I will start by saying the best part of today was the sunshine. For almost five hours there was bright sun, at one point so bright I wished I had brought sunglasses. After a week in near darkness, it came as a huge relief. Sunshine has the ability to cheer me up. When I get back home to New York City, the days (even though short at winter solstice) will feel very long.
As I often do when I go to a city for the first time (or in this instance when I haven’t been there in nearly 50 years) I took the hop-on-hop-off bus. I boarded the bus near the central Christmas market and university, which are close to my hotel. The first circuit gave me a sense of where places are in relationship to one another. I saw the famed Opera House, Parliament, a fjord, the port, museums, the central shopping area, and much more.
On the second circuit, I hopped off at the Norsk Folkemuseum. It’s a museum with traditional exhibits about Norwegian life going back many centuries and a massive outdoor space with buildings dating back to 1200. Being at the museum is a little like going to Williamsburg, Virginia. But instead of depicting life during a single period, it really provides insights into a vast time span. Over 160 homes, barns, churches, and shops were moved from regions all around the country. The sunlight made the buildings glow. I walked for almost two hours, thrilled to be outside (it was well above freezing and dry, and I was dressed for the weather).
Then I hopped back on the bus to go back into center city. It was 2:30 when I boarded the bus, and the sun was beginning to set. I might add the sun never got very high, instead it made a low arc across the sky. But that arc was enough to provide a rosy glow that set buildings and water sparkling. It was beautiful.
On my walk back to my hotel I spent some time at the Christmas market. Unlike most European holiday markets, and all New York City markets, this one featured all sorts of rides—a huge Ferris wheel, a carousel and more. There were kids galore, all seeming to have a blast.
After a short rest at the hotel, I met Pat and Sandra for dinner at an Italian restaurant. We all noted some key differences from most New York City eateries. First, no one rushed us at all, we could have stayed all night, and no one would have cared. Though the restaurant was packed, the sound level was low. We could easily have a conversation. When we signaled to the waiter we wanted the check, he was happy to split the bill however we wanted.
On my return to the hotel, I once again passed by the Christmas market, which was in full swing. It was a very festive way to end the day.