Another 2-blog day, which either means a good sight-seeing day or I’m a poor photo editor or maybe both. This is the 1st blog, and if you’re so inclined, today’s second blog is Fram Here to the Poles.
Bob and I had planned an indoor/outdoor day on what turned out to be a gorgeous 62 degree F day. We started with the outdoor activity and headed for Vigeland Park, about 1.5 mile walk from our hotel through some lovely commercial and residential areas. I took a few photos of buildings or sculptures that caught my eye on our walk to the park.
Impressive rock and building (what you can see of it)A Norwegian athlete almost anyone (at least of a certain age) has heard of
Vigeland Park is a sculpture park that contains Gustav Vigeland’s life work, comprising 200 sculptures in granite, bronze, and wrought iron. The pieces, all human forms in various formations, represent 40+ years of work and were installed in the park during the 1940s. The park is a gorgeous large and well-landscaped green space that make an amazing setting for his fountain, bridge sculptures, monolith, and the wheel of life.
Gate at the entrance of the parkLooking across the lawn towards the bridge, then the fountain, and then the monolith.A statue of the prolific sculptor at the entrance of the parkSome of the 58 bronze statues on the bridge The beautiful pond in the park which the bridge spans Another bridge sculpture A view of the fountain and The Monolith areas from the end of the bridgeThe fountain and surrounding statuesA closer look at the statues on one corner of the plaza surrounding the fountain One of the wrought iron gates leading to The Monolith The Monolith, carved out of one stone block, stands at the top of the park. It contains 121 human figures.Looking passed The Monolith to The Wheel of LifeLooking back down towards the front gate from up by The MonolithLooking back towards the sculpture bridge on the way out of the park
From the rear of City Hall, we crossed the street to peruse the harbor via Rick Steve’s book, which we could tell others were using as well or at least being sent to the same locations. The harbor front has apparently undergone a transformation and is a lovely entrance to the Oslo Fjord, with its 40 city-owned islands.
A fountain across from City Hall in front of the harbor. The hanging bell only sounds when someone steps on a pedal in the plaza below.Boats in the harbor. Many of the ferry and tour boats are electric and very quiet.There are 14 of these orange boxes along the harbor front, which have fun illustrations (perRick Steve) of what the spot looked like in 1964 before the revitalization.This was the illustration on Box 6.
The next few photos are residences, restaurants , and museums of the Aker Brugge and Tjuvholmen development, which kicked off the transformation of the harbor front.
A shrimper selling fresh caught shrimp from his boatLooking across the harbor to the Aker Brugge and Tjuvholmen developmentEmpty chairs as part of a memorial in front of an old fortress to protect the city. The chairs represent the 773 Jews taken by Nazis from Norway to concentration camps.Vippa, an old warehouse transformed into a food court, but not open today.Oslo’s amazing opera house, with the Munch Museum and Ferris wheel on the rightThe Deichman Public Library “The Mother” statue in front of the Munch Museum. The sculptor Tracey Emin created the sculpture for Munch, who lost his mother at age 5.
Today we officially began our visit to Oslo, the capital of Norway and its busiest seaport. The city of Oslo has a population of approximately 710,000, with the greater urban area at just over 1 million people.
Bob had purchased a very informative Rick Steve’s travel book on Norway, and we used that today to follow his suggested walking route (covered here) as well as his harbor walk (covered in the next blog). It gave us a great introduction to at least part of Oslo and got our legs moving again with an 8-mile walk after all of our sitting during the last couple of days.
The tour began back at the central train station that we arrived at yesterday and worked its way to the harbor via Karl Johans Gate, which runs from the old train station to the Royal Palace (currently closed). It is named for the Swedish king who ruled during the period when Sweden took Norway away from Denmark.
The Ruter Tower outside Oslo Central Station which marks the public transit officeThe iconic tiger statue with the modern train station and attached mall in the background. It alludes to Oslo’s one-time nickname of Tiger Town given by those living in rural areas of the country.The former Central Train Station, immediately adjacent to the current one.The shiny Radison Blu Hotel across from the train stationOslo Cathedral (3rd version), a Lutheran church and home to all royal marriages, funerals, etc.The 1,000year old cornerstone from the original cathedral showing how forces of good and evil tug at each of usFreia is Norway’s chocolatier, although sadly now owned by the US company MondelezGrand Hotel, where the Nobel winners stayPublic restrooms in the colors of the US, France, and Norwegian flags, as Norway was inspired by the US constitution and the French Revolution while winning their freedom in 1905Norway’s National Theater with statues of Henrik Ibsen (“A Doll’s House”) and Bjornstjerne Bjornson, Norway’s first Nobel Laureate (won for poetry)Oslo’s City Hall, the site of the Nobel Peace Prize presentation every December 10thThere are carved wooden pictures along the outside walls of the courtyard in front of City Hall depicting various scenes of Norwegian mythology. Bob found one with 2 big heads.The big hall inside City Hall where the Nobel ceremony is heldEach wall in the front and back rooms contains a muralThe backside of City Hall, which faces the harborThe Nobel Peace Center, which celebrates the work of Nobel Peace Prize winners
Bob and I have landed in the land of my mother’s father’s relatives, who came over to the US as Christiansen but ended up as Runaas when there were too many Christiansens in their small community in Wisconsin so they chose a name of a fjord near where they had lived in Norway. Or so the story goes. My best associations with Norway are the holiday foods I had growing up — lefse (like a potato tortilla or pita) and lots of butter-based Christmas cookies.
To get to Oslo, we flew Delta/Air France from Jacksonville, Florida, to New York JFK to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle and then into Oslo. Each flight was late, except for Paris, but we still ended up arriving on time or a little early.
The biggest excitement (except for my actually sleeping on the flight to Paris) was seeing a 20ish year old man standing in front of us to board the Paris bound flight get handcuffed and taken away. Still don’t know what that was about.
Bob got us Premium Economy seats for the long flight from New York to Paris, which allowed for more seat room and a foot rest. Very helpful and was also very impressed with their customer service and meals.
After arriving in Oslo, we caught the convenient Flytoget train into Oslo Central (about a 25 minute ride) and then walked another 10 minutes to our hotel.
A (very) few pics from the trip.
On the train into OsloBob’s first big head photo of the trip — near the hotel lounge
Bob and I flew into Jacksonville, Florida, on Friday afternoon for a weekend with family in St. Augustine, Florida, culminating with our nephew’s wedding on Sunday night. We stayed at an Airbnb close to the historic district, which allowed us to walk to sites and nearby restaurants and also relax at the house.
It was a great weekend! Some photos below of the weekend.
Group meal at the Fish Camp restaurant near our AirbnbGroup photo in front of the AirbnbAll dressed up and headed to the wedding Nathan, the groom, and proud dad, Bob’s brother EricThe vineyard at Ever After Farms where the wedding and reception were heldEric and BobWaiting for the wedding to startNathan escorting his mom up the aisle The bridal party awaiting the bride’s entranceSaying their vowsParty time! Me and Bob’s sister CherylEric, brother-in-law Jody, nephew Zack, Bob and brother-in-law JohnThe reception hallThe dance floor
Bob and I have been having a great visit with my mom in my home town of Janesville, Wisconsin. As we have in the past, we are staying at the TownPlace Suites Hotel by Marriott. For unknown reasons, we’re in a handicapped suite with a kitchen/living area separate from the large bathroom and bedroom. The hotel has some state and local information posted in the lobby.
We took my mom out for dinner last night as a combination late Easter/early Mother’s Day dinner, and today we drove to the small town of Brodhead for some amazing grilled cheese sandwiches at an award winning dairy. The weather was nice enough to sit outside and enjoy the rural views.
One of many Wisconsin dairies The Decatur DairyThe small inside seating areaWood cheese art
From the dairy we drove about 15 minutes to my uncle’s house in Albany, another small town, and had a good visit with my aunt, who has just moved back to Wisconsin from California, her daughter, and my aunt and uncle who live in Albany.
Tomorrow we’ll park our car at the regional bus station and take the bus to Chicago, where we’ll stay at another Marriott hotel before flying to Florida on Friday for Bob’s nephew’s wedding on Sunday.
Bob and I are spending the night in Davenport, Iowa, after leaving Des Moines about midday after a follow-up exam for Bob’s eye surgery. The appointment went okay, and he’ll have another exam in July, when he’ll also be able to get a new prescription for glasses.
We then drove about 2.5 hours to Davenport, Iowa, one of four cities that are known collectively as the Quad cities — Davenport, Iowa, Bettendorf, Iowa, Rock Island, Illinois, and Moline, Illinois. The Iowa and Illinois cities are divided by the Mississippi River in the only part of the River where it flows east to west. The region has a population of about 500,000.
We are staying in The Current Hotel, which is a Marriott brand hotel and got upgraded to a suite with separate living and sleeping areas. It is located close to the riverfront with a great walking/running/biking path.
It also has some fun art.
A sculpture behind the check in desk showing where the hotel is in Davenport.Some fun sculptures by the fitness centerA nice welcome for those crossing into Iowa from Illinois or beyondLove me, love me not
We had time to do a little walkabout of downtown Davenport. The downtown area gives the appearance of a city struggling to find its footing or maybe in transition. There is some residential housing along with businesses and evidence of construction/improvements to the riverfront, but the area itself seems worn with a number of homeless individuals. Everyone we’ve spoken to has been really friendly and helpful. We hope good things for in store for the area.
A mural on a music venue building The Dillon Fountain near the riverfront at the end of Main Street, which memorializes John Forrest Dillon, a Davenport attorney who served on the Iowa Supreme Court and the United States Circuit Court.The Figge Art Museum, closed on MondaysFun art sculpture in front of the former Union Station, now Visitors CenterBob posing in the Iowa portion of the Iowa/Illinois exhibit in the Visitors CenterStickers and postcards on sale promoting the Quad Cities. I really like the one comparing the Quad Cities to the Twin Cities and the one about the vowel percentage in Iowa.One of many bridges across the Mississippi A sky “bridge” that actually goes just to the River to provide a higher level view of the River and Rock Island, IL. We didn’t go up.The Davenport Bank and Trust building, which houses commercial and residential space and is the tallest building in the Quad Cities.
After our walkabout, we used our $10 food and drink voucher to get a drink in the Skybar in the hotel and check out the views.
Bob and I were thrilled to have our first Easter Sunday with family in years. Bob’s sister Cheryl and her husband had us over for lunch, where we enjoyed great company and a delicious meal. Bob insisted on making a dish, so we could contribute a bit. It was a great afternoon!
Bob’s zucchini (courgette for our UK friends) and asparagus tartA semi-successful selfie, but at least the glare is on the least photogenic of the groupThe yummy lemon pie that Cheryl made
We left our housesit on Thursday after a few more days with the sweet Ollie and Baxter.
Enjoying a lovely spring day
Since we left our last housesit, we have had our housesit in Scotland cancelled due to visa issues with the homeowners. We have applied for some replacement sits in the UK for similar dates and hope to have a new sit confirmed tomorrow in England.
Tomorrow we also have Bob’s final follow-up appointment for his eye surgery and then head towards Wisconsin, where we’ll see my mom and leave our car for two months while we’re in Florida for a wedding and then Europe and the UK. The year is moving fast!
No medical updates today. It was a pretty Saturday before what promises to be a rainy Easter Sunday, so we had to head outside. While the dogs get out during the day into the backyard, we’ve been taking them on walks as well around the neighborhood. Ollie isn’t that thrilled about the walks, but Baxter loves them.
Ollie and Baxter finding a smellA lovely house across the street with some beautiful natural and a metal flowers.
After we took the dogs out, Bob and I headed down the busy 128th Street to hit the Clive Greenbelt Trail, which runs along an old railroad line. Our initial walking plan was thwarted by a trail closure; so we switched directions and got some lovely views of the nearby Country Club neighborhood and Clive Lake (for use by Country Club residents only)
We saw a bit of art on our walk. This is “Radiance” by Peter Marasco at the entrance to a neighborhood on the east side of 128th St.Metal “flowers” under a real treeSign for the Clive Greenbelt Trail where we joined up with it. It connects to other trails, including the Jordan Creek Trail.We began our walk going east of 128th St., but only got as far as the Campbell Recreation Area before having to turn around.Sign and mileage for different trails or landmarks once we crossed under 128th to head southwest towards Clive Lake.A lovely house and blooming trees just off the trail in the Country Club neighborhood A bridge to another trailAn asphalt (not the usual concrete) trail! An expansive lawn and lovely large homes across from Clive LakeMore art but no signage about artistA boat sculpture near Clive Lake
It’s been a busy couple of days here with a medical procedure for Bob, a follow-up appointment, and another dog to care for for a few days.
Yesterday morning, Bob had outpatient vitreoretinal surgery in his left eye that is supposed to remove scar tissue from prior procedures and hopefully improve some issues he’s had with vision in that eye. He came out looking a bit pirate-ish.
Today we had a follow-up appointment where they seemed to indicate that all went well. The recovery process includes 4x daily of two eyedrops and no sleeping on his back for the next week or so.
Bob’s eye today.
Also today we took temporary possession of Baxter, the dog of our homeowner’s son, who is joining the family in Phoenix for his sister’s wedding. Baxter is cutie, and he and Ollie cohabitate well except during feeding time, when we need to keep them separated.
Baxter in his chill cross-legged poseOllie being a lap dogThe adorable BaxterOllie and Baxter after a walk
Peckish Travels 