Weird art

A very weird sculpture at Oslo Central Station. I am somewhat amazed and amused to see what our goverment chooses to spend their money on

Calming coffee

In February I wrote about a very nice coffee shop not far from our university and how the girls in my class and I go there before our exams to calm our nerves down with an espresso shot or two. Well, yesterday we had an exam, and at 9am we met for a coffe hopefully to calm ourselves down. Not sure it worked. We'll find out in June when we get our grade.. The earlier post on this cool coffee shop/cocktail bar, you can find here

Traces of old

I like this photo with its traces of old. I like to see the trace of an old building on the brick wall, I get curious and want to find out what building used to be there. I have tried to interpret the words on the wall, only being able to read the bottom one. It says "farvehandel" meaning paint shop. Further than that I didn't get. This photo is taken in the old town, and here is another photo of an old buliding in the same suburb

Turtledoves?

Random photo of two people on a bench under pink, beautiful trees. It's not the most romantic photo, although it could have been!

Eurovision Fever!

The madness has begun! Yesterday, they took Oslo by storm, walking the pink carpet in front of Oslo's City Hall where the opening party was held. Yes, I'm talking about the Eurovision Song Contest! Today's photo is taken from the Eurovision Village at Rådhusplassen (City Hall Square), where all the crazy fans can get all the official merchandise! Who doesn't want to be ready for the first semi-final held at Telenor Arena tomorrow or the Grand Final on Saturday!? www.eurovision.tv

Break!

In need of a break from my studies (I've got three exams due this week!!) and some fresh air, I decided to go for a little walk around Aker Brygge and Akershus Fortress. Today's photo is taken right next to the fortress wall, on the fortress ground, overlooking Aker Brygge (here is an earlier entry from this area). On a day like this, sunny and warm, I wish I could do like all the other people around me: Relax on the grass in front of Akerhus Fortress, with good friends and perhaps a glass of wine!

Construction work

Not far from Oslo Central Station and the Opera House, the suburb Bjørvika goes through major construction work. Today's photo is from one the platforms at the central station, with some view over the construction area. The plans are to remove the highway from ground level and into a tunnel, creating space for a waterfront promenade with the Opera House as the centre. A few museums, including the Munch Museum, will be moved to the area, hotels and apartment buildings will be built. This is said to draw 15 000 new inhabitants to the area and about 20 000 new job opportunities. The Oslo Central Station will also undergo major changes, making it the most modern central station in Europe when finished. Also, what will be the main artery when it comes to pedestrian traffic, is soon finished; a 125 million kroner (app. 20 million dollars) footbridge crossing the promenande (not sure if I want to know to total price tag to this project). Everything is said to be finished by the end of 2011, and it will be very interesting to see the new city in the city! For more information on the construction plans, check out bjørvika development

Nationaltheatret

Today's photo is of Nationaltheatret, our National Theatre, that opened in 1899. The bulding, designed by the architect Henrik Bull, is situated in the centre of Oslo, close to Karl Johan and the Royal Palace. In 1983, the bulding was protected by the Cultural Heritage Act. The theatre houses three stages, Hovedscenen, Amfiscenen and Malersalen. An external scene, Torshovteatret, situated in the suburb of Torshov, is the theatre's forth scene. The National Theatre's ensemble is the leading ensemble in Norway, and only the very best, nationally and internationally, are invited to realize the artistic program. At the time being, these are some of the plays on the National Theatre's repertoire; Ingmar Bergman's Fanny & Alexander, William Golding's Fluenes Herre (Lord of the flies), Henrik Ibsen's Et dukkehjem and Bertolt Brecht's Galileo. For more information, check out nationaltheatret.no

Hay fever season

If all the trees getting greener isn't enough for the poor allergic, these flowers at Stortorvet probably does the job! For another photo of the flower market at Stortorvet, click here

17. mai

Today is our national day! Today, 196 years ago, our country's constitution was signed at Eidsvoll. Today, our whole country comes to a standstill, as everyone is celebrating this festive day. What usually happens on our national day is that all the school children, some of their parents and others who want to join in, walk in a parade, with brass music, through the streets of their city or town. In my home town, where I celebrate the national day every year, there are games for the kids at the local school afterwards, before the adults head off to the local pub for a pint, an ice cream or just a chat. Later in the afternoon, and if the weather permits it, there is usually a dinner at some family member or friends house, like a barbecue. In bigger cities, like Oslo, people gather in parks, where there are concerts and tivoli fun. Also in Oslo, the parade with all of Oslo's school children goes along Karl Johan street and up to the Royal Palace where our Royal Family stands on the balcony and waves to the people. Follow this link to see a few photos from the parade in Oslo and Karl Johan.
As I am not in Oslo today, I chose to post a photo today of the outfit that people wear on 17th of May. If you thought the celebration of our national day stops with "just" a parade, you're wrong. We also have a national dress, called bunad, that we wear on special occasions. That is, those who don't come to the horrific realisation on 16th of May, that the bunad does not fit anymore!!! As you can see on the photo, the dresses have different colours and embroidery. This is because they symbolises different regions in Norway. Usually people choose their bunad after what region their family comes from, or where they live. (Check out this page for more pictures and information on our national dress)
A fun fact before I finish; We have our own bunad encyclopedia, making it able to learn more about the different dresses and the region they come from. As one region have many different dresses, this encyclopedia can be very handy!

Oslo Sentralstasjon

If you are ever going to Oslo, you will at some point find yourself in front of this building. This is Oslo Sentralstasjon (Oslo S), Oslo's central station. Its located in the bottom of Karl Johan Street, making it the most central station in Oslo. Here, train, buses, metro and trams meet, making Oslo S the largest station in the country, as well as the most traficated station, with 150 000 travellers per day

Politihuset

At Grønland, very close to the center of Oslo, Politihuset (the police house) looms on top of a little hill, surrounded with green grass on one side and Oslo Fengsel "Botsen" (Oslo Prison) on the other side. This building is the Oslo Police headquarter, has been since 1978. Over the police radio, units based at the headquarter uses the callsignal "Fox" or "Foxtrot"

The canopy

Right in front of the Nobel Peace Center at Aker Brygge (you can read an earlier post about this building here), this huge installation, the canopy, can be seen. It is design by the architect David Adjayes and made by Norsk Hydro (a Norwegian global supplier of aluminium and aluminium products) and recycled aluminium. The canopy is an artistic interpretation of the world map without borders, as borders are often the reason for conflict. Instead, the map is shown through a series of dots that represent places where the most people on the earth lives. According to the Nobel Peace Center's webpage on the subject, the canopy marks the start of Adjayes vision of a Nobel Peace Center as a world without borders, a place where the deliberate use of colours, sound, light and images will motivate and inspire the visitors to reflect on peace, war and conflict solving

I wish I was a cat

so I could sleep all day!! This week I've really been struggling to get up in the morning. This is my neighbour's cat. I usually find it sleeping by my door or in the middle of the staircase, like on this photo

In bloom

Not only do I love trees, I love when trees are in bloom! In Paris this weekend, there were trees everywhere in purple bloom. It was so beautiful! Here in Oslo, the trees still have a little to go before green, however I walked past this purple tree on my way home today. Perfect photo for today!

Rhyme

Found this verse on a building in Oslo's old town. Makes perfect rhyme in Norwegian, not so much in English.
"Thank you state for shelter and food; prison, isolation, anxiety and hate"
I think it is a very depressing rhyme, highlighting and describing a situation and feeling in our society we don't tend to talk much about

Visit Norway!

Beating the cloud of ash and closing airports just barely, I'm back home in Oslo after a long-weekend on holiday. The city I have been in, is not only my favourite city in the world, after Oslo of course, but also the city where Eric Tenin posts his daily photo's from. (His blog was by the way what inspired me to start this blog) Yes, im talking about Paris!! Therefore, I am going to deviate from the rules just once, and post a photo taken in Paris about Oslo and Norway. I have to admit, I felt a little proud being Norwegian when I walked past these commercial ads in the parisian metro. It does look really beautiful, doesn't it?!
For travel tips, check out visitnorway.com and visitoslo.com
Also, regardless if you have seen his blog already, or been in Paris a thousand times before, check out Eric Tenin's blog at www.parisdailyphoto.com

Multicultural Oslo

After two incredibly busy days, I'm back with a photo for today! Today I chose a photo of a very colorful building. The largest muslim community in Norway is the World Islamic Mission Norway, counting 6000 members. This is their mosque, known as Central Jam-e-Mosque or World Islamic Mission

Bus shed

Today's photo isn't very interesting, and there is not much to say about it. It is just an ordinary bus shed with colorful commercial ads on it, great for killing time whilst waiting for the bus

Theme Day & Labour Day

Today is my first theme day, and I decided that I wouldn't try to interpret today's theme "statues" more than necessary. As it is Labour Day today, my mum said I should post a photo of the statue of Rudolf Nilsen. Rudolf Nilsen is a Norwegian poet, known for his poems characterized by class struggles that occured in Norway and Oslo in the 1920's. For this, he is considered one of Norway's most important poets representing the workers.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants