DAY 9 - Touchdown in Oslo, or as Turbonegro call it, the "City of Satan".

There was a very annoying delay on the plane, as apparently, everything was ready, but they had too much luggage. What? How did that happen? Anyway, we landed about 45 minutes late, which didn't help my tired mood. Still, I took the somewhat expensive bus to Oslo Central Station and hoped for the best.

The area where the hostel is is not the nicest, but at least that means there's a couple of reasonably-priced supermarkets to buy stuff. There's also a tram & bus stop next door, and a bike stop too, so it's a good location. I couldn't check-in until 3pm, so it was time to get to work...




I took a tram straight to Viglandsparken, the huge park dedicated to Gustav Vigeland, an exceptional sculptor who made dozens upon dozens of sculptures, almost all of them nude. The park has many of his, but there's a museum too which has even more.





The lens on my camera can't really convey the depth of this picture (or, perhaps, it conveys it more than the human eye does): it looks better in real life.






The man himself.








This is the building connected to the museum about Oslo itself. It's somewhat lighthearted, and it's huge for free, but I'd have preferred if it cost money because I forked out for an Oslo Pass.






After that I made the short walk to the Vigeland Museum, about, well, you know. No pics alas, but it's definitely worth a look if you're in town and you like naked sculptures. Lots of them.






I lied, there is ONE picture 'inside'.








The park is very big indeed, and as it costs nothing to walk around a park, would certainly be a nice place to relax on a summer's day. This was a sunny summer's day, but no rest for the wicked.






Here's an example of his work.











And there's some more.








And... oh.











As you see, the bridge is full of those sculptures. That big thing in the background will feature very soon.







But not before the best statue of all.











It's hard to make this out, but there's another version in the museum: there are trees all around with different formations of people; in the centre, several huge men are holding a big dish aloft. I was very impressed when I saw it in the museum, and it's nice here too.




The aforementioned 'totem', made of writhing bodies. This man knows what he likes.










And standing next to the totem gives a lovely view up the road.








Another thing.








And a circle of people... I've never seen so many naked sculptures.











Time to move on. I wanted to get to the nearest T-Bane station, and my detective skills told me that it was near. But first, I cut through a cemetary. Because it was easiest.






Onto the T-Bane. As you can see, not much difference to Stockholm's T-Bana really.







And out we come at the National Theatre, the central landmark of Oslo, I guess.







Don't know what that is, but worth a pic. I went to the Ibsen Museum, all about Henrik Ibsen. He's Norway's most famous playwright, don't you know. I read A Doll's House at school, and I got to look around his actual flat, which was quite cool. Seeing a pic of him at his study was interesting, as the study was exactly the same in real life. Well preserved.



Ooh, pretty. Next to National Theatre.








In the distance: the Royal Palace.








And this is the other direction. My camera exaggerated the distance in these shots, sadly.







The Oslo University.








In front of the palace, there's a guy on a horse. I've said that before...







The palace, obviously. For some reason, it's not on my Oslo Pass, so it's 95kr entry. Sod that, I didn't bother.







Soldiers walking!








The National Theatre from the front.








Ibsen again.











Kids, probably modelled by Vigeland. And water, of course.








I don't think this guy appreciates a bird dropping one on his head.











Storting, the parliament.








This guy had this square named after him.











Funky capoeira dude. This Karl Johans Gate is quite interesting.








I wondered why Oslo Cathedral was never mentioned much in tourist things. Now I know why. It's closed.










After a frustrating time trying to get the internet to work in the hostel (it doesn't help that it doesn't work on my floor, so I have to sit in the reception), I gave up around 10pm and went for a drink with some people from the hostel. £6 for a pint of lager? Oh well, that's Oslo...

And so ends my first day in Oslo. I needed the sleep.