Oslo, NORWAY

[ Photo Gallery # 83 }

OSLO, the capital of Norway, is a beautiful city.  I published a previous blog – ‘Oslo Statuary’  (q.v.) in November of 2016 in which I sang the praises of this fine city and displayed photographs of a few of the many statues dotted around the harbour and the city centre.

I am including below more photographs taken in and around the city during my visit there in 2004.

My first photograph, to set the Scandinavian theme, is of a troll, well possibly a gnome – not sure I can tell the difference. Trolls can be found everywhere and anywhere in Norway.  They are deeply woven into Norwegian culture, and, when in Oslo,  you don’t have to go far to find them.  They can be found in great numbers in every tourist shop – miniatures, books, calendars, t-shirts and other fabric designs dedicated to these fantasy beings.   It is apparent that Trolls come in all shapes and sizes; immense mountain trolls; moss covered forest trolls; terrifying three headed trolls and mischievous, gnome-like trolls.  Many shops have a troll statue standing by the entrance and are regularly incorporated in selfies.

 

A shop-front Troll ready for a skiing session

The sea approach to Oslo is by way of  the Inner Oslo Fjord

Akerhus Fortress or Castle stands beside the main harbour.  It is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo from invasion. It has also been used as a royal residential palace and as a prison.

Looking from the Korketrekkeren towards the sea approach to Oslo along the Inner Oslo Fjord

This is ski jumping hill Holmenkollen.  Close by is the Korketrekkeren, a former bobsleigh and luge track in Oslo.  It is operated as a public venue by the municipality.  It is possible to rent out sleds and try your hand at the skislopes, just a short distance outside the city .

I certainly wouldn’t dare!

. . . although he obviously would – and did!

King Olaf V of Norway, 1957-1991, and his dog Troll. This monument is placed near ski jumping hill at Holmenkollen.  The monument is called “Skiglede” or “Love Skiing”

Street artists plying their trade in the city centre

Street puppeteer (Reminds me of the one at Whitby I included in my photographs a few weeks ago).

One of Oslo’s many city centre living statue performers

Not another living statue this time – just one of the many harbour-side statues. 

Another of the many harbour-side statues – this one, somewhat like Atlas, balances a cruise ship on what remains of its head.

OSLO Statuary

OSLO, Capital of Norway, is a beautiful city. made even more so, in my opinion, by the multitude of statues/sculptures which can be seen dotted around the city.  There is almost no point within the central part of the city from which it is not possible to see a sculpture.

Whether or not these are artistically worthy, is not, for me, the issue.  Rather it is just the sheer joy of coming across a new image, all of which, whatever their artistic merits, make you think, invite you to view them from every angle, and most are certainly memorable.

The photograph immediately below is not, in fact one of these, but an Oslo still life human reconstruction of a static figure, as can be seen these days in many towns and cities across the world.

 I have included my photographs of just a few of Oslo’s genuine sculptures in the gallery below, which I invite visitors to my blog to view.  The photographs were all taken by me during a visit to Oslo in 2004  . . .