Thursday morning offered some blue sky views, a promising change from the forecast of rain all day long. We took a tour of Oslo City Hall and pretended we were laureates as we stood in the grand hall where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded each December 10 at 1:00 pm. Then we were off to the Norsk Folkemuseum for a couple of hours of viewing traditional homes and barns, participating in live demonstrations of folk music and dance, and – the highlight for Jessica – enjoying lefse baked on an open hearth. 🤤

Thursday afternoon offered 5 hours of free time to explore Oslo. Our group of 33 fractured into pods of 1-4 persons and we set off on foot to see the sites. Julie and I walked down from the Royal Palace and gardens to tour the Historisk Museum and exhibitions of Viking lore (rune stones! swords!!) and samurai (armor! swords!!). Then we strolled along the Karl Johans Gate main pedestrian street and escaped a rain shower by ducking into a souvenir shop and using up the last of our Norwegian kronor currency. We waited for a break in the rain and traipsed down to the Oslo Opera House as the skies darkened and wind picked up. We climbed atop the Opera House for views of Oslo, and I got a fit of giggles as I looked at Julie, her hair standing on end. I was grateful to spot lightning rods above us as I realized that more than wind was shaping Julie’s hairdo.

We hopped down from the roof and took shelter inside the opera gallery and utilized the (free!) stylish toaletten and rested our feet until the sky lightened.

After a day of 20k steps, dinner at the hotel was well-received: a multi-course meal of multigrain bread, pesto tomato salad, couscous and falafel, and a strawberry layered dessert. Once again, Jessica’s mood improved considerably, though she hadn’t noted any discouragement prior. Conversation with tablemates lasted well after dessert, and we went to bed with smiles on our faces.

Friday brought another early wake-up call for breakfast at 6:30 am: a smorgåsbord of multigrain bread, granola, potatoes and eggs, smoothie bar, fresh fruit, fish, and caviar (I couldn’t stomach looking at it, much less tasting it). Bellies full, we loaded the bus to head east, bidding farewell to Norge (Norway). On to Sverige (Sweden)!