Okay, so, because yesterday, the internet decided to stop working after I had taken a shower, I am writing this in the morning: the first morning of sunshine we have had, so I will hit the highlights of yesterday (04.03.), and then bolt to the outdoors where, today, it is absolutely beautiful.
So, to start, I woke up incredibly late because I think I still have jet lag, or something. This means I didn't get out the door until about 1pm. I walked Enrico to the station and I had a little lunch there. Then I walked to catch a ferry on the wharf, or the docks... I don't know what to call them. But there were no ferries in sight. At least none I recognized. I can understand: the water was a sheet of ice. The wharf was uncannily quiet, as wharfs usually are. Something about the water either absorbs all the sound, or coaxes people to not make a sound, but everything seems more quiet by the water.
So, on the wharf there is the Akerhus Fortress. It is still used as a military base, at least part of it is, and I wanted to see the castle, but it was unfortunately closed. So, I made my way down Karl Johans Gate where I discovered where everyone was. They were at the Oslo 2011 World Ski Championships at city center. There was a man sculpting statues of the event winners in blocks of wood. And there were beautiful snow and ice sculptures, most, if not all of which were frozen recreations of Munch artwork. Then, I walked up to the Palace, but it did not seem open to tour. At least, I didn't see anyone going inside, or coming out. Outside it, in the park, there was a memorial statue to the Kronprinsesse Martha, and in set at the base of it, there were four tulips frozen in ice. It was lovely.
After I left that side of town, I decided to trek to "Ring 2" to find Vigeland park. I wandered around the highstreet a bit, and ended up walking much farther than I needed (I made a wrong turn). I eventually made it to the finely wrought gates of Vigeland park, where I did a quick turnabout in (it was getting dark). As I was leaving, it started to mist, and I walked back to city center. I walked past two interesting things: 1. Some little kid popping out from behind a man in a long coat to say "Hulloo!". And 2. With much less youthful joy: the American embassy. It kind of fits into the skyline. But it looks uncommonly clean, and clinical. And very dark. It's a little scary looking, to be perfectly honest. I mean, I guess they want it to look intimidating. Anyway, something was going on there, because there was a guard out front with an automatic rifle (at least I think it was). But she was bored, I could tell. She kept yawning.
But, enough of that. On to the Oslo 2011 hotspot (I had spied food there earlier and I was in search for some). I was going to go for a Weinerpols and a Vafle, but the line was taking an incredibly long time, and I spied traditional Norway food. There was a "Fiskeburger" on the sign, and I got curious. I went in, I paid for my fiskeburger- the most delicious sandwich I believe I have ever tasted. It's a patty made of ground fish, except it's boiled down (or something), to a scrambled egg consistency, with a sauce, combined with the lettuce, which tastes a lot like cole slaw, and raw salmon on top. It was so good, I almost went in and got another one, but it was also so big, I couldn't really eat it. But it was absolutely, by far, the best thing I have eaten in days. It was "barra barra", which means "very good". Kind of like in France, when the people tell you, "If you just say Bonne, all the time, no one will know you aren't French." or in Italy, it's "Bombe". Here it's "barra". And I don't know if that's the way it is spelled, but phonetically, in English, that's about the gist of it. The "rr" is rolled, like in Spanish.
Barra barra barra barra.
On my walk to the bus stop, I passed a cafe in Stortinsgata (one of the fancy streets), and peered inside the window. Up on the banister shelf, running along the restaurant were heads of mannequins and wig displays, dressed up like famous people. It was very striking, but very odd. But there were all kinds, staring down at and across the room of the people, drinking coffee and eating their food, with fixed facial expressions of nothing in particular. I got a little sensation of disturbance. But, it wasn't so bad. Just a bit odd.
Then I caught the bus the rest of the way back (they have very nice, clean buses, by the way), wrote postcards for hours, and decided what to do today. My plans may change, as it is sunny and beautiful, and I maybe should have done what is planned for today, yesterday, when the weather wasn't as good. Today is perfect walking weather, being so sunny. But we shall see. Just playing it purely by ear.
Oh, and on an off-note. The fashion of the men goes something like this: They are either A) Runners/athletes B)Lumberjack-like men, or C)Hipsters. I have seen so many coke bottle glasses, tight jeans, and Buddy Holly look-alikes with tweed jackets, completed by bohemian scarves, you'd think I was walking through an indie rock band album over. It's nice and tasteful, and so European, but I still can't take them seriously. Mostly because those tight trousers make them walk funny. But, also because I make fun of them so much. They take themselves so seriously, it's hard not to poke a little fun at them.
Today I am seeing the Opera "Lulu" at the Operahus. I am SO excited.
Seth and I leave tomorrow at around 8am (at the latest) to catch our flight to Narvik. Monday we start our job. I am aflutter with excitement.
That is all, the blue skies are a-calling to me.
Over and out.
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