJBVuHEEGQzf44QFf/s1600/IMG_3797.JPG) |
This was the closest I could get to the castle today. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyA-A6Olnq7jyyN0lCCH7CA9wAYJedTiJp-emeJMgxwIho1hHZ39Wc2HFcbWofBE-dhDX7VvLaT8P0o9aVUvJ8TmHIu9T6fNdLQkYpX1LGetJYVM027v0mnDVxmrxxQLAYzFuPn3v6FG1/s1600/IMG_3800.JPG) |
Lots of ships in the harbour |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3Wy9ZJeYCsE1JOMFgRZGsjtdVd2FSBQ3pjd81SfC1LtcYsD_Qm97AN0k8UEaXSFUV-9Trsv2bZqHXE4x8RlnCp6MKc5n00ZHzF1RT3IRA45tqPDktZ0dHMVdm_O8NijsLEYjkKrbnJ8c/s1600/IMG_3802.JPG) |
Pride Park. Note the disco ball shining a beam of light through the rain. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeJja6bIyfGbdsw9jfZPiF3rve7_LnRUz2bWokROzeSLJL-V0N2V22ohcp4KDtvjoPvTK_edfDBjRL6Edt-Q1tRC5IwfEvho9beiMUiJs3EJy1ceOe4KEDyWptGGA-ITC-Q1yAjWZbCG7/s1600/IMG_3805.JPG) |
The "Have fun. Be Safe! Enjoy free condoms" sign
is in front of a statue of woman with two kids. Hmmm. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GD4aDr5bsAK7Ms0LygDm8-XC9jCq3UmmuWY0Gse6ol2ykDvZZZCOYsdU3825rs2yeZABShZ72fRH-fe34UR38XQyBoF1CG9xML66cUHBc9NS4zJF4IuxcoMO4CBxWmA1nld0fS_LwcnG/s1600/IMG_3806.JPG) |
Nobel Peace Center |
After visiting the city center, I returned to my hotel. In the rain.
After concluding my business on Friday, I took the T-Bane (metro) over to the Borgen stop. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the electrified "suicide rail" explicitly labelled as such. From Borgen, I walked through a cemetery and into the famous Vigeland sculpture park which is actually inside Frogner park..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUezagMf40MUwyqnEFpHNStnnvjVSuc5nw2ciM6EMvUqBtE3l8uDtPMVZo9PNFnz3UYHRsUraDYmPuIrrVLgr-TbbiEv8ezioeag67R2nciTssMIBpUmRCiF1859cXiO7P772HhcsLNgOW/s1600/IMG_3816.JPG) |
The cemetery at Borgen |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJClHjd0u4PJhesE2QmtgwXl0shXE1xKIfsSavva3AiyxVg9PPl_m0yWifyfs3I84EDw72JP2fxLFG19bCWvNHycbVWLTFM3CQKl2k8yNwXgLS1mVg8MmVaD85ifOztNooFzuxQLe7aFQ/s1600/IMG_3820.JPG) |
Ironwork gate in Vigeland sculpture park |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnogcCXO8fjFMPILrpWRl9c_F4KcFi4zJuf0_ABXk1U3CB-L1JEwgSj9uG_0HK9GSQvb4JOOli6srNWL8KzRpSZQa_KtcsJMZ_Hw-X8JCcnZJ4G3mLKt_zfpdLASSDI23DsV6agRUmlpsV/s1600/IMG_3827.JPG) |
RRR and the Angry Boy statue |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTeuw1YiQJStdFWKS3DAvlB7c87zMoGCHToMdKdN-akYysJVx6N22OgTsxaEQ8AZmMa-DwuNjQzEnwF_cY1UJF32vTZnLOR-hOc3ztRwKtCFWXl5UdTQ-1xLMklKHnaA8iom2WHJ5B1TR/s1600/IMG_3830.JPG) |
RRR! Save us from Gustav Vigeland! |
After the Frogner Park, I hopped on the tram/T-Bane to the Munch Museum, passing the Botanical Garden on my way.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOm69ef0dOJpL0i_WxOH9bxPUi9h9U5x7SlhcoJ8FOu6LTvmt28BxOcUp3l8RsR6JgnU0LWs_odllEJp8spqvo_dMZFg5boUyocJDiAR1r1C0dlaNolQX4_9QdHNIr6XOfZRZgC8LuW3n/s1600/IMG_3834.JPG) |
This sofa probably could stand to be cleaned a little more often... |
Once I got the Munch museum and walking around the gift shop, I decided that I didn't really want to pay the price of admission to see the scream. I mean, it's a masterpiece, but I think I like the
Lego version more. So, I headed back to the city center to see about getting into the Akershus Fortress. As I arrived at the castle, a military wedding was just about to start and I just barely got inside to take a few pictures before I was told the castle was closed to the public.
Walking around the fortress that surrounds the castle, I came across this figure sitting in deep reflection.
From the fortress, I walked back to my hotel.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHeba_fvBQmamCNbpiA2IcEFLw1f7SX6wFG89y4CBz8pDjpONeg0D4wD1NSi9A_CFgn2o8PbQAwbSpdP3tcYHGuqUSo8Mqs5ajWUCcGVFhusdFBpMlbW2jdjR7Bo2IC_-U06Ctli-GbD_/s1600/IMG_3851.JPG) |
RRR and some distant relatives. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_4uzZWPWBC84SS7tRm3hmM8UPvux8_eInU2MByDWPiJXKQdIcGwxR-KIaxNpqC4EabCZd09d9lWk9BxSqGLKWnFRgtIoVitkEE9AntOCmN5nMA42gaST83hGoA0iA86ZMJj4dgshSQ5g/s1600/IMG_3854.JPG) |
Children playing next to statues of children playing. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH6wchmADwIPPdiIubzC2dtTBooMeQihj3D_4sQ85CGQfj6VE5eBhrSsqCxQ_AGUqXjD65SLgu5VNQ58Y_IkYaBe-Ada2nEyttBYQjHkIZPeZLhkCaSesWIoTrfb-N5McgRLWLGfjGc2Z/s1600/IMG_3862.JPG) |
The National Theatre's production of Hitchcock's The Birds |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkG7ZckXHG2Bn_zn5UNB9MFJfI8BLKJ3ah-OU-TTMra_4egeL3d4RLLSLPBovVT0R31M-5TxeFV2t2BZUXxamiPWozN5qOrtQlRthwTOgSp3yy8jXtBVo_mf42A85Pu9HE4vTWW3k3mL3m/s1600/IMG_3867.JPG) |
Yeah, can I get a hot dog wrapped in bacon with meat topping? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV444lqTC0xH3KlRkmt5o703MwlvR_Jaddrb9c5tHRJj4Vkg1w7vYv3hgnImZitCUYDv15v9dJnXttTt7-FjHsxuMLCfsn_-nf-OnDxmjylO35Exn7AojL5-llpTrk_RNj8fXc6RjTa6Bx/s1600/IMG_3869.JPG) |
Oslo street art thief. Banksy maybe? |
I went back to the hotel to change & rest before heading back downtown (for a third time) to get some food with some other Foreign Service folks before calling it a night. Overall, a quite enjoyable trip!
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