Last day in Oslo

We awoke to another sunny warm day in Oslo and what started off like a long five days here has now quickly come to an end. And after several days of family togetherness, even though it's been great, we decided that today would be a free day to do whatever we wanted to do. Bob and I went to a few more sights, Chris and Erik rented bikes to tour Oslo and Jon and Michea enjoyed the city sights and did some shopping! 

Bob and I started our morning with an informative visit to the Oslo City Hall. Located on the harbor front and completed in 1950 it is an elegant and richly decorated building. Many of Norway's leading artists have painted impressive murals on the large walls of the main hall and adjoining rooms. The paintings depict various aspects of Norway's history, landscape and virtues. The central hall is also where each December the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded. We gazed on photos of past recipients being awarded this honor. 

We then walked over to the Oslo Cathedral. This is the Lutheran church where the Royal family worships (in their private booth) and where all of the royal weddings and funerals are held. It was beautiful but it was a little disheartening to hear that current worship attendance is minimal in Norway...

After eating a sack lunch in the park while listening to a jazz trio as the sun warmed our shoulders, I decided to spend the afternoon at the National Gallery art museum. As I toured the gallery's rooms, paintings from the leading Norwegian artists brought some of Norway's history and landscapes to life. I enjoyed the work of Norwegian artists like Johan Christian Dahl (many landscape pieces), Christian Krohg (A Sick Girl), Thomas Fearnley, Aldolph Tidemand & Hans Gude (Bridal Voyage), Eilif Peterssen, Harald Sohlberg (Winter Night in the Mountains) and everyone's favorite, Edvard Munch (Scream). Also housed in the museum are several works from Picasso, Monet, and Manet. I loved leisurely walking through the galleries, especially the one dedicated to the expressionist Munch (pronounced "moonk"). 

At 3pm we all reconvened at the hotel where Stein and Linda picked us up and drove us to their home in Jesseim. Jesseim is a clean and quiet community of about 30,000 northeast of Oslo. We were greeted warmly in their lovely home. We were overwhelmed with their hospitality and it was very touching to finally meet Stein's father, Erik, and Linda's fun-loving daughter, Aurora!! We enjoyed a delicious meal of traditional Norwegian fare including a bowl of rommergot! Great food and fellowship with good friends made the evening go by quickly but we were ever so slow to say goodbye. Once Aurora overcame her initial shyness I think she had a memorable time with her now-found "uncles" from the United States! We vowed not to let another 23 years go by before we would see each other again!! 

So, good bye Oslo! We'll miss your modern yet graceful beauty....in this historical yet international city on the bay.... But tonight we pack for our train trip to the coastal city of Bergen to experience another part of Norway!!