I don't like seeing that our trip days have reached the double digits. That means we're getting closer to the end. But, we continue to enjoy each day to the fullest and appreciate our new experiences!
Today was pretty special because we got to visit our "other" homeland. We are three-fourths Swede and one-fourth Norwegian. And now we've been to both countries. Ja. It was Norge day!
This also meant I've had ice cream or gelato (pistachio in this case) in three different countries in the last 10 days. Oh wait, America, too. Four countries!
Seriously, it was great for Dad to visit the home country of his mother -- even if he was just there in spirit. I snapped this photo of us at the first rest area across the border. Yes, it does look like Wisconsin. But I have witnesses that this is Norway!
And do our rest stops have tire swings? No. I don't think so.
We spend a few hours at the biggest and most famous sculpture park in the world. Vigeland displays the many, many works of Gustav Vigeland -- 200 sculptures in bronze, granite, and wrought iron.
I am sure you've heard of or seen photos of The Angry Boy. I know I have seen a certain president's head Photoshopped onto it.
The Monolith also is as impressive as heck. And every scultpure encircling it told a unique story. So much detail. Very cool. Of course, I took great photos. I'm having connectivity issues right now. A common theme with our wi-fi on this trip. But at least you're getting the big picture of what we're doing.
After Vigeland, we headed up the hills to the top of Oslo, where the big, huge, gigantic Holmenkollen ski jump is.
Props to anyone who does this. It must take nerves of steel. My stomach was churning just looking at it!
Didn't have time (or desire) to go to the tippy top. Crazy.
But Raylene and I made a new friend up there!
Yes, we continue to enjoy the fact that we have no one to embarrass but ourselves. No one knows us! Well, they're beginning to. Ha.
We made our way down the ski hill -- via bus thankfully -- and to the Oslo Opera House. Oh, you wanna talk about impressive... When our guides said we could climb to the top and look out at the city and harbor, I was just thinking steps of some kind.
But this unique "flat iceberg" structure offers unusual paths to the top.
Just follow the incline and watch your step -- as occasionally small ridges are hard to see with the white on white marble brick. Not that we all took our turns tripping to prove this.
Standing at the top wasn't even scary. And we great views. You can see those Norwegian cruise ships in the background.
A floating ship sculpture near the opera house.
Just wow. Our time was too short in Norway but I felt blessed to go. I've wanted to go since our sister Romey accompanied our Grandma Minnie back in the 1980s.
Never give up on your Bucket List. Just like answers to prayers. Sometimes it just takes awhile to fulfill.
So worth it, though!
OK, off to bed. It will be longest day of the year here tomorrow with sun -- which hasn't set yet at 11:25 p.m. -- rising at 3:30 a.m. Sleep fast!
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