Oslo 奥斯陆
June 2: We set off again before dawn, boarding another Emirates flight to bid farewell to Dubai. After a seven-and-a-half-hour journey, we arrived in Oslo, the capital of Norway. Compared to Dubai's airport, the immigration hall in Oslo was small and dim, quite outdated. We quickly reached the city center from the airport via a high-speed train departing every ten minutes. Within twenty minutes, we arrived at our hotel, conveniently located next to the central station.
Upon arriving in Norway, we were immediately struck by the fresh air and clear blue skies adorned with fluffy white clouds. After checking in and leaving our luggage at the hotel, we set off on foot towards Karl Johans gate. Along the way, we detoured to visit a charming Catholic church before continuing our stroll to the Royal Palace.
By sheer coincidence, we witnessed an important individual departing the palace, escorted by a police motorcycle. The Royal Palace's architectural style is simple but elegant, and a few guards stood beside simple sheds throughout the complex. The "Royal Palace Park" (Slottsparken), which surrounds the Royal Palace, has been a popular public park since the early 19th century. It is open year-round for visitors to enjoy its green spaces, sculptures, and serene ambiance. We were delighted to spend an enjoyable afternoon in the park.
Next, we visited the National Theatre, which boasts a history of over 120 years. At that time, a reading performance was taking place inside the theater. We obtained complimentary tickets to listen to the reading from a book, even though we didn't understand the language. It was an excellent opportunity to immerse ourselves in a foreign country's culture and admire the theater's beauty.
For dinner, we treated ourselves to a delightful outdoor dinner at a plaza just outside the City Hall, enjoying a selection of salads, sausages, shrimp, and cheese. This delicious Western meal perfectly suited our taste buds. After dinner, we took a stroll along the seaside to glimpse the beautiful surroundings, saving more detailed exploration for the next day. Oslo is situated close to the 60th parallel north. In June, the city experienced remarkably long daylight hours, with the sun rising as early as 4:07 am and setting at 10:23 pm, as an example today. The sky remained bright throughout the night, adding a unique charm to our experience in this vibrant city.
June 3: Oslo's Opera House is an iconic cultural building in Norway. It resembles a white sandy beach or a ski resort from a distance. In the morning, we took a leisurely walk on the roof, enjoying the panoramic view of Oslo's cityscape and the beautiful bay. We didn't spend too much time there as we wanted to visit the Munch Museum on the other side over a small bridge.
In the Munch Museum, we met with Edvard Munch's iconic masterpiece, "The Scream," one of the most famous and iconic paintings in art history. It is a powerful representation of the human condition and the artist's emotional turmoil. It was a breathtaking experience to stand before this renowned painting. Interestingly, there are four versions of "The Scream." The museum owns three versions: Tempera and oil on cardboard, 1910/ Litograph, 1895/Crayon on cardboard, 1893. To protect these priceless treasures, the museum displayed only one of the three different painting versions at a time for just one hour, and we stayed in the museum long enough to have witnessed two out of three versions during our visit.
It is fascinating to learn about Munch's other impactful works apart from "The Scream." The Monumental Collection Exhibition in the Museum showcases some of Munch's largest paintings ever created in a high-ceiling hall, making for an immersive experience. "The Sun" is one of Munch's most significant achievements in modern mural painting. It serves as a symbol of the power and ingenuity of life, incorporating elements of natural sciences, religion, and the birth of the universe. In contrast, "The Human Mountain: Towards the Light" leaves a haunting impression on our emotions, evoking profound feelings within us. Our museum visits have never yielded such a powerful emotional impact, making these experiences unforgettable.
As we exited the Munch Museum, we were drawn by the lively sounds of music nearby. It was a local marching band event with participants of various age groups. We sat at a nearby restaurant, ordering salmon sandwiches and a salmon Hawaiian poke bowl, and watched the performance. Both items were the most delicious raw and cooked salmon dishes we had ever tasted.
After lunch, we continued our exploration and visited the National Museum, a newly built institution with unique characteristics. The museum houses a substantial collection of artifacts and exhibits worth seeing, including the first version of "The Scream" and different versions of some of Munch's other works. Seeing the first iteration of such an iconic and emotionally charged painting was a remarkable experience that deepened our appreciation for Munch's artistic journey. Edvard Munch is the artist who created many versions of his substantial art masterpieces. The National Museum proved to be an exceptional venue to explore the nation's artistic treasures, and we left feeling enriched by the experience and grateful for the opportunity to witness these masterpieces in person.
Our next destination was Akershus Castle, once a magnificent royal palace for the Norwegian monarchy. Unfortunately, we reached there with only a little over half an hour before closing time, limiting our visit to a brief walk-through. The castle's architecture resembled other historic European castles we had previously seen, so we opted not to linger for an extended period. Nonetheless, the glimpse of its regal past left a lasting impression on our minds.
We then took a bus ride to Vigeland Sculpture Park, which contains 192 sculptures, 650 figures made from bronze, iron, and granite, reflecting the stages of human life from birth to death. The city government had given Gustav Vigeland this land and built a studio for him, and in return, he promised to donate all his works to the government after his death. He devoted more than 20 years to fulfilling this promise, and we all have the opportunity to experience his artwork. It is another emotionally disturbing visit to the art exhibition.
After a day of exploring, we were tired from all the walking, so we decided to rest and recharge at a highly-rated Italian restaurant. The sausages and pizza were indeed delightful, and the service was excellent.
June 4: Today, we took a ferry to the Norwegian Folk Museum across the city center. This museum is the world's oldest open-air museum and houses 160 buildings from various regions of Norway, relocated from different parts of Norway. As it was the weekend, we encountered many locals dressed in traditional costumes, playing musical instruments, and engaging in singing, dancing, and performances – truly a fascinating experience.
We visited two more maritime adventure museums in the afternoon – the Fram Polar Ship Museum and the Kon-Tiki Museum. The bravery and adventurous spirit of those explorers left us in awe.
Having spent two days in Oslo, we went to bed right before sunset each day. Tonight, we decided to have an extra cup of coffee and stay outside to witness the sunset. During the stay in Oslo, we purchased a 48-hour Oslo Pass, which includes museum tickets and serves as a transportation card – a truly worthwhile investment. It allowed us to visit as many museums as possible.
June 5: Today, we were leaving Oslo for Stockholm, Sweden. Before departing, we decided to explore a few more places. Unfortunately, it's Monday, and all the museums are closed. So, we headed to the botanical garden, which was impeccably maintained, and the tranquil atmosphere was only enhanced by the small number of tourists strolling around.
After checking out of the hotel, we left our luggage there and went to see the sculptures by the seaside. To our surprise, the statues were surrounded by young people basking in the sun, adding a touch of vibrant life to the art pieces.
As we walked, a craving for Japanese ramen struck, and we found a Japanese restaurant near the sculpture area. The scenery was fantastic, and the ramen and salmon sashimi taste also satisfied us.
We picked up our luggage from the hotel in the afternoon and eagerly stepped onto the express train destined for Stockholm, Sweden. Despite being called a fast train, sometimes we had to yield to freight trains. Our train carriage wasn't crowded; they even provided complimentary drinks, fruits, and chocolates throughout the journey. We enjoyed the food and the scenic views of the Norwegian and Swedish countryside along the way. After a short nap, we were refreshed and ready to document the memorable experiences of the past few days as we continued on our delightful journey. Time seemed to fly by, and before we knew it, we arrived in another new country, Sweden.
Our hotel in Stockholm is conveniently located next to the central train station. After checking in, we rested early, ready to embrace new adventures in a new country tomorrow.
6/2: 天没亮就出发，再次坐上阿联酋航空，和迪拜说再见。七个半小时后来到挪威首都奥斯陆。与迪拜机场相比，奥斯陆的入境厅又小又暗太落后了。从机场到市中心的高速铁路每十分钟一班，直达车二十分钟后就到了，我们住的酒店就在市中心车站旁边，非常方便。
来到挪威的第一感觉是空气好，蓝天白云。入住酒店放下行李后，就走去卡尔·约翰斯大道，顺便进了天主教堂看了一眼，然后一直走到挪威皇宫。正巧有车从里面出来，而且有警车带路，看来是重要人物。皇家宫殿外面看上去非常简单, 皇家公园是对外开放的。
来到有一百二十多年历史的国家戏院，当时剧场里正在朗读表演。可以拿免费的票进剧场听，虽然听不懂但感受了一下异国文化。
晚餐在市政府楼边上的餐厅，色拉，香肠，虾和奶酪等，西式饮食，非常享受，很合我们胃口。
饭后在海边走走算是先了解一下，明天再仔细游。挪威奥斯陆纬度接近北纬60度，日出是早上4:07; 日落是晚上10:23，而且整晚天都不暗的。
6/3: 奥斯陆歌剧院是挪威最有特色的文化建筑，远处望去像似白色沙滩或者是滑雪场，可以在屋顶上面漫步，饱览奥斯陆的市容和海湾美景。我们没在那里待太久，赶着去了小桥对面的蒙克博物馆。
在博物馆里，看到了爱德华．蒙克的绝作 - “呐喊”，总共有四个版本，馆里展示三个不同的版本，但为了保护这些无价之宝，每小时只显示其中一个版本，我们前后看到了二个版本，他的其它作品也同样扣动心弦。蒙克的许多作品都有几个版本，这也是他的一个特色。
走出蒙克博物馆后，被响亮的音乐声吸引过去，好像是当地行进乐队活动，有各种年龄段的。我们索性就在旁边一家餐厅坐下，要了三文鱼三明治和三文鱼夏威夷盖饭边看边吃，从来没吃到这么好吃的三文鱼，生的和熟的二种三文鱼都味道极佳。
吃完午餐继续逛，去了国家博物馆，是新建的，也有特色。馆内宝贝不少，展品值得一看。在那里，还看到了第一版本的＂呐喊＂，以及蒙克一些其它作品的不同版本。
阿克斯胡斯城堡曾经是挪威王室宫殿，到那里时还有半个多小时就要关门。这城堡与欧州其它的一些旧城堡相似，我们就走马观花转了一圈。
坐车来到维格朗雕塑公园，园内有 192 座雕塑，总计有由铜，铁和花岗石制成的650个人物雕像，反映从生到死的人生全过程。当时市政府给他的土地，为他造工作室，他答应死后把所有的作品捐赠给政府，他为此付出二十多年心血。
一天逛下来路走了不少有点累，必须休息一下补充点能量。选了家评价不错的意大利饭店，香肠和披萨的确不错，服务生态度也特别的好。
6/4: 今天坐渡轮去市中心对面的挪威民俗文化博物馆参观，该博物馆是世界上最早的露天博物馆，收藏了来自全国各地的1 6 0座建筑。正好是周末，有不少当地人身穿民族服装，带着乐器，在那里唱歌跳舞演奏，很有意思。
下午去了另外二个海上探险博物馆 - 弗拉姆极地船博物馆和康提基号博物馆，感叹那些探险者的勇敢和冒险精神。
来奥斯陆二天了，每天都是在日落前倒头就睡。今晚多喝一杯咖啡，硬撑着外出看太阳落山。我们购买了48小时奥斯陆旅游卡，包括博物馆门票，也可以用作交通卡，非常值得。
6/5：今天要离开奥斯陆，走之前又去踩点了几个地方。今天是周一，博物馆都关闭。我们就去了植物园，修整得很好，游客没几个，安静漂亮。
回酒店退房把行李寄存在酒店，然后走去看看在海边的雕塑，没想到在雕塑作品周围躺满享受日光浴的年轻人, 给那些雕塑艺术作品添加不同的色彩。
突然想吃日本拉面，就在雕塑区附近有家日本饭店，不光是风景好，拉面和三文鱼生鱼片的味道也都很满意。
下午二点半上了前往瑞典斯德哥尔摩的快车，七个半小时后达到目的地。说是快车，有时却要让路给货车。我们的车厢里人不多，还提供免费的饮料，水果和巧克力，有吃有喝，一路上还能看到挪威和瑞典乡村风光。时间过得很快，打个盹，抓紧时间把前几天游记记录下来。
斯德哥尔摩的酒店就在市中心火车站旁边。入住后早早休息，新国家新地方，明天继续。
