Papa meeting Blogfriends and was Driver….

This Weekend Ginnie (In Soul) and Astrid are in Oslo, Norway. A dream have come true: We have met face to face.  At last. It's great to meet Blogfriends.

In fact, we have written about such an event since long. And when we met – well, as Ginnie said: You are even better in real life than on the Internet and visa versa
.
My dear readers who have experienced the same, you do know we are known via our blogs and comments before we meet in blood and flesh. Which means we do not start from zero but are “Family” before we share hugs and look into our eyes and talk about everything that matters for each of us.

Friday afternoon Anna and me went the small 25 km from our winterhome to Renny’s and Diane’s place. The visit and the “Program” was well planned, at least as well and flexible as is needed when visiting Oslo this time of Spring.
 
We stayed overnight and had a first class dinner and lot’s of talking. In fact we talked about everything, but our talks and meanings seems not to rescue the world from unpleasent situations in a short perspective. But as bloggers, we can to a lot;-)
 
Cod as main dish – with Carrots, bacon and Almond Potatoes and of course Sandefiord Butter (a kind of Sauce Hollandaise)
 
We wondered if Ginnie and Astrid would like it. Did they?
 
Saturday breakfast. Anna is there as well;-)

Saturday we had planned to visit the peninsula in Oslo (Bygdöy) where papa grew up and lived for 30 years. We went out, without Anna who had to leave back to our Winter Home, to feed the Cats and all what’s needed to do in a Home. While Papa was the Driver for Ginnie, Astrid, Diane and Renny.
 
First target: The Museums at Bygdöynes (Bygdöy Headland).
We started outside to see the Monuments (Here the Tribute to the Norwegian Merchandise seamen who died for the Allience in the combat against the Nazis)
RennyBA explains the text written in Norwegian for Ginnie. 
From here you normally have a very good view into downtown Oslo and the inner part of the Oslofiord. But not this Saturday: Fog.  Only about 100 meters (110 yards) at the most we could see. But that’s exciting for Photography. Here Astrid in action.
 
First we did visit the Kontiki Museum,
 
…. where you also will find the Papyros Boat Ra 2,
 
…. remedies from Napa Rui (Easter Island)  like these
 
… found in a cave besides the Kontiki raft.  And even from excavations in Peru.
 
A very special museum you would not believe to find in Norway.

But just 10-15 seconds walking distance away, it’s a museum you might expect to find in Oslo, Norway:

The Polar Ship Fram Museum

Why is this so special? Why should you visit?
First of all: The first Ship ever to go to both the Antartica and the Artic. Here you will learn, with excellent documentations, Photos and facts about the first expeditions to the globes extremeties around the North and South Pole. And the Northern Islands of Canada and Russia.
 
You can board the Ship and see how they lived and how they entertained during years out in Polar environments more than 100 years ago. The Fram was special constructed for Polar expedition. Papa thinks it’s a blast and surprise of a Museum.
 
PS. You do not meet Polar Climate inside the Museum. Just opposite. Just ask Ginnie;-)
 
Well, after these two exciting Museums plus outdoor exhibitions, we went to the Car, and papa, the driver turned the key to start his car. Dead. Dead and dead. Not a sound.
 
Papa felt like a silly Duck – the two of them even asked papa for food. He needed help to start his Car. Not hungry Ducks;-)
In vain. So papa’s blogger friends had to take the bus to the next museum. So keep on looking for the reports from Papas blog-friends. You’ll find their url’s at top of this post.


…. while papa waited for assitance to start his car (That took about 1 hour),  some Photos were taken while waiting. The Fog slowly went allmost away.
 
And papa even could see the King.  Ja, that’s the name of this building.
The message  from Sserviceman was clear: "You need a new Starter".
Papa will fixe as soon as the servicestations opens next week.

Well, papa, the Driver, missed the tour at the Outdoor Cultural Museum  and headed right home. Even the Dinner was spoiled.

Papa has visited this Museum since very young several times. We boys knew how to enter without paying. And besides: Only 2 minutes away. LOL.

But, papa will meet his blog friends again in Oslo on Sunday. But then he will go by Train;-)

OsloBG – From Downtown to Marine History

Friday, August 20 – part  2 - Afternoon
In my last post the last Photo was a Cruise Ship anno 20XX.
This time we will cruise 1200 years back in Maritime History. Even discover some of the most adventures persons in humans history.

You’ll find it all at Bygdöy, the penninsula in Oslo where I grew up from the 1940’ies. To visit you have 4 options of Public Transport, unless using your own legs or swim: Public Bike, Bus, Boat or Taxi.


Ferry from Oslo City Hall
 
We preferred the Boat – free ride with The Oslo Pass  from just outside The City Hall (The Bus as well #30 from outside The National Theater – Yearly Ibsen Theater Festival).
 
And the Ferry departs from just outside the Nobel Piece Center, in the background.
 
Look here, a traditional Norwegian wooden “Motorboat” and a new cruise ship  - both heading for Oslo. Popular destination
 
We relaxed on the Ferry after some hours visiting Akershus Fortress and Castle  - Sunshine – Hooray.

The strongest ship in the World: Fram
 
First stop was the Fram. The Polar Ship that brought Roald Amundsen to Antartica and the first ever visit to The South Pole.
And also so far has been to surface ship that has been closest to the North Pole. Crazy Norwegians? Why? I you want to know, read this about the strongest ship in world

Claudie inside Fram – in the Saloon

Cabin inside Fram. Very small to stay for years.

Thor Heyerdal’s adventures and Scientific Expeditions
 
The second Museum, 20 seconds away: The Kon-Tiki
 
and Ra II.
It is even as well copies from Heyedahl expedition to the Easter Islands in this world famous museum.
Surprised there is a Museum and an Institute for Pacific studies here in Oslo? Well, Vikings are known for travelling at the Oceans.

Viking Ships ahead
 
Then we had a 12 minutes or so walk to the Viking Ships.

 
Look at the Wood Carvings made nearly 1200  years ago. From a sledge and a Wagon.
 
After the Viking Ship Museum, which is very close to my childhood home, well, we went “my old Road” …

Walking to Paradise Bay

… passing the open air museum with an impressive collection of Norwegian Houses and Culture from about 1120 uptil the 20th century. Think about it – so many Museums covering 12oo years of Norse history – within walking distance. Even the Pleasure Castle Oscars Hall and the Holocaust Center
 
… and even to Paradise Bay, where I learned to Swim about 60 years ago. Claudie are checking the Water Temperature

… and Pierre was exited by the fresh air
 
Nearby is the memorial for all that dead during the Sunami in The Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004.
 
Here I used to play as a kid – in the 1950’ies. Our Summer House is in the remote Hills…

Then: We walked for about 25 minutes to meet and have dinner with other  wonderful OsloBG participants….
You will find their experiences here

That will be another story, in my words and photos, so stay tuned……

Boats on Mondays - September 10 - 2007

This Monday I will invite you to visit the Strongest Ship in the World. Besides, no other ships have advanced further North nor South than "Fram". You can see it in Oslo. And read more about it here and see more photos. You will have an insight in the exploring of both Antartica and the Artics. Above is a model of Fram, outside the Museum, where you can see the original Fram, in full seize - you can even walk aboard and see all the equipment and how they lived. Fram's construction was genious in the sense it could not be screwed down by the polar ice, instead lifted above - hence they could handle the ice and winters during the ships many expeditions - which other vessels was not designed for.

More boats: RennyBA and Mar and Mrs Lifecruiser