• Oslo Opera House, Snøhetta Architects, 2008

• The Opera House is part of a larger urban redevelopment plan to transform a once derelict industrial area into a mixed residential, commercial, and arts center.

• The Opera House is located on the water on the east side of the Oslofjord.

• A view of the Opera House from the pedestrian overpass that links it to the Oslo Train Station.

• It is the home of The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the national opera theatre in Norway.

• Opera House

• Havnelageret (also known as Oslo Havnelager), Bredo Henrik Berntsen, Architect, 1916-20. The building is currently being renovated.

• Oslo Opera House interior

• Opera House Café

• Window detail

• Looking from the interior to the exterior

• Looking from the interior to the exterior

• Coat racks

• Coat racks

• A view from the Opera House into the harbor

• 'She Lies', Monica Bonvicini, Sculptor, 2010

• The Oslo Central Train Station

• The statue of the tiger commemorates the 1000th birthday of Oslo's founding celebrated in the year 2000. The statue alludes to the town's nickname of Tigerstaden.

• This brick building was an old market that now houses numerous shops and restaurants.

• Old Market arcade

• A restaurant in the Old Market

• Oslo Cathedral, 1697, is where Norway celebrates and mourns its royal marriages and deaths.

• Oslo Cathedral main door

• This 1000 year old carving from Oslo's first cathedral shows the forces of good and evil tugging on a man.

• Oslo Cathedral from the Stortorvet, a lively flower and produce market. The statue shows Christian IV, who ruled Norway around 1600.

• Stortorvet flower market

• Flowers at the market

• Kathryn made a new friend

• Karl Johans Gate is the main boulevard between the train station and the Royal Palace.

• The Stortinget is Norway's Parliament building.

• The Stortinget

• The flying flag indicates that Parliament is in session.

• The Grand Hotel where Nobel Peace Prize winners sleep.

• Lilacs were abundant throughout Norway.

• Continuing down Karl Johans Gate toward the Royal Palace

• Freia is reputed to produce Norway's finest chocolate. We were compelled to stop in for a sample.

• The National Theater, with statues of Norway's favorite playwrights, Ibsen and Bjørnson

• Rådhuset, Oslo City Hall, 1930-1950, is replete with contributions from Norway's leading artists of the 1930s to the 1950s.

• Oslo City Hall is located on the west harbor of the Oslofjord. This popular harborside walk connects City Hall with Aker Brygge Mall.

• A view of Oslo City Hall from the harbor side

• Much of the art at the Oslo City Hall celebrates the nobility of the working class.

• The main entrance to Oslo City Hall is located on the side opposite the harbor.

• Oslo City Hall main entrance

• Swan fountain in front of City Hall

• A woodcut of Thor with his billy-goat chariot. This is one of numerous woodcuts encircling the entrance courtyard of the City Hall, each showing a scene from Norwegian mythology.

• A woodcut of Odin on Sleipner, his eight-legged stallion.

• This grand central hall in the Oslo City Hall is generously ornamented with art.

• This great hall is the scene of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony every December 10th.

• A view of the Oslofjord harbor from Oslo City Hall

• Council Chambers at Oslo City Hall

• Council Chambers at Oslo City Hall

• Council Chambers at Oslo City Hall

• Custom draperies

• Custom chair upholstery

• A quilt commemorating the 1000 year anniversary of the founding of Oslo in the year 2000

• Barack and Michelle Obama at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in 2009 in Oslo City Hall

• City Hall architect Magnus Poulsson

• City Hall architect Arnstein Arneberg

• Norwegian Royal Palace

• The 'Munch at 150' exhibit opened the day after we left Oslo :-(

• The National Gallery, the site of the Munch exhibition, was undergoing a major renovation.

• Red pants seemed to be very popular.

• Akershus Fortress Complex sits on the hillside above Oslofjord

• Franklin Delano Roosevelt holds a special place in the hearts of Norwegians for providing asylum in the United States for the Royal Family during WWII.

• FDR's view of the harbor

• Akershus Castle

• The changing of the guard at Akershus Castle. The Fortress is still a military base.

• Our ferry approaches Bygdøy, a suburb of Oslo on a peninsula across the harbor from downtown Oslo

• Approaching Bygdøy

• Viking Ship Museum in Bygdøy

• The museum contains three well-preserved Viking ships

• Osberg Ship, A.D. 834, a Royal pleasure craft designed for sailing on calm inland waters during festivals and not for use in the open ocean

• Osberg Ship detail

• Reconstruction of the serpent's head at the stern of the Osberg Ship. The sign said 'Please touch'.

• Excavation of the remains of the Osberg Ship

• Gokstad Ship. A.D. 950, a working boat that sailed the high seas

• Tune Ship

• The Norwegian Folk Museum at Bygdøy

• The Folk Museum is an open-air park with traditional buildings from all over Norway

• Christiania is the historic name for Oslo.

• School House, 1866-67

• School House interior

• The School House in the previous two photos was located at 196 on this map. It was in service until the 1960s.

• The Gol Stave Church, built in 1212 in Hallingdal

• Stave Church interior

• Stave Church interior

• Stave Church detail

• Typical farm buildings

• Farm field and building

• Farm buildings

• Roof detail

• Roof and building detail

• Farm building

• Urban buildings

• Toy museum detail with aebelskiver pan

• Leaving Bygdøy by ferry from Dronningen Pier

• The ferry back to Oslo

• Astrup Fearnley Museum, Renzo Piano, Architect, 2012. A view from the ferry.

• Astrup Fearnley Museum, Renzo Piano, Architect, 2012. A view from the ferry.

• The two buildings of the Astrup Fearnley Museum framing the Oslo City Hall

• The two buildings of the Astrup Fearnley Museum framing the Oslo City Hall

• Astrup Fearnley Museum

• Astrup Fearnley Museum

• Astrup Fearnley Museum

• Astrup Fearnley Museum

• Astrup Fearnley Museum

• This sculpture is sticking straight out from a wall of the Astrup Fearnley Museum.

• A canal in Aker Brygge, an upscale mixed use area developed on an old industrial site.

• Farewell to Oslo

• This beer was the best one Doug tasted on the trip.

• This India Pale Ale was made using hops from the 'American Pacific Coast'.