{"id":2181,"date":"2013-08-31T12:49:23","date_gmt":"2013-08-31T16:49:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tusentakk2.com\/wordpress\/?p=2181"},"modified":"2013-08-31T12:49:23","modified_gmt":"2013-08-31T16:49:23","slug":"rorvik-to-oslo-august-16-18-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tusentakk2.com\/wordpress\/2013\/08\/rorvik-to-oslo-august-16-18-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"R\u00f8rvik to Oslo — August 16-18, 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Friday, August 16, after meeting briefly with Muriel, et al<\/span>, we left R\u00f8rvik and began our road trip back to Kristiansand. \u00a0We stopped for a snack in Namsos and spent a little time walking the waterfront before continuing. \u00a0When we arrived in Trondheim, we booked a room downtown and went for a walk along the river Nidelva that is near the Nidaros Cathedral, historically an important destination for\u00a0pilgrims\u00a0coming from all of Northern Europe, and\u00a0the northernmost medieval cathedral in the world. \u00a0We were also obviously near the second largest of the Norwegian universities, The\u00a0Norwegian University of Science and Technology, as was initially obvious from the nature of the shops and the pedestrians and soon confirmed by the presence of a massive rock concert across the river from us, and another impressive experience. \u00a0We noticed a group of young folks, obviously University students, milling about on our side of the river. \u00a0When it looked as if they were removing their clothes, Barb walked over to get a closer look. \u00a0Turned out they were indeed shedding clothing, which they were stretching along the span of a riverside courtyard. \u00a0Their task was apparently to create an unbroken band of clothes that stretched the entire length of the yard. \u00a0When they ran out of material before accomplishing that task, they had no alternative but to remove their undershorts and add their naked bodies along the chain. \u00a0We arrived close to the group just as they were re-donning apparel. \u00a0We learned that they were all mathematics majors and that each major at the university has an associated “fraternity”. \u00a0We had stumbled upon the initiation hazing of the new students after their first week of classes. \u00a0The “supervising” upper classmen explained that when the task was completed, the freshmen were required to re-dress with clothes other than their own. \u00a0There were but a few girls present, and when Barb asked why, she was told it was because not many girls major in mathematics. \u00a0Left unexplained was why none of the girls present were participating in the ritual (much to Chuck’s disappointment).<\/p>\n

Next morning, we continued our journey south, choosing a route (Norwegian National Road N63) that would take us through Trollstigen<\/em> (Troll’s Path), a serpentine mountain road that is a popular tourist attraction due to its steep incline of 9% and eleven hairpin bends up a steep mountainside. \u00a0During the top tourist season, about 2,500 vehicles pass daily. \u00a0According to Wikepedia, during the 2012 season 161,421 vehicles drove past.<\/p>\n

Continuing on N63, we crossed a river on a ferry and then drove through more beauty, arriving at Geirangerfjord, described by Wikipedial as some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and named the best travel destination in Scandanavia by Lonely Planet. \u00a0It is the third-biggest cruise ship port in Norway, receiving 140 to 180 ships during the four-month tourist season. \u00a0Only about 250 people live there permanently. \u00a0We stayed that night perched high above the village in a hotel named, appropriately, Utsikten<\/em> (The View). \u00a0We took a short hike and enjoyed dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.<\/p>\n

Next day, we stopped in Hamar for pizza and to visit the Hedmark museum,\u00a0an outdoor museum with the remains of a medieval church — recently enclosed in a protective glass housing! — \u00a0and a collection of old farm houses. \u00a0Construction of the cathedral began in 1152, and was completed about 1200.\u00a0\u00a0The museum is a combined medieval, ethnological and archaeological museum and has received architectural prizes for its approach to conservation and exhibition.<\/p>\n

And then on to Oslo, where I learned with some irritation that Barb had booked a room downtown.\u00a0 Luckily we found easy parking and had a lovely time wandering around downtown enjoying the sights and sounds. \u00a0Notable was the Norwegian parliament building,\u00a0Stortingsbygningen,<\/em> which was undergoing a renovation on one of its wings. \u00a0That entire wing had been shielded by a covering on which was printed a facsimile of the original building. \u00a0One had to look closely to see that the facade was artificial.<\/p>\n

By the way, much of our hotel bookings were done by Barb on her iPad while we were underway, using her international cell plan. \u00a0We also heavily depended on the iPad for help in navigating, almost entirely eschewing paper maps, since they do not say things like “in 500 meters, take the second exit at the roundabout.”<\/p>\n

Next day, August 19, we visited Frognerparken<\/em> in order to see the Vigeland Sculpture Garden before moving on to Kristiansand. \u00a0But this has gotten overlong, so the gentle reader will have to read our next posting in order to learn about our visit and of our further adventures (and mis-adventures).<\/p>\n\n\t\t