The new day has brought back the unsettled weather. A bit chilly and very overcast. After another healthy breakfast we set off on a walking expedition along the waterfront, which is only about five minutes from the hotel.

First stop is the Opera House. A big white marble building that sits on the waterfront and rises about three to four stories through various levels. Quite impressive, but one is not quite sure what goes on inside it! It is all a bit austere. Allthego walked up the sloping roofline to the top. Some great views of the harbour and surrounding buildings.

Across the bay there are a few saunas floating on the harbour. The idea is that after the sauna you go for a dunk in the harbour! Quite invigorating, some ladies of various shapes and sizes were having a go. Homealone, managed to get a close up of a couple of gals going in. The sauna would be ok, not sure about the cold plunge!

Further around the waterfront the old medieval Akershus Fortress juts out into the harbour. The oldest parts were built around 1300 by Hakon V, the great Norwegian castle builder. Over the centuries it has been added to and under Christian IV in the late 1500s was converted to a renaissance palace for his family. Since then it has served many purposes being added to and today serves as the administrative headquarters for part of the military.

After some time at the Fortress we moved around the harbour line to the ferry terminal area. This is where the Town Hall overlooks the bay alongside the Nobel Peace Prize Centre.

The Peace Prize Centre houses the history of the Nobel Peace Prize. The prize is administered by the Norwegians, apparently to the ‘annoyance’ of the Swedes who handle the other prizes. Nobel was a Swede. The displays are quite impressive and space is given over to the most recent nominee. It explains the background and reasons for the award. The 2024 one was for a Japanese group fighting to prevent nuclear war and using the countries WWII experiences in the presentation.

Next stop was the Town Hall. From the outside it looks a little bland, a couple of brick towers and adjoining building. Inside it is a different story. Some highly decorated high ceilinged rooms and spaces. Quite impressive even if all the murals and carpet hangings are not to your taste.

The afternoon was drawing to a close but we still had time to drop into The Viking Planet. This is the sort of place made for the tech savy. Lots of interactive stuff about the Vikings that help explain their lifestyle and beliefs. Not endless reading boards with old photos and drawings! Great place, Slobro was in his element here.

We headed back to the hotel and along the way called into the Sir Winston to see what it was like. True to form it felt like an English pub and it had Guinness on tap, so

Allthego had a drop. No food!Further down the street the Cathedral Cafe called us in for dinner. Italian. Oslo seems to be going made about Italian food, it is all over the place from pizza chains through to high end establishments. Homeslone settled for a pesto chicken pasta.

Allthego tried something a little different, reindeer, bacon and mushroom creamy pasta. Rather good, the reindeer very tender and moist!

Back to the hotel for bed, our last day in Oslo to come. Brisbane is battening down for the night in the face of Cyclone Alfred. Will it end up being as bad as predicted? We hope not!