Trip Day 4 Part 1

Friday - another full day.

Breakfast time. Did you want to see just a bit of the breakfast buffet?

The arrow above points to the "brown cheese", a Norwegian specialty. Of course I had to try it. I could not believe that it was goat cheese. No goat cheese taste at all. It was really more sweet and very creamy. Nice.

At 8:30 we are supposed to be in the lounge ready to go because we have a walking tour with the local guide from yesterday. Rolf was great yesterday and he was today too. 

We all took the tram up to the upper Oslo (I think we got out at Biermanns gate) and walked towards the river for a walk along the Akerselva. Rolf told us a lot about this district which imployed lots of pourly paid girls and wifes whose husband had gone to America to make a living. He pointed out a house of the owner of the manufacturing place who even had a tunnel dug from one place to the other so he didn't have to walk on the street to meet his workers.

First he pointed out this statue of Oskar Braaten, a novelist and playwright.

That was right next to the first bridge we walked over. Wikipidea says that the Akerselva River is 5.1 miles long and has over 50 bridges and more than 20 waterfalls.

This statue is called "Fabrikkjentene" and dedicated to all those working girls and women who had a hard life. Oskar Braaten had written a novel about "fabrikkjentene".

This is a photo from that bridge. We were told that because of that storm a couple of days before, the water in this river was high and running very fast but we could not believe our eyes.

I would not like to fall into this. OMG.

This moment was so cute. I could not resist. Marc is taking a photo of his mother Betty. We enjoy getting to know them.

Aamodt Bro is a suspension bridge. It was originarily built to go over a different river but was diswmantled and moved piece by piece to a new site on the Aker River in 1952. The bridge is only used as a bicycle and pedestrian bridge. There is a sign on each end of it "100 men I can bear, but I will fail during my rhythmic march." It happened that a sister bridge broke when a marching band marched in stepped over it". We were warned not to do that. Could could feel that the bridge was swinging though. 

Right after was this playground with figures carved out of tree stumps. So cute.

And manhole covers dedicated to an Oslo saint. Rolf told us the story of Saint Hallvard.

So much to see. So many stories. At this waterfall the incoming salmon can't get over the waterfall to continue up the river. A way was constructed to help them along.

Right after that we go over a bridge to what used to be the "Smelteverket". Now that building is a foodcourt, a very nice place indeed. We get 20 minutes to get refreshments or go to the restroom. 

Wondering around I see a drink labeled "Rubarbra". Rhubarb? OMG, I have to try it. The stand is not open yet but the nice young man sells a cold one to me anyway. James and I share. I could get used to that even though I don't care for sodas. Fun to try knew things. 

I talk with Betty who also loves rhubarb and she promises her rhubarb cake recipe.

We leave the river and walk to a historic part of town. All these wooden houses are protected and need to be cared for by their owners to keep them in their original state. It was quite steep uphill but very interesting.

Eventually we came to the Government area which is still under construction after the bombing and massacre on 22. July 2011 of a total of 77 people. This is a memorial place with all the names of the dead on it. Glass of the broken windows of the Government buildings is scattered around this tree.

We walk further to a building which houses an exhibit totally dedicated to this horrible event and the impact it had and how it changed Norway. James and I found it too troublesome but attended for a while, learned something and were glad we did. But we could not stay long.

The walked back to the hotel which was not far and we found it easily.

We refreshed in the room. No news about James' suitcase.  After a while, it was already after 1 pm, we decided that we needed a little snack. We were not hungry enough for lunch. We remembered the bakery we had walked passed several times already just around 2 corners. 

It is self-serving. You take one of the tongs and a bag and select.

Everything is paid with a card. Cash is very seldom used. We took our two bags and walked back to the hotel. I had seen the little park with benches across the street from our room window. It was a lovely sunny day and we enjoyed it very much.

We even had this view at the little garden with the fountain and the imposing museum building on the right.

Back to the room and get ready to meet our guide at 2 pm for the extra (not in the itinerary) outing.