Oslofjord - Hovedøya

We took a very short ride into the Oslofjord

Very short - only 5 minutes from the city center to the closest little island Hovedøya 

Oslofjord 

We didn't really have a plan - we were hungry and we wanted to hike around 

Luckily we found the most perfect cafe for lunch

It looked like a little red barn and it had red tables under the trees

The cafe tables were directly next to the famous Cistercian Abbey ruins. The abbey was built in 1147

Back to the cafe - it was so sweet. Not many people around, but the little baby seemed to enjoy it.

Hey Baby.

Oh, look - another blonde baby.

And another!

Sun and daisy patch and ruins...

A hike to the water before lunch

We picked a nice table and ordered a perfect lunch and beer

A very good open face sandwich. The Norwegian doesn't mess around with two slices of bread.  One is enough

We were eating, but everyone else was swimming

and looking for pretty stones 

Check out this vignette. I did. Felted sheep were sweet

Ok, back to our lunch. We also had a lovely goat cheese salad with beets. 

Brian had a ton of interesting things to say. One thought - we should go back in and order the waffle.

Thank goodness. It was perfect and so pretty.

And the waffle meant that we got to use the jam station.

So many good jams. And cream. There was cream, too.

Can you tell that I loved this place? I loved it.

Waffle. Jam. Cream. Beer. Good.

A very good morning spent on the little island.

Then it was back to the city. 

Oslo, Norway - No Kumla, but still a very wonderful place

It was a spur of the moment weekend trip (we booked it on Friday morning and left for Oslo on Friday night) - but it was a place we have been wanting to go to for a long time. Grandma Dix is Norwegian and she makes the most wonderful Norwegian food (Kumla and Kringlas) and we knew we had to make a pilgrimage. Oh...this is the Oslo Opera house and it is stunning - beautiful and also a lovely structure to climb all around.

The Oslo Opera House is meant to be climbed and used as a public plaza. The marble is so nice and the views are fantastic. Also, skateboarders are actually encouraged to use all of the wonderful angles and slopes.

Note: Norway in summer is very bright. VERY BRIGHT. We had to buy extra sunglasses and take time for cat naps because the sun kept shining until well past 11pm.

This is the Oslo Opera House

Oh. And this was breakfast. Smoked fish and three different types of cheese.

This is the Royal Palace

We went to the Vigeland Sculpture Park

It is the world's largest sculpture park that is the work of one single artist - Gustav Vigeland

This is Gustav Vigeland with a bird on his head.

The figural sculptures are bizarre and gestural and dramatic and they culminate in this monolith of figures

The theme of the park is THE HUMAN CONDIITION

This is the Monolith

And this is Brian

Fun fact: Vigeland also designed the Nobel Peace Prize medal

Walking through the neighborhood near Frogner Park and the Viegeland sculptures

Oslo 

A very good donut and kaffe at Fuglen

It was a little bit heartbreaking to watch Brian frantically and exhaustively search for Kumla only to hear that it is usually only served on Tuesdays. I think it is for the best - no way it would taste as good as Grandma's Kumla.

Field Day Festival

It was about music (Courtney Barnett), but it ended up being a little bit more about pizza and Argentine beef, mac n' cheese, tacos, beer and sitting under trees.