Oslo.

Having reached out chosen aire in Oslo the next day, we cycled along good cycle tracks and pavements into the centre of the city (7km).  The TIC was not where the map said, but we did eventually find it. We got an up to date map and information about some museums. We spent most of the afternoon in the resistance museum. Only a small amount of the information was in English, but there was plenty to see.

Then off to the cathedral, which does not open until 4pm on a Friday, but is then open all night until 6am, so revellers can have a quiet area if they need it.

The hightlight of the visit for us was a 1930 silver altar by Arrigo Minerbi, depicting the last supper.  The figures are about 12-15" high, and every face tells a story.

Back at the aire, we notice a couple in a huge motorhome, as big as a coach, with 2 small dogs. They had built a  \run next to their bus for the dogs to play in, and even built a ramp for the dogs to get into the motohome.

We would thoroughly recommend the Norsk Folkemuseum, which we visited the next day. It`s 100 NOK to get in (over £10.00), but well worth every penny as it is a whole day`s captivating experience.  Exhibits ranged from a 13th Century stave church, and farms with turf rooves, farms buildings throughout the ages up to an 1850`s farm house depicted as it would have looked in 1959. The farmer`s wife sitting in her kitchen was very proud of her brand new washing machine. There are also town houses, and shops from different eras, clustered to make an interesting town setting.  Many of the exhibits are staffed by volunteers dressed and acting in the relevant period. All speak good English, and interact in such an engaging way.  The housewife in a town house was making pancakes which were free for you to enjoy. Many further indoor exhibition rooms, contain exhibits of Sami culture, Church art, toys, and many other things. There is something for every taste and age.

We also highly recommend the Kon-Tiki Museum.  The name is a bit misleading: it covers all Thor Heyerdahl`s main expeditions: Kon-tiki, Ra I and II, Tigris, his work at Easter Island, and so on.  The exhibition sontains the actual raft Kon-Tiki, the boat Ra II, and a huge Easter Island statue.  We were suprised that the modest admission fee of 70 NOK included a screening of the film Kon-Tiki from 1951 which won an Oscar for best documentary. We found it quite hilarious to see Richard Dimbleby lighting his pipe while he introduced the film !

We went on to the Vigelands sculpture park, which is a famous landmark of Oslo.  We found some of the sculptures to be a bit bizarre, and a little disturbing. However, the workmanship and sheer volume of output in both bronze and granite has to be admired, as this is all the work of one artist.

As in Denmark, cyclists are well catered for, with proper cycleways, signage, and traffic control.  Some intersections where a cycle path and pedestrians share a zebra crossing, made us realise the Norwegians might have a bit of a thing about road paint. The white bits are quite raised, making for a very undulous ride.

Sunday morning, off to the English Church in Oslo. We were warmly greeted by a lady priest and churchwarden. It was a lovely congrgation of about 40, and several nationalities. We have found this in all the English Churches we have visited.

After the service, coffee and a chat in the crypt. A nice cup of tea - PG! and we got chatting to a man who sounded really English.  However, he said he is actually Norwegian, with a Norwegian father and English mother-  He told us the story of how they met towards the end of the war, in London.  After VE, he returned to Oslo to continue his work at the Ministry of Food. Ahe shortly followed him, and they were married withing 4 days of her arrival in Norway.  She was not only in a strange country, but of course spoke no norwegian at that time.

We also met up with a Canadian man, resident in Oslo, whom we had spoken to when we went ot the English Church in Berlin.  Small World !