OSLO, NORWAY

Background info:

 Oslo is the capitol and largest city of Norway.  It is also the fastest growing major city in Europe with a population in the city of 634,000 and metro area population of 1.5 million.  The city, founded in 1000AD, is also a hub of Norwegian trade, banking, industry and shipping. As well It is an important center for maritime industries and maritime trade in Europe.  Oslo was destroyed several times by fire, and after the fourteenth calamity, in 1624, it was ordered rebuilt at a new site across the bay, near Akershus Castle and given the name Christiania.  The original name of Oslo was restored in 1925.  Because of the city's northern latitude (same latitude as southern Greenland and northern Canada), daylight varies greatly, from more than 18 hours in midsummer, when it never gets completely dark at night, to around 6 hours in midwinter.   Despite its high latitude and northerly location, the climate is not severely cold due to the onshore air-masses in winter and the coastal location of the city.  Oslo has mild to warm summers with average high temperatures of around 66–75 °F and lows of around 54 °F.   Winters are cold and snowy with temperatures between 19 °F up to 30 °F.  Oslo has a varied and strong economy and is ranked number one among European large cities.  It is one of the most expensive cities in the world, which we can attest to when dining.

After a well deserved, good night's sleep we hopped out of bed at 8 am (Charlotte called).  We all met about 9:15 for breakfast buffet at the hotel.  We headed out for our day of touring Oslo shortly after 10 but had to return about 15 minutes later to put on our sun tan lotion.  It was a hot and sunny day here.  So finally, we are off again.  How to see a city in one day??  We decided to do the Hop ON-Hop Off bus.  That way we could jump off to spend time where we wanted.  Actually we just got off twice, once at Viking Ship Museum and last time down at dock area downtown.  By this time it was about 1 pm and Charlotte was hungry, and when she is hungry, she is grumpy!  You may hear this several times during the month, but shepherding three women is not easy!  We stopped for a water break along the dock lined with lots of nice restaurants.  To catch up with the Hop On Hop Off bus we walked to the cruise terminal, where the Voyager was docked.  I ask security there to call on board and see if Goran could come out and see us. Within two minutes, here came Goran running down the ship's gangway.  We had a nice visit with him and so glad we could introduce him to Charlotte and Jane.  He is so excited now as he will be going home (he is Serbian) to see his family tomorrow.  We got back on the bus and headed to downtown again.  We got off at the shopping street which was also lined with restaurants.  We had a little bite to eat at TGI Fridays.  This made Charlotte happy again!  We were not far from our hotel so Rebecca was needing to rest her rib.  She returned to the hotel.  The rest of us continued down the boulevard to get photos of the Oslo Cathedral.  We went inside but it was not that impressive.  I have seen MANY cathedrals all over the world and this one ranks at the bottom.  Sorry you Norwegians!  Now we all headed back to the hotel to freshen up before happy hour in our room.  You may recall that we bought wine in duty free at the airport.  Good thing because price here are OUT OF SIGHT.  We had a bottle of bad Italian wine with dinner last night and it was $50.  That was their house wine.  A hamburger at Fridays costs $30.  Nuff said!  

We were very lucky today because the weather was fantastic.  Warm, but not nearly as hot as Texas. The locals were gasping!!  This evening is equally as beautiful, especially since I am looking out my hotel window and seeing the beautiful Regent Seven Seas Voyager with blue skies overhead.  We're so excited and really looking forward to boarding her tomorrow morning.  In summary, we were VERY impressed with the city of Oslo.  It is a super clean city and ALL the people are genuinely friendly and most helpful.  They all speak English better than me.  Our waiter at TGI Fridays today was such a nice guy, but then everyone here is.  It is my opinion that you can see the city in one day.  Our ship is docked next to the castle so we will see that tomorrow after we get settled on the ship.  We are all HAPPY CAMPERS and heading to dinner now after a couple bottles of wine to get us even more
relaxed.  Wish you were all here!     

                                                         

                                                                     Royal Palace  

                                      SAS bus we rode from airport to hotel in yesterday

                                                                  In hotel lobby

                                                Hop On Hop Off bus we toured Oslo in today

                                                      Viking Ship Museum

                                             Viking boats from 900 AD and before.

                                        Voyager we will be boarding in background tomorrow.

                                                     Pier in downtown area

 Goran, our friend.  We stopped by Voyager to visit with him as he is getting off ship tomorrow.

                                                           Oslo Opera House

                                                          Theater House

                                                             Parliament House

                                                              OOPS!

                                             Grand Hotel, supposedly nicest in Oslo

                                                                Oslo Cathedral

                                                                     University

                                                       Nobody knew what this was????