MUSEUMS ON BYGDOY

 Our first full day in Oslo, the weather was hot, the sky was clear, the waters of Oslofjord looked very inviting indeed. 
Do we swim to Bygdoy or take a ferry????

We took a ferry!
And from that vantage point we got to see the vibrancy of Oslo's waterfront area.
Our destination was Bygdoy, a peninsula that swings around, so that the end of it is opposite the Oslo docks.  It is in Bygdoy that some very important museums reside & it was to them that we were bound.

The Norsk Folk Museum has 150 reconstructed buildings from throughout Norwegian history.  Spread around an area fleshed out with woodland, it is an incredibly enjoyable way to spend time, going from one to the other.  There was a strong emphasis on farm buildings from different regions, but there were other treasures as well.

 I was MORE than happy to see another Stave Kirk, even if this is the combination of three.  If that's what it takes to preserve them... then that's ok with me!!!

 Inside, we were overwhelmed by the quality & clarity of the painted decorations & I was so impressed that in the dim light, Jeff was able to get this photo!!

 Elsewhere in the museum, we discovered that it was common for the more wealthy farmer to have a rather elaborate Guest Hut on his farm.  Some of the buildings had appropriately dressed & informed guides, & it was here that we learned about a trend throughout Europe during the middle ages, to sleep sitting up.  There were all sorts of superstitions about the dangers of lying flat to sleep!!  This explains why some of the beds seem so short to us.

We hadn't expected that the site would actually include a working farm with animals & crops.  This meant an opportunity to showcase some of the fencing methods used over time. This one looked spectacular as well as being functional.

We couldn't get over how even the humblest of buildings were often given the decorative treatment.  This was for grain & food storage & is raised so that rats don't get to the food.

 Aside from the buildings, there were a number of exhibitions as well.  We didn't go to all of them, but we definitely went to the one about the Sami people.  What a rich culture they have.  We were both fascinated with the vibrant colour of their costumes & wondered where their red dye comes from, but of course... there wasn't any information about that!!

To be honest we could have spent all day at the Folk Museum, it was far more interesting than either of us expected.
HOWEVER, there was another museum just around the corner & it was luring calling to us!  Jeff was a very happy little vegemite when we finally got inside the Viking Ship museum & saw the Oseberg Viking ship & it's associated treasure.

The photo doesn't do the size or detail justice.  This was breathtaking.

 As were the grave goods that were buried with it.
Absolutely breathtaking.
This experience was marred by two things. 
Sadly, like a lot of European countries, Oslo hasn't got used to the fact that 'heat waves' are pretty much to be expected in summer these days.  They've been happening for a few years now, & STILL the concept of air conditioning or even electric fans hasn't quite filtered into the brain cells!  Add to this the HOARDS of tour groups who seem to descend on this museum like locusts.  This combination meant that we were doing our best to enjoy a much anticipated museum whilst feeling as if we were in a sauna.
We took a lot of photos in the hope that we could go back over  & look more thoroughly in a cooler, quieter space.

 From one ship to another!
It was essential that we go to the Fram museum, as we had 'met' Roald Amundsen & learnt a little of his explorations whilst visiting the Polar Museum in Tromso.  This museum houses his boat, the Fram.
This was an outstandingly set out museum & I think we both would have liked to have spent more time here, if it hadn't have been so airless & hot.

There was one last museum we gathered our remaining resources of energy to see, & that was the Kontiki Expedition museum.  A smaller museum, but very engaging & interesting.  It houses the Kontiki & through a series of displays tells the story of Thor Heyerdahl & his team as they set out to cross the Pacific Ocean on this balsa wood boat.
I have Dad's copy of the book about this journey, so was quite emotionally moved to see the boat in real life.

The Kontiki was not Thor's only expedition, he also set out to sail the Atlantic on a reed boat.  The Ra2 is housed in the museum & although inspired by Egyptian & Peruvian reed boats, we have also seen similar seagoing vessels made by the Tasmanian Aboriginal community from days gone by.

It was an outstanding day & although almost dropping with fatigue, stinking with sweat & well & truly overheated... we were overwhelmingly grateful for such an opportunity to see so many treasures. Richly blessed indeed.