On a frigid Oslo morning we set off to explore the Fram Polar Museum, named for the first boat involved in successful polar expeditions to both poles, manned by Norwegians (naturally) and shown, above. We hope the lighting effects on the walls aren’t the closest we get to seeing the Northern Lights, although we keep being told there are no guarantees. Ra (the Egyptian Sun God) must cooperate, as well as the weather.
Next door, at the Kon Tiki museum, the exploits of Thor Heyerdahl are brought back to life. As you can see, the Kon Tiki was not a large boat. In fact, it was a raft made of lashed-together balsa logs he sailed from Peru to Polynesia in 1947 to make a point – that ancient peoples could have done the same thing. Objectively speaking, Heyerdahl was a little nuts. He was afraid of the water, could barely swim, was not a sailor and had no idea how to handle the raft. Fortunately, he recruited some capable crew, although no one had any idea how to handle the raft.
Not satisfied with life back on land, Heyerdahl decided to test the notion that ancient people could have travelled from Africa across the Atlantic. His first attempt failed, but the Ra II did make it from Morroco to Barbados after being lost at sea and the subject of a UN search and rescue mission.
Down the road at the open-air Folk Museum, a very well-preserved Stave Church is the highlight of a visit. Built around 1200, it is one of only 28 remaining such churches in Norway. They are called “stave” churches after the staves or posts that support the roof.
The museum boasts 160 buildings from all over Norway, providing a hint of what life has been like over the past 500 years.
And, interiors to match, all the way into the 20th century.
The big surprise of the day was the interior of the City Hall we failed to love from the outside. The grand hall on the ground floor is where the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is held.
Upstairs, the rooms are equally dazzling.
And provide a wonderful view of the fjord.