Happy Easter

After some sunshine yesterday I was hopeful that today would be warm and sunny but no it is dull and cold but at least it's not raining. Two weeks today I will be starting my annual long distance walk with 5 friends. The weather has meant that I've not done as many country walks as I would liked to have done in preparation for the 80 miles or so that we will be walking. 

I was hoping to get out in the country today but everywhere is so wet, it does not make for a pleasant walk where you are ankle deep in mud. Instead I went to Greenwich park, which is my local large park. I'm glad I did as the flowers and the blossom were at their best.

After walking around the park I continued my walk by the river. This is 'The Trafalgar', festooned ready to celebrate the Easter holiday. I think the last time I went in here for a drink I was with Andrew from From the Highrise. No time today for a break, as I needed to get a few miles under the belt before lunchtime.

There's always something to see by the river. This is the old pier attached to the Greenwich power station.

Docklands across the river.

I walked as far as the O2 which is an events arena plus shops, restaurants etc. and then returned for another circuit of the park. All in all I managed a 10 mile walk, mainly on the flat with just a couple of hills in the park. So I don't feel I am ready for the long walk but hopefully with a pocket full of blister plasters and good company I'll manage. 

 

Last day in Oslo

 I just had a few hours this morning before I needed to leave for the airport. As my City Pass had now expired, I had left all the free entry places until this morning.

After checking out of my room and leaving my luggage at the hotel I walked the short distance to the Opera House so that I could walk on the roof. I might add that the roof has been designed for you to walk on as it slopes upwards from the ground.

It is made of Carrera marble which must make it impossible to walk on when it is wet or icy.

I was there before 9am and had the roof mainly to myself.

I imagine had it been a very sunny mid summer's day I would have needed sun glasses to protect my eyes from being blinded by reflections from this totally white surface.

From one side of the roof I could see the barcode area of the city. 

Looking at the station with a tram in the foreground.

A view over the front of the Opera House shows the fjord.

I descended from the roof and walked into the town. This is the Storting, the Norwegian Parliament. There are ten different political parties represented in the parliament by 169 MPs. Elections take place every 4 years. 

The building was officially opened in March 1866. Members of the public can follow the debates from the public gallery.

Just off the main street, Karl Johans Gate is the City Hall, a twin towered huge building. it was built in 1950 to commemorate Oslo's 900th anniversary. As you can imagine it is something of a landmark. It is here that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded on the 10th Dec each year. The City hall is the seat of the city council and the administration.

Surrounded the entrance are these large motifs from Norse legends.

Admission is free and I thought I would just pop in to have a look. I was blown away by the huge murals that decorated the vast rooms. This is the Grand function room. Alf Rolfsen and Henrik Serensen are credited with creating these frescos which show Norwegian Industry at one side and the Occupation at the other.

This is the Festival Gallery inspired by the history of Oslo and Norway. It depicts industries such as fishing, farming, shipping and trade.

The window at the side provides a view of the City Hall square and Oslofjord.

The Banquet Hall, the grandest of the function rooms. This is the most modern of the rooms with its art deco, zig-zag pattern.

The fresco shows the Norwegian Constitution roots in the ideals of the French Revolution.

A short walk from the City Hall and you are at the Royal Palace. I was there in time for the changing of the guard but there was none of the ceremony and fanfare that takes place at home.

Now it was time to return to the hotel to collect my bags and make my way to the airport. It was an easy 20 minute train journey from the station to the airport. It started to rain as I left Oslo so my departure was well timed.

I have had a great time and feel I managed to see so much. Coming out of season meant that nowhere was busy and I could wander round the museums with no crowds whatsoever.

A short flight of less than 2 hours and here I am back in London.