One last breakfast and a wistful farewell to the crew and restaurant staff was the order of the morning. As we were finishing breakfast and the ship pulled alongside the quay in Oslo in the dim morning light (8am, sun comes up a bit after 9am) we were amazed to see ice in the water!!!! A quick check online revealed that the temperature outside was minus 12C. Yikes! Got a picture with Ove (see life on MS Trollfjord if interested) and headed off to the waiting trip a deal bus at the quay, first collecting our bags from the tent set up there.

A short bus ride into centre of Oslo to the Radisson Blu hotel. Unsurprisingly, it was not possible to check in at 9am, but we were able to leave bags securely for the day. The reality of having to plan and execute where to go, how to get around was a good reminder of how spoiled we've been since leaving home. We spent some time getting our bearings and deciding what we'd like to check out.

The ruter app was downloaded at a 24 hour city pass for public transport was purchased and we set off to find the train station. It was cold...hard cold. We managed to get on the train and go the required stops to near the Vigeland sculpture park, Oslo museum and Vigelan museum is. It was fun to see many people travelling on the train with skis in hand...as casually as you might see someone with a skateboard on a Sydney train. A short walk to the park and we went to see what it held.

The extra glass of juice prior to disembarking caught up with me, but I decided that at 20NOK (3 bucks) I could hold on. The park was amazing, The geometric paths were lined with sculptures of people (see photos) in all sorts of real life poses (but nude) depicting interactions between people, children and solitude. Really interesting and surprising to learn later that Vigeland is NOT a modern sculpturist but was born in the 1860s. The culminating 17m high monolith was really striking and the photos will show you just how intricate and impressive he was.

As we were deciding where to venture next, the wind whipped up and the snow on the ground took on a more fearsome impression. Something like a sand storm but really, really cold. Clothes held up well but a bit disconcerting. We made our way back to the train station and decided to head back towards the hotel, hoping to visit the cathedral before possibly checking in. My full bladder caught up with me, so we decided to go straight to the hotel (for a free widdle). Yay, for us, we were actually able to check in...to the 23rd floor! The view from the window...very nice.

So, after freshening up, we headed for the Opera House in the afternoon sun, via the train station where we are still not 100% sure of where our bus will leave from tomorrow. A pretty building and then we went again on foot towards the cathedral. Our exploring revealed Oslo to be a city quite different to the other Norway we've seen. There is more evidence of disquiet, homelessness and substance abuse...an unsettling place actually. So, we headed back to the relative security of the hotel and actually had a short swim in the hotel pool on level 33. A quite afternoon followed by a simple tea and purchase of some supplies for the bus tomorrow and I think we will sleep well tomorrow. With a forecast of minus 14 in the morning with a top of minus 12 by the time our bus leaves, our clothing will again be tested.

As we come to the end of our Norway leg, it is a bit sad but also we are excited to see Michael and Gro for the next few days and to venture into the next country, Denmark, to see what it holds for us (I would not really recommend Oslo to be honest...grimy streets and a reminder why in general I prefer smaller places, even though at times the distance from convenience and assistance can be lonely...finding a middle ground is the trick). Anyway, for those who read this far, I hope you've enjoyed Norway and look forward to Denmark, coming soon. B and T from Rojosroaming.