December 15th was finally a day when I didn't have to wake up super early, but I did have to go down for breakfast before they stopped serving (it was a weekday so they stopped serving earlier than I'd have liked). I went down for the breakfast and then went back up and got ready to head out for the day.
When I left the hotel I was very pleased with the location. It was right near the Parliament Building, the Christmas market, the Grand Hotel, etc. Great location. First I walked to the Parliament Building.
"The Storting" is what it is actually called. It opened in 1866 and the architect wanted it to represent openness so he made the main chamber visible from the outside.
The two wings were to represent arms inviting people to participate in democracy.
I got sucked into a situation at the Grand Hotel for a bit. They had barricades set up, didn't let any cars go down the street and there were lots of police, but also professional photographers staking out the scene. I hoped there was a royal visit of some kind, but after I while I asked a professional photographer and he said it was some high level talks involving Israel and Gaza. No royals = I moved on.
I walked by the Royal Palace, which unfortunately is only open to visitors in the summer.
The Viking museum in Oslo is probably one of the top attractions, so I was super bummed when they closed it for renovation (until 2027). They recommended a visit to the Norwegian Historical Museum to see some of their Viking artifacts, so that was my next stop.
They have torn down many stave churches around Norway, but preserved a few of the entrances at this museum.
So much carved detail
This is one of the best preserved Viking helmets anywhere
Viking Swords
This is from a Viking ship
Viking Spurs which are a very rare find
After the museum, I ventured over to the intersection of Damstredet and Tethusbakken. It's an often photographed street that has some traditional Norwegian homes.
Ask me if I regretted this decision as I walked down this hill while trying not to break my neck!
I made it down and then walked on to Mathallen Food Hall
I walked around and of course I had to stop here. I bought a couple of cupcakes and cookies to-go from The Cupcake and Pie Co. I ate them later and they were phenomenal!
For my meal, I settled on Vulkanfisk Seafoodbar and ordered the fish & chips
I walked back to the Christmas market and looked at all the stalls to see what they had to offer.
They had a talking/singing moose...actually two! I'm not kidding when I say I LOVE when a market has a singing moose.
I went back up to the hotel room to drop off my cupcake and cookies. Then I headed down to the Harborfront area. There are several museums down there including the Nobel Peace Center (which I didn't visit)
I did go to the National Museum. I read it had an amazing view from the roof terrace, but it was closed. I greatly enjoyed a display of Queens' clothing. Norway went from 1938 to 1991 without a Queen. This featured clothing from Queen Maud (she was Queen from 1905 until 1938 when she died) and Queen Sonja (who has been Queen since 1991).
Queen Maud's coronation gown from 1905
Norway abandoned coronations in 1908, but in 1991, King Harald had a consecration ceremony like his father, King Olav, and this was Queen Sonja's dress
A few more of Sonja's dresses
A few of Maud's dresses
Would you look at how tiny her waist was?
There was another clothing exhibit with all sorts of different items. This was a traditional Norwegian dress.
This is "Pile o' Sapmi" by Maret Anne Sara. It is made up of 400 Reindeer Skulls with bullet holes in their skulls.
I walked around Aker Brugge on the harbor front, and looked over at the Akershus Fortress all lit up.
I walked back over toward the Christmas market which is located right by the National Theater (and my hotel).
There were lots of spots like this around the market.
I spent the rest of my time walking around a shopping area where I found a whole store that was the brand of $500+ sweaters I loved.
The streets were decorated very nicely.
I eventually grabbed some dinner to-go from a food hall located in a nice department store and went to the hotel to eat and watch some more of The Crown. I remember thinking at the time that I had a pretty lazy day, but when I checked my fitbit, I had walked 18,000 steps!
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