MacGougan at Large
Notes on A Trip to Norway - 16
Oslo
The final stop of our Norwegian trip is Oslo, the capital and largest city.
Karl Erik and Gro - who joined us in Arendal - graciously host us for a “Taco Tuesday” dinner. (They tell us that the normal Norwegian tradition is to have Taco Friday.)
We’re staying at a hotel in the heart of the city.
On our last night, our traveling group of three sisters and two brothers-in-law wanders on foot. We get as far as the royal palace.
The next day, the others in our group leave early, but Linda and I have a later flight and can spend the morning seeing a few sights.
The Storting Building, home of the Norwegian parliament.
The Nobel Peace Center.
What seemed to me a very odd city hall.
New buildings on the waterfront.
Some with a view of the old Akershus fortress.
Interesting squares.
And a shop with traditional Norwegian dress-up clothing.
Norway combines things that seem to American eyes to be opposites. There’s a strong tradition that everyone should be treated equally, and yet there’s a royal family. Social policy and attitudes are as progressive as you’ll find anywhere in the world, while it remains an explicitly Christian nation, with a state-supported church and a cross on its flag.
How do you embrace tradition and modernity at the same time? The Norwegian way seems to be to focus on the good that exists in both.
These Norwegian segments have been both interesting and enjoyable. I guess it’s kind of a dated reference but it was like going to see a travelogue at the Bushnell with an old friend. Well done.