The Oseberg is the best preserved of the ships, because it was buried in blue clay, and then covered in stones and turf. The ship was 66 feet long and held a crew of 30 men. The wealthy woman buried inside the Oseberg was sent to the next life with a wagon, horses, leather and textiles, beds, fine clothing, and even her slave girl. Quite a haul!

Nobel Peace Center & City Hall – Oslo’s beautiful City Hall hosts the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony every December 10th.

One small corner of the City Hall foyer

What I found to be most interesting about City Hall were the portraits of the current royal family, which are painted in a very modern and edgy style. When the King first saw his portrait he said, “Well, I guess I do look like that.” Both the King and the Queen are fans of their facsimiles.

The King's portrait

The Queen's portrait

Munch – Norway is the home country of Edvard Munch, creator of The Scream series. There are actually four pieces in the series, two lithographs and two paintings, all of which hold The Scream moniker.

'The Scream', 'Anxiety', and 'Despair'

Munch led a tortured artist’s life: his mother and sister both died from TB during his childhood, he lost a finger during a heated argument while trying to break up with his girlfriend, and became a recluse for the final years of his life while suffering from an eye disease. He used his paintings, as opposed to people, for company. Munch left numerous journals, filled with details regarding the motivation behind each of his pieces and the processes/methods he used create them.

Vigeland Park – Edvard Munch was often in the company of Gustav Vigeland, Oslo’s favorite sculptor. Two hundred and twelve of Vigeland’s sculptures are displayed in a huge park, which is open 24 hours a day, free for any visitor to enjoy, despite all of the sculpture’s R-ratings.

Bridge of bronze statues

Joe soothes the 'Little Hothead', Vigeland's most renowned work

Vigeland Park

column of bodies