Day 3 - Last day in Oslo

Picture captions:
1. Munch's The Madonna
2. Cheryl and I standing with The Scream
3. My favorite, The Kiss.
4. Holmenkollen Ski Jump from ground level (not from landing level)
5. This guy was staring at me thorough the window during dinner at the harbor

Today we woke up late because Dad was supposed to call us and he forgot! We ate breakfast, and walked about a million km to the Munch Museum. We walked through the Arabic/Indian district of Oslo to get there. Quite a hike!

I loved the paintings, but even more I like the stories behind them. I loved learning about Munch’s life and experiences, and especially about how his most famous work, The Scream, was stolen, along with The Madonna, another one of his famous works which I actually like even better than The Scream. Munch expressed a lot of depression, despair and anguish in his work. The exhibit was full of his paintings, sketches drawings, stamps and even tools he used in painting and stamping. There was also an entire part of the museum dedicated to the restoration process of the two recovered paintings. They were only stolen about six years ago and returned only 2 years ago! So this was a very up-to-date and interesting part of the exhibit. Standing close to The Scream, you could see the damage that was done to it in the theft process—tears, scratches—it’s like the robbers just ripped it off its hinges and took off! What were they thinking!? I wish I knew more about that story…

Next stop was the Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Skimuseet (Ski Museum.) Not only did we climb all the way to the top of the ski jump, but Erika and I hiked all the way down to the bottom where the skiers land! It’s a pool of water in these summer months, but we got a good workout hiking down and back! In fact, my glutes kind of hurt right now... Anyway, it was awesome to see this! The Winter Olympic Games were held here in 1952 and 2002, and part of the museum had the gold medals and the skis the skiers wore! I love skiing—I wish we could be here in the winter, too!

On our way back to the hotel we stopped for dinner in D.S. Louise’s Restaurant. It was decorated inside like a ship and it was right on the harbor. Before that, Cheryl and I went shopping at H&M because we felt too underdressed to be at the bar where we were hanging out with the rest of the gang! We did get a look at some hot new cars that were there on display at the docks before we came back—some Porsches, Ferraris and others. I personally want the Ferrari! After that was Buckley’s Blues Bar where we went to hear some music and kick back. The band wasn’t going on till super late, though, and being the tired tourists we are, we left before they got there! My intention was to go to bed afterwards, but Cheryl and I chit-chatted for a bit and ended up hanging out with a fellow American in the lobby. We went out and grabbed a drink, and had a pretty good time!

Now I’m absolutely exhausted—tomorrow’s going to be rough, especially because I think I’ve come down with a sore throat!

Tomorrow we’re off to Grimstaad and then Kristiansand (sp?). We’ll be back in Oslo at the end of our trip next weekend, but won’t get to see much of it. I’ve really enjoyed it while I’ve been here. Very ritzy and high-end but friendly and GORGEOUS. I love it here. But I have to say, my favorite parts of the trip are when my family is all together bonding and being goofy. It’s been great so far.

Until I can write again next,
Jackie