After a wonderful buffet breakfast at Thron Hotel (Thorn = Thor), we are full of energy and head to the docking area for boat transfer to Bygdoy Neighborhood where sits the Fram Museum and Kon-Tiki Museum. The Fram Museum is a captivating exhibit named for the sailing ship Fram and Norway’s greatest Artic and Antarctic explorations. The entire 128 ft. original ship with masts and sails is walk on accessible to all decks with personal displays about the crew. It was fascinating and fun.
The raft Kon-Tiki
Empty bus stop
Next door is the smaller Kon-Tiki Museum about the large rafts built by explorer Thor Heyerdahl and his adventures to prove free floating and sailing the currents of the pacific to reach and populate the Polynesian islands and Easter Island. The original large raft is displayed and an Oscar winning movie of the voyage presented. Also very entertaining. (Question- ancients could have made this trip, but did they?).
Bygdoy has fun. We followed a short path, found the bus and went to the The Norwegian Folk Museum and park where 150 historic buildings mostly log built with sod roofs are situated in open air neighborhoods.
There are several eras displayed. Many are open to enter, which we did, and some have re-enactors displaying daily chores. As we walked the winding paths some of us could imagine the older villages alive with activity between respites of “going Viking”. The community feeling was greatly enhanced by visiting the Gol stave church built in 1212 and reconstructed on site. It was of classic design and displayed primitive but beautiful on wood paintings. We were endeared by the “Last Supper” painting over the alter (c1452).
Keep on keeping on
This was a lot of walking for us today, but we were invigorated. So Janet suggested a trip to the sculpture garden. Ok. Why not I say. We get on a bus and travel for awhile then exit using google map. We end up walking through residential neighborhoods and into a small park by a river. Something feels wrong, we ask some locals about the park. They smile sarcastically “oh yes there is a garden, go this way” (the other direction). We marched on, and on, and ended up in sprawling Frogner Park. My knees were sore. But it was worth the effort. Here, Norway’s greatest sculpture Gustav Vigeland had over a lifetime created tons of statuary work, ie. Vigeland Sculpture Park. The sculptor planned the entire site including landscaping and designed 192 bronze and granite statue groupings-600 figures in all, each nude and unique. The presentation is immense. No wonder the local smiled when I inquired about a little ole “sculpture garden”. The statuary was very evocative to us as it clearly reflects the “good and evil in the community of man”. We took photos, choosing to capture images of love and friendship.
Caught a bus at the park entrance and got back to downtown quick. Tonight, we found a nearby Asian restaurant with good reviews called “Oriental Restaurant”. The atmosphere, food, sake and wine were all very good. By the way, Norway has really great carbonated fruit drinks, non-alcohol ginger beer, and a tasty ale called Rallar. Long day, so good night.
