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Steve & Sally’s Norwegian Adventure

Day 1 – Monday, June 9, 2025

Depart the U.S. for Copenhagen, Denmark

Non stop flight from Washington Dulles to Copenhagen
Checked in and waiting at the gate for a 9:20 boarding and 10:05 departure
Onboard! 😊👍

Day 2- Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Arrive Copenhagen

We arrived in Copenhagen today, a modern European capital with a provincial heart and a wealth of history. Our hotel, the Scandic Copenhagen is fantastic. It sits in the center of Copenhagen, within easy walking distance of the Tivoli Gardens and just across the street from The Lakes, a chain of peaceful waterways popular with pedestrians and bicyclists.

After a long , but uneventful 7 1/2 hr flight we arrived at the Copenhagen Airport. We were met a tour company representative and then taken to the hotel by private van

Upon arrival at the hotel we were met by our tour director and immediately checked in and went to our room, which has a lovely view of the city

https://www.scandichotels.com/en/hotels/scandic-copenhagen#rooms

The view from our room

After unpacking we ventured out (in the rain), stopping at a ATM to get some Danish Krone, and then eventually making our way to the magnificent city hall and the expansive plaza

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Bicycles and cyclists everywhere. Don’t even think about getting in their way

This evening, at a lovely room in the hotel, we met with our fellow travelers and the Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director ( Davide Fanciulli) at a welcome briefing. 24 people (12 couples from all over the USA. (CA, IL, IN, NJ,SC,VA,WI)

After the briefing we took a 10 minute walk from the hotel to the famous Tivoli Gardens where we had an incredible welcome dinner. Tivoli Gardens was built in the 1840s in the city center and remains one of the city’s liveliest attractions. It is one of the world’s oldest and most visited amusement parks.

Welcome Dinner at the Peacock Restaurant

After dinner we strolled around Tivoli Gardens, stopping to get an Irish Whiskey to ward of the damp and chilly weather

The Dane’s are very eco friendly. The coffee cup was totally recyclable and a monetary refund was given via a automated kiosk

Scenes of our stroll around the gardens

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Day 3- Wednesday June 11 2025

Copenhagen

We started out Day 3 with a spectacular breakfast at the hotel

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After a wonderful breakfast we met in the hotel lobby, where we were issued our “Wispers” listening devices and met our city tour guide (Phillip) for the next 3 days. After introductions we boarded the bus and left for our morning panoramic window tour of the city

First stop, the famous Little Mermaid.

https://youtu.be/Dy7hPapymks?si=VjyT3xE7M-GwuB5d

The building that can be seen across the harbor, with the sloping roof, is a state of the art power power generation plant that uses waste for fuel. Incredibly the roof is a artificial downhill ski slope (“Copenhill”) that can be used all year long (no snow needed). There is also a hiking trail and the worlds tallest climbing wall

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We continued on along the waterfront past several monuments and stopping at a spectacular fountain and a wonderfully quaint church

We re-embarked back onto the bus and headed for Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s office, and the Supreme Court – the only such building in the world housing the three branches of government.

It’s good to be the king

Christiansborg Palace

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Back on the bus again for a short trip to the very long and sheik pedestrian shopping street and a another beautiful fountain.

We walked the length of Stroget street and arrived at Nyhavn, a waterfront area full of multi colored houses lining the canal

Lunch at Nyhavn 17. Not a bad spot/view for lunch

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Back to pounding the pavement.. This time walking to Copenhagen‘s Cathedral

We finished the day with a lovely evening canal trip with a company (Hey Captain) recommended by friends

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Dinner- Take Out In Room “Picnic”

Day 4 – Thursday June 12th 2025

Copenhagen

We started today with a 1 hour bus trip outside of Copenhagen. The drive took us along the shoreline of the Baltic. We passed an amazing array of spectacular houses, beaches, ferries to Sweden, and rowers.

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The drive took us to Elsinore (Helsinger in Danish), site of Kronborg Castle – the infamous setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet – where we enjoyed a guided tour featuring the Royal Chambers and Ballroom. The castle is dramatically set on a spit of land between Denmark and Sweden.

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After lunch together at a local restaurant, we stopped by the Royal summer residence (Fredensborgs Slott) for a quick photo opportunity, and then on to the Karen Blixen House and Museum in coastal Rungsted.

Known by her pen name Isak Dinesen (under which she wrote Out of Africa), Blixen spent most of her life here, where she was born in 1885. The site itself comprises the house, a museum, bird sanctuary, a park, and her gravesite. The house retains its original furniture and décor.

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We returned to our hotel late this afternoon. We had a tasty dinner on our own tonight at the Tivoli Gardens Food Hall, a short 9 minute walk from the hotel. There was a wide variety of food venders to choose from, and a pleasant setting overlooking the gardens and listening to music from the nearby stage performances

Day 5- Friday June 13th 2025

Copenhagen/Over Night Ferry

We set off today to visit the cozy fishing village of Dragor, with its historic buildings ,cobblestone streets, and lovely harbor

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Lunch today was a picnic catered by our tour director David

We then returned to downtown Copenhagen to visit the 17th-century Rosenborg Castle, where we admired the lavish Crown Jewels, the Throne Chair of Denmark carved from narwhal tusks, and the stately architecture and garden.

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Goodbye Copenhagen

Time to put our wonderful Copenhagen memories in the rear view mirror. This afternoon we boarded the Nordic Pearl ferry for an overnight trip to Oslo

https://www.dfds.com/en/passenger-ferries/ferry-crossings/ferry-to-norway/copenhagen-oslo

OverNight Ferry Cruise

After having our group’s checked baggage suitcases loaded into a container the processing through customs and check in went smoothly. We easily found our room on the 9th deck and moved in

Departure time was 5 o’clock, we embarked at 4 so there was time to head up to deck 11 to get a drink and find a spot to watch the ship leave Denmark and head to Norway

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7 o’clock. The group proceeded to the dining room for a delicious buffet dinner

Sunset comes late (1030) in summer this far north . Tonight the sunset was spectacular

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Day 6- Saturday June 14th 2025

Oslo-Lillehammer-Hundorp

Sunrise was very early and just as spectacular as the previous night’s sunset.

Before disembarking from the ferry we had a very nice breakfast with a wonderful window view

The last legs of the journey to Oslo were full of sights and sounds, and an amazing number of sailboats

Arriving in Oslo we enjoyed identifying landmarks around the harbor (City Hall, Opera House, Fortress). After retrieving our luggage we met our new bus driver (Morton), and boarded our coach for the journey north to ski country – an unspoiled mountain region that is one of Norway’s oldest and best-known sports districts.

We enjoyed lunch along the way at a restaurant frequented by highway truckers

First stop after lunch, the town of Lillehammer, the renowned ski resort that hosted. the 1994 Winter Olympics.

https://youtu.be/lJKLTzJ0LdM?si=qkUOx5x74vccy7uE

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Next we visited the open-air folk museum at Maihaugen, among Norway’s most visited cultural attractions, with some 200 original historic buildings reconstructed on the site. Through the structures, farm implements, and everyday objects and artifacts, Maihaugen recounts daily life here from the Middle Ages to modern times.

Schoolhouse

In the mid-afternoon, we departed for the town of Hundorp, arriving at the hotel in early evening

https://frich.no/dale-gudbrandsgard

The hotel was originally a farm dating back to the days of the Vikings. Our room was very cozy, with two windows offering great views of the valley, river, and mountainside

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Loved the sounds of the sheep and their bells just outside our windows

Before dinner we took a tour of the grounds with the curator of the on site pilgrims center. He recounted the history of site starting 50 AD, all the way to present time

Historical SigniDale-Gudbrands Gard was the site of a pivotal event in Norwegian history, documented in Snorri Sturluson’s Heimskringla. This is where King Olav Haraldsson (later Saint Olav) met with Dale-Gudbrand, the local chieftain, and the farmers of the Gudbrand Valley.
Conversion to Christianity: King Olav, in his campaign to Christianize Norway, persuaded Dale-Gudbrand and his people to adopt Christianity. The story recounts how King Olav used the sunrise to demonstrate the power of his God, and how an idol of Thor was broken. This event is considered the beginning of the Christianization of the valley.

We finished the day with a incredibly delicious group dinner at the hotel

Day 7- Sunday June 15th 2025

Hundorp-Geiranger

We had another wonderful breakfast at our hotel before hitting the road for today’s amazing journey.

Today we experienced more of Norway’s finest scenery as we traveled from Hundorp to Geiranger along the “roof” of Norway, a land of jagged snowcapped peaks, blue ice, and emerald mountain lakes.

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First stop was in the town of Lom to see a spectacular stave church. We were treated to a extensive description of the church’s history by a local guide

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While taking in the beautiful scenery we enjoying a cappuccino and cinnamon bun at a fantastic bakery, right next to a massive waterfall

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Next we ascended a spectacular mountain road with hairpin bends to the summit of Mount Dalsnibba (with an altitude of over a mile at 4,900 feet) for a bird’s-eye view of Geirangerfjord and the mountains, lakes, and waterfalls beyond.

Courtesy of tour director David, we toasted our arrival at the summit with Aquavit. Skol! And enjoyed a chocolate treat on the descent down the mountain

After negotiating the hairpin turns a second time we stopped at a incredible glacier fed lake still hanging on to some of winters ice and snow

After a full day of travel we reached the popular village of Geiranger in the mid-afternoon and got our first look at Norway’s most dramatic fjord. A UNESCO site, The fjord measures 10 miles long and 960 feet deep and is lined by forested rock walls towering more than 6,000 feet above sea level. Formed over a million years ago during the Ice Age when an ice cap burrowed deep into mountain riverbeds, Norway’s fjords are among the deepest and most striking in the world.

After checking into our wonderful hotel with an breathtaking view from our room, we went for a short hike along the raging river close to the hotel. We dined together with the group tonight at the hotel.

https://www.hotelunion.no/en/

The view from our room

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We took our dessert and coffee and sat outside and enjoyed the incredible view. Sunset wasn’t until 11 PM

Day 8- Monday June 16 2025

Geiranger

We started the morning with a river walk from the hotel down to the Geiranger town and harbor front

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This morning’s excursion on Eagle Road to Herdalssetra offered up abundant thrills as we traversed 11 hairpin turns at an altitude of 2,030 feet through mountain passes, stopping for a grand panoramic view of Geirangerfjord and its surroundings along the way.

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We stopped for lunch at a historic mountain farm used as an upland pasture for herds of goats, cows, sheep, and horses from the village below.

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On the return back to Geiranger were treated to picturesque scenery, and more bus close encounters. Our bus driver Morton is amazing

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Back at the hotel we enjoyed a reception and had a chance to view the hotel owner’s extensive collection of vintage automobiles before enjoying dinner together tonight.

Click on the link below for a 30 min video from the owner of the hotel

https://youtu.be/Lz1KpB1-Be4?si=lif-pFymdLHKHid-

Finished the day with a delicious dessert after another grand dinner

Day 9- Tuesday June 17th 2025

Geiranger-Bergen

Our day started with one last amazing breakfast in Geiranger. We then boarded the bus on a rainy morning for our journey to Bergen.

A full day of scenic overload on our full-day journey from Geiranger to Bergen today. First up a ferry ride across Geirangerfjord then travel via motorcoach past tiny villages, tumbling waterfalls, and steep mountains plunging into the placid fjord waters.

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After leaving the ferry we journey through beautiful Nordic landscapes

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A stop for restrooms and coffee

Later, we crossed stunning Sognefjord, a 125-mile-long waterway (and UNESCO World Heritage site) that reaches halfway across Norway.

A wonderful bowl of asparagus soup for lunch

We arrived in Bergen in early evening, checked into our hotel (Raddison Blu Royal), and enjoyed dinner together at the hotel.

There was a break in the rain we had all day, so after dinner the group decided to take advantage of the clear weather to take the funicular up for the panoramic views

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After coming back down on the funicular we left the group and walked in the famous wharf district

We finished this long day with a well deserved treat

Day 10- Wednesday June 18th 2025

Bergen

Today we had a full day and evening in lovely Bergen. After breakfast we met our tour guide in the hotel lobby. She took us on a walking tour, starting with the old city fortress, followed by Saint Maria church, and then the old warehouse district of Bryggen. Maria Church, the city’s oldest building, dates back to 1100 CE; Bergenhus fortress, origins date to the 13th centurY. This UNESCO World Heritage site boasts colorful houses packed tightly together, where Hanseatic merchants toiled in the 14th and 15th centuries.

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The guided tour ended mid morning and we were on our own for the reminder of the day. We stopped by a local bakery for a treat before venturing out. Yum!

First up, the colorful fish market. Despite the rain the market was an active place, full of shoppers

Some of Bergen’s architecture dates to the 12th century, and we passed by some of the town’s most venerable buildings, but not before seeing a familiar site, McDonald’s complete with a walk up (drive through”) window 😊. The fish market offered some interesting local cuisine options

A light rain today, but we made the best of it and toured Bergen undeterred by the weather (which did eventually clear up later in the day)

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Scenes from a rainy Bergen

We decided to use the local “hop on hop off” bus to get a better sense of the overall city, give our feet a break and get out of the rain. The narration in English was very informative

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We hopped off the bus for an early (4 o’clock) dinner at a popular restaurant. We didn’t have a reservation, and were fortunate to get there early. We were seated at the last available table.

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After ordering we enjoyed a local Pilsner while waiting for our food..Reindeer Steak and Lamb Stew

After dinner, more wandering and wonderment

A memorial to Norway’s seafarers

The indoor fish market

We finished the day by getting a 2nd hand knitted Norwegian sweater for Sally (the first was in Geiranger)

Day 11- Thursday June 19th 2025

Bergen-Lofthus

A VERY FULL DAY TODAY…..This morning, we departed Bergen and headed to the village of Lofthus in Norway’s Western Fjord District of snowcapped mountains, pristine fjords, and abundant orchards.

En route we stopped at Steindal Waterfall and watched the water plummet more than 150 feet, and enjoying the unique experience of walking behind the sheets of water cascading down

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More dramatic scenery as we drive to our next stop. Everyone snapping pictures and making their best effort to avoid the bus window reflections

Our next stop late this morning was the floating Hardanger Akvasenter salmon farm; the deep, clean waters of Hardanger make up one of the four major fish farm regions worldwide. This specific farm is set up to showcase salmon farming, to Norwegians and tourists

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15,000 salmon here!

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What a treat! A lunch featuring several salmon variations , in an incredible setting

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Back on the bus and more beautiful scenery, BUT not until our bus driver Morton tested OK on the mandatory breathalyzer (built into the bus). The bus ignition will not start until the driver does this

As we continued todays journey we passed by several much larger salmon farms

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We’ve passed through MANY tunnels, but this next one was special with a traffic circle IN THE TUNNEL! Followed by a large suspension bridge carrying us over the fjord. Tomorrow we’ll pass through here again

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Despite the rain the magnificent landscapes keep rolling by our windows, often VERY close to the edge the road, and frequently slowing to maneuver past oncoming traffic. Our driver was truly masterful!

We arrived in Lofthus and were treated to scenes of hillsides of seemingly non stop orchards of apples, pears, plums, cherries (those with the netting to keep the birds off). Lofthus is the location of our next hotel for tonight and tomorrow .

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Next stop a fruit farm to enjoy a tasting of locally produced, handcrafted hard cider. The Hardangerfjord region of Norway is known for its unique climate ideal for growing fruits. We toured the orchard on the bus with narration by the owner of the orchard which has been in his family for 5 generations

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Inside a lovely tasting room the owner provided an in depth explanation of the cider making processes, while we tasted of two hard ciders and one non-alcoholic version..DELICIOUS 😊

I purchased a bottle of the red (190 Kroners…19$ US)
The sun cast soothing long shadows as it started to fall below the mountain peaks. Time to head to the hotel which as very nearby
Hotel Ullensvang – 1st Class..AGAIN!

https://www.hotelullensvang.no/

Arrival…Check In…Room Keys

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Another room with a fantastic view

Once again an amazing array of food to choose from at the dinner buffet

WOW! What a day. Time to rest and recharge our “Batteries” because hard to imagine but tomorrow will be more intense that today

Day 12- Friday June 20th 2025

Lofthus-Flam

Our day started with the sun coming up VERY early and a gorgeous view from our hotel room

After a delightful breakfast the group gathered in the hotel lobby and then loaded into the bus for a day of extreme beauty and diverse transportation. The bus, boat and train excursion is often referred to as “Norway in a nutshell”.

Our driver expertly takes us from Lofthus to Gudvangen where we will catch a ferry. Our path takes us along the shore of the fjord, fruit tree orchards, and quant houses and villages.

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Once again we cross over the Hardanger suspension bridge and go through the tunnel with the round about

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Coming out of the tunnel we are treated to more amazing scenery, the stillness of the waters in the fjord provide incredible reflections. We eventually stop at yet another spectacular waterfall

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Arriving in Gudvangen mid- morning, we picked up a boxed lunch and board our ferry headed to Flåm.

On board for 2 hours, we experience the grandeur of Naeroyfjord, an arm of the Sognefjord, and also view the Aurland fjords in the Flåm Valley.

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We arrived in Flåm midday for a very brief 30 min visit

Next we experienced an incredibly scenic ride aboard the Flåm Railway, an excursion that ascends nearly 2,900 feet through the steep and narrow Flåm Valley. A masterpiece of engineering along precipitous mountainsides, the railway took nearly 20 years to construct – and as we saw, it was well worth the effort. During the 50-minute ride, we sped through 20 tunnels (18 of which were excavated by hand), curve around 21 hairpin bends, marvel at the mighty Kjosfossen Waterfall as it plunges from ledge to ledge, a journey full of breathtaking views. Though the ride is less than an hour, it provided memories to last a lifetime.

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We scrambled from one side of the train to the other each time another beautiful vista appeared.

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Kjosfossen Waterfall

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Once we arrived in Myrdal, we switched trains and travel to Voss where we met our motorcoach, which brought us back to the hotel.

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We arrived in time to enjoy dinner together at the hotel.

Day 13- Saturday June 21st 2025

Lofthus-Oslo

After filling up at the breakfast buffet at the hotel we step outside for one last view of the fjord. Beautiful!

Back on the bus to drive through more incredible scenery along the fjord

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En route to Oslo today, we first visited the fjord village of Eidfjord and tour the much-admired Hardanger Nature Center, which informs guests about the way human beings and nature interact in Norway.

Upon arriving at the Naturesenter we go immediately inside to the theater, where we watch (experience) a fabulous 20 min IMAX 20 movie of the extraordinary vistas of the Hardanger fjord district. The drone filmed footage had us feeling like we’re flying above all this beauty. We were so impressed we bought a copy of the movie to bring home and enjoy and relive the memories

https://www.norsknatursenter.no/panoramafilmen

https://www.norsknatursenter.no/

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We then spent an hour walking around this lovely place

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Our tour director pointed out the creative way they “mow” the roof…GOATS! 😊

We stopped at a small town for lunch. We decided to go to the market and get some carrot bread (sliced with in store bread slicer), goat cheese, serrano ham, and a hard wild berry cider, and the had a picnic on a bench in a park close to where the bus was parked

Back on the road again, descended through tunnels and traversed hairpin curves as we continued making our way to Oslo.

We stopped again in Fossli for a magnificent view of the mighty and popular Vøringfoss Waterfall, Norway’s most famous, with a vertical drop of nearly 600 feet. The weather was great, the Sun and the mist combined for a wonderful rainbow

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Then we began our route across the wild and barren Hardangervidda, Europe’s largest mountain plateau, which provides grazing lands for reindeer herds. We passed the resort town of Geilo, travel through the farm-dotted landscape of Hallingdal Valley, and proceeded along Lake Kroederen. Along the way we get a glimpse of one of several glaciers in the area

This road is a major byway and is kept open in through the winter. To guide the snowplows the edge of the road is marked with 12ft tall poles

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Staying hydrated! The bus had plenty of bottled water and often a “Bottle Brigade” would start up passing bottles of water back from the front of the bus 😊

We arrived in Oslo in early evening, checked in to the Raddison Blu Plaza hotel, conveniently located in the center of the city. The elevators were a technological marvel

We had a great view from our room on the 16th floor

The day before, while on the bus we made dinner reservations for 7:45 at Engebret Cafe. The oldest restaurant in Oslo

The greeter was kind enough to give us outdoor seating for 6. We were joined by two couples from South Carolina who were also on the trip with whom we had struck up a friendship

The weather was PERFECT

Our waiter was a wonderful fellow. Very engaging and helpful
More reindeer steak
Tom and a Gin & Tonic

After dinner we strolled through the streets making our way down to the harbor and the impressive Oslo Opera House, which we will tour tomorrow

Unfortunately we had left behind a carrying back on the Flam train. Our tour director worked arrangements to have it brought on a train to Oslo and left at the lost and found. Unfortunately it never arrived in Oslo before we left. Not a big deal, there was nothing of value in the bag

Back at the hotel.Goodnight Oslo

Day 14- Sunday June 22nd 2025

Oslo

We are definitely going to miss the daily routine of having a big breakfast. Look at this an entire section catering to Sally’s dietary needs. Hurray 😊👍

We met our city guide at the hotel, boarded the bus for a short panoramic “”window” bus tour of the city. Our panoramic morning bus tour introduced us to Oslo’s highlights, including the Royal Palace, built in the early 19th century; the imposing Askershus Fortress and Castle, around which Oslo was planned; and Akerbrygge, the redeveloped harbor area.

We then made our first stop Vigeland (Frogner) Park, a large park filled with Gustav Vigeland’s renowned bronze and granite sculptures of human figures

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Back on the bus for a quick ride to the Historical Museum, and a special exhibit “VIKINGR” where relics from the Viking age are on display

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Yesterday while we were on the bus making our way to Oslo Sally made reservations for a guided tour of our next stop, the magnificent Oslo Opera House. At this point we left the group and spent the rest of the day adventuring on our own

To save some time, and take a break from walking we took a cab from the museum to the Opera House. Pricey but worth the $$$ today. We arrived about 30 minutes before the start time of the tour, so we took advantage of the cafe in Opera House, got a local brew, and enjoyed the beautiful weather and the view in the outside dining area

Back inside we met up with our guide (retired opera singer) and the English speaking group

The hour tour was wonderful and very informative. In addition to seeing the spectacular performance area, we went “backstage” and were amazed at how much more there was that the general public is not aware of and never sees

Next… A LONG walk to the Oslo City Hall, and it’s beautiful grand hall

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Norway’s Parliament building was a short walk from City Hall. We were hoping to get a look inside, but entry is by tour and the only tour had already happened earlier in the day

Karl Johans gate is a long pedestrian avenue lined with shops and filled with people. We walked along this promenade until we arrived at Oslo’s Cathedral

The cathedral’s beautiful and ornate interior is in contrast to is simple, some might say stark exterior

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After enjoying a short organ recital at the cathedral we found ourselves back at the waterfront, and the Opera House, but this time walked around the roof of this massive structure. All marble!

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Breathtaking views of the city reflected in the glass panels

A public sauna house (floating). People come to the sauna, and after getting heated and sweating they jump in the fjord to cool down

We were there for the summer solstice, every year on 23 June there is a celebration which includes a giant bonfire in the harbor. This year the fuel for the bonfire was a large wooden octopus

Although we didn’t use it much, Oslo has a great public transportation system

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Finished the day with a cocktail (pink gin & tonic) on the 34th floor of our hotel, followed by time in the sauna and the pool

Back in the hotel room..Goodnight Oslo

Day 15- Monday June 23rd 2025

Oslo

While the rest of our group spent the morning in Bygdoy, at the nearby Kon-Tiki Museum, home to Thor Heyerdahl’s famed Kon-Tiki raft and the reed boat RAII, we chose to skip it and focus on further exploring Oslo.

First stop today, the public library. Norwegian Chancellor and businessman Carl Deichman bequeathed his collection of 6,000 books to the citizens of Christiania (now Oslo) in 1785. It was named the world’s best new public library in 2021. It took 4 years to build and opened in June 2020

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Next we walked around the outside of the ground floor of the Opera House to peer through the windows at the workshops we saw from the inside yesterday (but weren’t allowed to take pictures)

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The Munch Museum, dedicated to the life and work of Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The museum contains at least one print of every painting that Munch created throughout his life, and more than half of his original creations.

Self Portraits
“The Scream” Perhaps his most famous and well known painting. He created three versions, each of the originals are on display

The 3 originals are displayed in a very dark room. Each picture is stored behind an individual door. One door at a time opens and the picture is viewable for 30 minutes. Then the door closes and the door for the next picture opens

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The BEST view of the Oslo waterfront and surrounding skyline is to be has from the observation deck atop the Munch Museum. SPECTACULAR!

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Lunchtime. We had researched places to eat and this one was highly recommended, it didn’t disappoint. As we walked up we were surprised to see a heavy police presence. Turns out the French President was making a State visit to Norway, the first in 40 years. He was staying in the hotel where the cafe was where we had lunch. The French and Norwegian flags were everywhere, even the public toilets displayed the tri-colors

We started with some sparkling water and a very tasty Gin & Tonic

The sun was shining and we soaked it up with outdoor seating

And the food…Incredible, right there at the top of the list of one of the best meals we had on the whole trip

One more trip to “Dale Of Norway”. Store had a limited selection, but nonetheless beautiful stuff. No purchases today

We stopped into a store that specializes in traditional Norwegian outfits. We chatted with the sales people and found out this type of expensive clothing is bought for very special occasions, wedding, confirmations, formal gatherings

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The city’s nickname Tigerstaden (“The Tiger City”),

Since then Oslo has been known as “The Tiger City”, but these days it’s not necessarily meant as a negative thing. “The Tiger City” can be an excitingand happening place rather than dangerous.

Farewell Dinner

As is the norm for Odyessys trips we finish with a group dinner. We gathered together at a downtown Italian restaurant for a farewell dinner to celebrate a great trip and say our goodbyes. Everyone will move on tomorrow, many continuing on to Stockholm, the rest of us taking the long journey home

Last Group Shot..Waiting for the bus to

Day 16- Tuesday June 24th 2025

Oslo- Depart For USA

The rest of the group had early flights and had to skip breakfast and be on the road at 6 AM..Ugh! Our Oslo to Copenhagen flight didn’t depart until 1:30 in the afternoon, so a private van came and picked us up (just us!) and brought us to the airport

Before checking in with the airline (SAS) we were successful in getting a refund for the value added tax, which was substantial as a result of Sally’s sweater purchases. Check in with the airline & customs went smoothly

Had a 2 1/2 hr layover in Copenhagen. 8 hour flight to Washington Dulles left on time. Thankful for Global Entry thru customs on our arrival. We arrived back home exhausted around 10 pm, but filled with wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.

THANK YOU……ODYSSEYS UNLIMITED, DAVIDE FANCIULLI (TOUR DIRECTOR), MORTON (DRIVER), CITY GUIDES, FELLOW TRAVELERS, AND THE FRIENDLY PEOPLE OF NORWAY AND DENMARK