Day 10: Norway's Seafaring Past
- The Day Distilled: Yesterday’s architecture was just the beginning, and today’s activities sealed the deal: Oslo was my slow-building WOW moment of the trip.
- Women of the Day: Modern DNA analyses have revealed that many of the Viking warriors that archaeologists have found (and had long assumed were men) were actually women. In fact, the most opulent ship burial of them all, displayed at Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum, was for a woman.
- Ship’s Log: We visited four—count 'em, four—maritime museums in the morning, starting with ancient Vikings, through Nordic expeditions on the Fram and Kon-Tiki, and finishing with modern shipping. And we took ferries to get there and back!
I think Mom finally got her Viking fix!
This morning after breakfast, we walked down to the harbor and caught a ferry to the Bygdøy peninsula, home to many excellent museums, four of them related to seafaring. Ylva gave us a basic orientation to the area and the Viking Ship Museum before setting us loose for the day.
Mom picked the Best of Scandinavia in 14 Days tour in large part because she was fascinated by Vikings. Roskilde's open air museum was a wonderful way to see (and hear and feel!) how Vikings made their ships, and to learn a little bit about their history and culture. The original ships themselves, though, were merely planks. Oslo's Viking Ship Museum, on the other hand, presented three stunningly well preserved ships that were excavated from Viking burial sites, along with many of the artifacts found in the tombs, ranging from an intricately carved wooden sleigh to everyday utensils. Once again I was blown away by the superb artistry and woodworking skills on display. |
Polar expedition? Go with a Norwegian.
Next, Mom and I visited the Fram Museum to marvel at Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen’s successful expeditions through the Northwest Passage and to the South Pole. Nordic seafaring skill and common sense came through in every description of their preparations; everything was carefully designed and nothing was left to chance—as reflected by the fact that Nansen, Amundsen, and their crews made it home alive.
And of course it was really cool to see the ship itself! |
Take the Trendy Riverside Oslo Walk!
Mom spent the afternoon relaxing in the hotel while I followed the “Trendy Riverside Oslo Walk” described in the guidebook. It was terrific! I'd give it a higher rating than what's in the book.
It was a sunny day, perfect for a route that included a lush green garden cemetery, a bustling tree-lined path along a raging river, colorful buildings, and an up-and-coming neighborhood full of cafes, boutiques, and students. If we'd had one more day in Oslo, I would have done it again. |
Tour perk: Great views from the hotel
We took one more walk along the harbor and up into the old Akershus Fortress before another cold rainstorm hit the city. Mom showed me an exciting discovery she’d made while I was out: our hotel’s top-floor lounge. We sat in a bay window with a stunning view of the Parliament building, and enjoyed complimentary hot tea before heading back to our room for an in-room picnic and a quiet evening reading our books.
For more photos from Day 10, see the slideshow below. |
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