Travel to Norway

Oslo is one of those European capitals that is just far enough away that it may take you a while to visit it. Far away from what? ...Well from the capitals popular with tour groups and tourists. As far as Nordic capitals, go Stockholm and Copenhagen are bigger, but you see, Norway's capital called to me because Grampa was from Norway.

The Oslofjorden gives the city a beautiful backdrop. It is a pretty city. Yes, it's an expensive city... it's probably the most expensive of the Nordic capitals, but that doesn't mean you should leave it off your travel wish list. Stroll beside the fjord, then get out on it, and you'll soon think it's worth the splurge.

See the Akershus Slott... This castle complex overlooking the Olsofjorden is an important and beloved symbol of medieval Oslo. It was originally built in 1300 as a fortress and royal residence. After a fire, it was rebuilt in 1527 as a royal Renaissance palace. It's not the King's residence now, but it is still used for state occasions. Tours are available in many languages including English.

For a look at where the current King and Queen live, visit Det Norske Kongehus. This palace is open to visitors only on occasion, and tickets must be purchased in advance. Stroll the Slottsparken, the castle park, and take in the afternoon changing of the guard. When the King is in residence, the Royal Guard band adds music to the pageant. A stroll in the park won't cost you anything.

Nestled among university buildings is the National Gallery. There is Norwegian and European art here, but what everyone wants to see is "The Scream" by Edvard Munch. See the Radhuset, the City Hall, for more paintings and sculptures.

Take the T-Bane (the Metro) or a tram to Vigelandsparken, the sculpture park which contains the life's work of Norway's revered sculptor Gustav Vigeland. It's in Frogner Park which is beautiful all by itself.

Explore more of Norway's Viking history by taking a ferry to Bygdoy Island. You can see the Vikingskiphuset, The Viking Ship Museum. It contains three of the best preserved Viking ships. They were burial ships which were excavated from the Oslofjorden, and they are now exhibited in a specially built hall.

In a building nearby see the "Kon-Tiki", the balsa raft that Thor Heyerdahl sailed on. For more sea-faring history see the "Fram", the polar vessel that was used by the famed polar explorer Amundsen. The ship ventured father nroth and south an any other ship before it.

Also on Bygdoy is the Norsk Folkemuseum - The Norwegian Folk Museum. It's an open air museum with buildings moved here from all over Norway. Some are old wooden buildings from medieval times. There is even an old Stave Church.

This far north, you'll have the most sunlight for exploring in the summer when the day almost never ends. Walk and take public transportation to save money. By your beer at a grocery store and picnic in one of those great parks. Check out the Oslo Pass. A pass for 24, 48 or 72 hours covers your admission to museums and public transportation. You can get the pass at tourists offices, at City Hall, the Central Station, or the cruise ship terminal.

Strike out like the Vikings did and explore... I have a feeling Oslo will conquer your heart.

The Kingdom of Norway is a country in the western area of the Scandinavian Peninsula; it is bordered by Russia, Finland and Sweden. The country is well known for its coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean and its awesome fjords. The Kingdom of Norway also includes Artic territories Jan Mayen and Svalbard; these are two islands in the Artic Ocean.

The coastline is broken by fjords and many islands; to the West and the South, the country is bordered by the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea, Skagerak and the Barents Sea, on the Northern coasts. The country is dominated by high terrains and mountains; the country is really beautiful due to its large variety of natural features, caused by spectacular glaciers. Deep grooves cut into the coast flooded by the sea following the end of the ice age, the fjords, are a spectacular Norwegian attraction.

The Gulf Stream has a benefic influence on Norway weather; there are warmer temperatures, especially along the coast than expected at northern latitudes. The mainland has four seasons; the winter is cold and less humid than the coast. The northern part has a sub artic climate; Svalbard as an arctic climate. Some people call Norway The Land of Midnight Sun because in the summer the sun may never descend beneath the horizon.

The Norwegian language has two forms: Nynorsk ad Bokmal. 90% of the Norwegian people speak Bokmal. Nynorsk and Bokmal are Germanic; Sami language is Finno-Ugric. Norwegian literature is very old, very rich and its value is huge. Henrik Ibsen who wrote a famous play, Dolls House is famous all over the world.

Norwegian cities are classified as urban and rural; each municipality has a number. Oslo is the capital and was founded in 1000. 90% of people of Norway are part of the state Church of Norway. Religious services, such as baptism, confirmation, marriage and burial, have strong cultural standing in Norway. Somalian, Arab, Turkish and Pakistani communities belong to Islam. The ancestral Norway inhabitants, the Vikings, followed pantheist / polytheist religions many centuries ago.

Norway attracts tourists by virtue of its spectacular landscapes that extend from the Artic Circle. Ski resorts, fjord intended coastline, mountains, woods and lakes are really attractive and picturesque. Oslo with its castles, cathedrals, churches, museums, the awesome landscape and original architecture, is Norways beautiful capital. Norway has a great cultural heritage, the result of its sparse population, climate and relative isolation from Europe. Norway has rich castles and palaces, long fjords, beautiful lakes and huge woods. The architecture is original, unique, based on the Norway ethnological heritage.

The Viking museum in Northern Norway, at Lofotr, the Viking ship Museum in Oslo, are presenting the Vikings way of life; the Norwegian Resistance Museum in Oslo and the Museum of reconstruction in Hammerfest are presenting objects and events related to World War II. The National Gallery in Oslo, the Munch Museum and the Henie Onstad Art Centre are a beautiful expression of the growing cultural public interest in Norway.