Oslo – the dynamic, fast growing city full of eye-catching architecture.
Like in Stockholm or Copenhagen, the City Hall, here in the Nordic countries one of the symbols of the city...
We did not get inside as it was temporalily closed today. We admired this functionalist style built from 1930s, finished in 1950.
Nobel Peace Prize ceremony held here every December 10 (anniversary of Alfred Nobel death). Other Nobel Prizes are held the same date in Stockholm.
We avoided a typical city tour and went to the museums area. Started with the Viking museum. #1.
Who were the Vikings actually ? The pure plunderer or also the merchants & skilful craftsmen ? The ships in this museums are (were) their burial ships. Oseberg ship, built around 820 AD, the Gokstad the Tune ship built a bit later. The dead were buried with generous supplies of food and drink, various animals and a large number of objects, both functional and decorative. Wild apples, blueberries and herbs were also placed in to the grave. Kitchen utensils and tableware.
Judging from the finds in the Oseberg ship-burial we can assume that people believed in a life after death in which travel equipment was needed just as it is in this life.
Next, KonTiki museum - balsa raft carried Thor Heyerdahl and his crew of 5 men across the Pacific Ocean from Peru to Polynesia in 1947.
Thus it was shown that people from early South American civilization could have reached Polynesia with seafaring vessels.
The voyage of 8000km lasted as planned 101 days and took place in the south-east tradewinds with the aid of wind patterns and ocean currents.
Fascinating as Thor’s dream came true. With a Happy End.
Last one, again the open-air museum. We have now a complete picture picture of Dennish, Swedish and now Norwegian way of life in 1700s, 1800s, 1900s. Introduction of Sami people (they lived scattered in different part of Norway, Sweden, Finnland and Russia). 
Minority of the Sami in Norway were reindeer nomads, but the majority lived a settled life on farms along the coast or in the ricer valleys, making a living as farmers and fishermen. Today, about 40 000 live in Norway, 20 000 in Sweden, 5000 in Finnland and 2000 in Russia.
At the end of the day, we walked up to Akershus Fortress to get some evening views on the city. I was hardly walking, but, my client was still curious what is up there...
Dinner at the recommended restaurant for trying Norwegian meals and that’s enough for today ;)
Tomorrow, we drive westwards to Bergen, can’t wait the drive through mountians, fjords...
