OAT: Arctic Expedition: Untamed Norway & Svalbard
June 25 - July 9, 2023
On Friday, June 23, we flew to Philadelphia for a brief visit with Gale's brother and sister-in-law and for Marge to finally get to visit the wonderful Barnes Foundation Museum. We also managed to consume a real, yummy Philly cheese steak, and a very tasty hoagie.
Sunday, July 25, found us flying to the far North (Frankfurt and then Oslo) for what may be our last OAT trip: Arctic Expedition: Untamed Norway & Svalbard. The trip was good, the weather while we were in Svalbard was amazing - sunny, 40-45 degrees, and the water was dead calm. Our captain was able to take us to 80° 33'19" north - less than 600 miles from the North Pole. The wildlife wasn't abundant, but we saw 3 polar bears, one seal’s head, several Minke and Beluga whales, and lots of walrus. There was also lots of ice and glaciers and, while on the cruise part of the trip, the sun never set - 24 hours of sunlight is interesting.
June 23-24
June 25 - 26
Fly to Oslo, via Frankfurt
Oslo: City Tour by Bus; Vigeland Park; Opera House Tour; Oslo on our own; Oslo Cathedral
June 28
Oslo: Urban Hike; Oslo Opera House; Oslo Library
June 29
June 30
July 1
Tinayrebukta: Tinayrebreen Glacier; Lloyd Hotel in Mollerfjorden
July 2
July 3
July 4
July 5
July 7
July 8
Fri., 6/23/23 - Tucson to Philadelphia
Our 5:30 AM United flight to Phila. required us to arise at 2:00 am and leave home at 3. The flights (through Denver) were uneventful and we arrived in Philly around 5 pm.Sat., 6/24/23 - Philadelphia
On Saturday morning we spent three hours in the Barnes Foundation Museum, which Marge was anxious to visit. There is a long history of Dr. Barnes and his accumulation and control of impressionist art. The collection is worth in the neighborhood of $25 BILLION. It was originally displayed at the Barnes home in suburban Philadelphia. Sometime after his death the new museum was built and the collection moved. The very complicated and politically fraught story surrounding this event was the subject of the 2009 film "The Art of the Steal." It is a very interesting film. The museum and the displaying of the collection is unique and very interesting. The museum is a must see.
Illustrating the manner in which the art works are displayed. This arrangement of the displays has been copied from the way they were displayed in Barnes' mansion.
The collection includes much more than paintings. This is an old
lock and key set.
One of several Picasso originals
Sun., 6/25/23 - Phila. to Frankfurt to Oslo
After a real Philly cheese steak lunch, we proceeded to the airport for our scheduled 5:45 overnight flight to Frankfurt. For various reasons (announced and otherwise), the flight was delayed until 7:40 and it was well after 8:30 before we were airborne. This is when a 4-hour layover in Frankfurt looked like a really good idea.Mon., 6/26/23 - Oslo
The flight was good (not much sleep, however) and our arrival in Oslo was only a little delayed. OAT transported us to the Thon Opera Hotel (just a block from the beautiful, new Oslo Opera House) and we were efficiently checked in and able to settle in our room. Since it was pouring rain, we declined the opportunity of an "orientation walk" around the neighborhood. Instead, we were in bed by 7:30 and stayed there until 6:30am, making great strides toward combating jet-lag.
OAT: Arctic Expedition: Untamed Norway & Svalbard
(Advertised itinerary: weather and ice prevented us from doing the blue dotted line portion and anything south of Longyearbyen)
Flag of Norway
Tues., 6/27/23 - Oslo
After breakfast and a brief group gathering, we joined a local guide for a city bus tour on the way to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. This is our third visit to this unusual collection of sculpture works by Gustav Vigeland. Our guide used the OAT provided listening devices - the "whispers" - so we could wander about to take photos and still listen to the interpretation of the Fountain and the Circle of Life, etc. She provided an excellent description/explanation for what we were seeing and it only rained a little while we were there.
Wrought iron gates at Vigeland Park
Vigeland Park - the fountain and the monolith
Look at all those blond tow-heads
Man Throwing Woman over his Head
Man Attacked by Babies
The Monolith
From Vigeland Park, we were driven to the site of the new Oslo Opera House. On a previous trip, we had only been in the lobby and ladies’ room but this time we got a full, wonderful tour.
The building is made of Carrara marble from Italy, glass, and oak wood and is gorgeous with excellent acoustics.
(Unfortunately, no photos were permitted in the hall or backstage.) Inside the large hall, the glass ceiling light structure/fixture is unique and the stage curtain is a work of art. Back stage we listened to the explanation of the moving floors and stage sets. It is an amazingly complicated design, but it all works. The stage is used for both opera and ballet (50-50). Ballet uses a special floor that is levelled and moved into place for them. The orchestra pit, of course, can move up or down and enlarge or shrink as needed. It was a really interesting tour of a beautiful and complex building.
Oslo Opera House
Floating stainless steel and glass sculpture named "She Lies" is in the water in front of the Opera House
Stairs and oak paneling defining the exterior of the main hall
Lobby wall representing ice crystals underneath a glacier with larger diamond shapes above squashed ones at the bottom with green light, representing the glacial ice color, showing through.
After a little more city sight-seeing, the bus left us at Kaffistova for a tasty lunch of meat balls, new potatoes, and smashed peas. Dessert was strawberry mousse with vanilla cream sauce.
On our own after lunch, we walked up Karl Johans Gate pedestrian street to the Royal Palace and Queen Sonja Gardens and back to the Oslo Cathedral which is a small but elaborate Evangelical Lutheran church where the King and Queen attend. The Oslo Bazaars, a shopping arcade, surrounds the rear of the church.
The Royal Palace
Flowers line Karl Johans Gate pedestrian street
Oslo Havnelager - Originally for storage, now offices
Street Scene
Manhole cover
On the cover is the Seal of Oslo that depicts St. Hallvard (the city's patron saint) with his attributes, the millstone and arrows, with a nude woman by his feet. He is seated on a throne with lion decorations, which at the time was also commonly used in the seals of Norwegian kings. Around the circular image the city's motto is inscribed: Unanimiter et constanter (United and constant).
Interesting building
Oslo University History Museum
Norwegian Parliament building
Sign for famous Freia Chocolate
Oslo Cathedral
Front door of the Oslo Cathedral
Oslo Cathedral
Small group of organ pipes
Main pipes
Oslo Cathedral
Royal pew at the Oslo Cathedral
Entrance - note the city seal
Nice door
Oslo Bazaar
Black-headed Gull
Statue of Olav Thon - hotel founder - outside the Thon Hotel
Statue of a man with suitcase outside the Thon Hotel
Central Train Station
After a rest at the hotel, we walked over to the Oslo Central Train Station, next to our hotel, and brought back three slices of pizza and one coke for dinner in our room. It cost $30. Life is expensive in Norway. The conversion is about 10 Kroner to $1 USD.
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