#norwayday2

Day 2 in Norway was spent with another full day in Oslo - the benefit to this day being that we had a full night's sleep not on a ship.  I was in need of some "me time" so I skipped the morning the museums, which were almost exclusively Viking ships (again) so I don't feel like I missed a lot that I would have been interested in.  I took the day easy and enjoyed the freedom to see things if I wanted to and relax if I didn't.

Today's hash tags and pictures:

#harborgoodness - I started the morning with a nice walk around the harbor, which was incredibly peaceful despite the cruise ships piling up to get in.  I noticed via Facebook updates that the Traveling Aggies were in town - small world!  I didn't try to catch up with them, but funny that a small place like Oslo could have been where I finally get some real life interaction with another Aggie.  I desperately tried at the Viking ship museum in Denmark - I saw a guy wearing an Aggie shirt.  I should clarify and say kid, because post conversation, this was definitely a kid.  I never see Aggie paraphernalia, so when I do, I take advantage.  He said he was starting in the fall (class of 2018), which after some googling, I realize he meant not this fall, but next fall.  He wasn't interested in chatting....I think he thought I was some crazy old Ag.  Ah well, to be young and starting school - what a great time.

 

 



 

#occupation - After the wandering around the harbor, I headed to the Norwegian Resistance museum.  Allied and occupied museums are quickly becoming my favorite things to see.  The Norwegian one was no exception.  I only wished the one in Copenhagen had been open.  Norway was occupied for the majority of the war by the Nazis.  As explained by the tour guide, Norway was different from Denmark in that there was a strong undercurrent of resistance by everyday Norwegians, which resulted in tangible actions taken against the occupying powers.  The museum highlights the actions taken by everyday heroes to rid themselves in small ways of Nazi power.  The discussion on the atrocities committed by the Nazi Norwegians is limited, which is typical of resistance museums - it was similar to France's museum in Paris where the discussion is almost exclusive to Charles de Gaulle and nothing on the Nazi party made up of French citizens.  The only one that does a good job on that front is the Dutch Resistance museum, which as I visit more museums, I am quickly appreciating just how great that museum is.  Anyways, the Norwegian museum was very interesting.  I spent about 4 hours in there and read through all of the commentary.  For such a large portion of Norwegian history, I would have thought the museum would be bigger, but it was quite small.

 



#benefitsofwar? - It's hard to read, but the last paragraph says the following:
"Rationing had some advantages: people could no longer indulge and public health remained relatively good.  The shortage of sugar meant less dental decay." 
Talk about the glass being half full - that's one way to look at rationing!

#obligatorychurchshot - this was not a major site in Oslo to see, but I trooped down to the cathedral anyways because it's not a European city without a visit to a church.  I've noticed a lot of the newer churches contain images that are not necessarily associated with Christianity (see sun painting above on ceiling).  #progressiveagenda

#Oslorelaxing - After that, I went to a local food market and got some mountain blueberries (not farm!), which were good.  They stained my fingers a nice purple that took a few days to get rid of.  After that, I got tea at the Grand Café where local artists have been exchanging paintings/writings for food for years.  Some of the waiters have made a lot of money off of the deal.  I didn't have any art to exchange, so I paid in cash :)  Then it was on to ice cream and the Oslo Jazz Fest, which happened to be giving a free concert right next to the ice cream place.  I sat indoors and listened while it rained.  Perfect!

 

#shopping - After that, it was shopping for a bit and dinner with some of the other tour members (Thai - I was potatoed out by this point!).  Great day!