Meeting an old friend on Norway's Independence Day

17 May 2022. Norwegian Independence Day.

On this day in 1814 Norway ratified its constitution cutting its 400-year-old ties to Denmark. And, after two years of Covid and no celebrations, the Norwegians were out in both number and fashion to make this holiday extra-special.

It was a real treat for Susie and I to be here. One load of laundry down and another in the washer-dryer we left the apartment on a gorgeous Tuesday morning and strolled the few blocks to the train station. We quickly found ourselves amidst all the party-goers heading towards downtown to see the parade of marching bands and schoolchildren all dressed in various colorful regional costumes -- as were thousands of adults, too, I might add. 

Our first objective was less exciting. We headed to the train station where we were relieved to find that the banking system was back up. We made our ticket purchase for the Myrdahl-Flåm-Myrdahl train, known as the Flåmbana, for the next leg of our journey. Even though we now had some local currency, all the stores we closed so we would have to wait until Wednesday to get the rest of our groceries. No matter, we're pretty much set for today.

heading to the train station

the tram that runs along our street

Oslo train station

Leaving the train station we wandered around the growing crowds of people heading up from the station in the direction of the royal palace. We opted to stroll away from the bulk of the crowds and head for the nearby waterfront. 

memorial to some of those who died during World War II

Across from the train station and along what used to be an old container holding facility, scattered amidst all the new high-rise apartments (like ours) are two of the city's major attractions: the Munch museum and the opera.

Walking toward the opera we were immediately struck by its roofline, which is in fact an enormous sloped walkway that takes you up to the top of the building proper. Walking up isn't as strenuous as it looks but you have to watch out for the uneven sloped elements, probably designed to break up rainwater as it runs down the building.

Once at the top of the building the views of both the harbor and the city are quite impressive.

view of the nearby Munch museum

our apartment in far distance to the left of the red brick building

walking down can be equally tricky

Since we still had about an hour before meeting Berenice for lunch, from the opera we walked back to our apartment, an easy 10 - 15-minute stroll. After taking care of a few home chores we headed over to the entrance of the Munch museum where Berenice was waiting for us.

We first met Berenice when she was an exchange student living with one of Susie's cousin's family just outside of Grand Rapids. A French citizen, Berenice ended up staying in the USA to finish her accounting degree at a local Michigan university and then becoming a CPA. She eventually returned to France and then took a job with a French company working in Norway. So, we thought it would be wonderful to get together and catch up. 

Also, her American parents asked us to deliver a belated birthday gift to her and so we accomplished both objectives. And what better day to give someone a birthday gift than on the one day in Norway when everyone wishes each other "Happy birthday!"?

After a round of hugs the three us found a restaurant near the museum (that had yet to be overrun by partygoers) where we had a delicious lunch. Berenice enjoyed the mussels and Susie and I each had a salmon burger.

 

one of hundreds of tables of revelers

part of the cluster of buildings in the so-called Barcode Center, where we are staying

After lunch the three of us attempted to stroll to the royal palace and catch the tail end of the official festivities but we got held up by the sheer number of people trying to do the same thing. Still, we got to see and hear the Norwegian Army band play the national anthem as the finale.

policewomen on horseback

the army band

Since we could get no further up to the royal palace we decided that "discretion was the better part of valor" and walked back down to the train station.

We chatted about one thing or another all the time weaving in and out of the huge throngs of people, a flow of humanity that always seemed to be headed in the opposite direction.

Eventually we had to say goodbye to Berenice. She was off to meet up with a friend before her two hour drive back to her digs south of Oslo. It was great fun to be with her on Norwegian National Independence Day!

We headed back to the apartment to relax and gather our wits. The sun was too bright to ignore and the crowds walking below our apartment too tempting to join so out we went for an evening stroll before supper. 

We made our way past apartment buildings dotted with groups celebrating on their balconies, past cafes and restaurants on the ground floor of nearly all the apartment buildings full of folks enjoying their special day. We ended up strolling past the Munch museum and caught sight of their bar on the waterfront. As soon as we walked in to find a seat the bartender directed us inside to the elevator and up to the 13th floor Skybar. 

And so we did.

the Munch from the waterfront

the Skybar

Leaving the museum's Skybar we walked back out into the warm sun and joined the ebb and flow of humanity once again. We noticed in the water just off the museum was what appeared to be a raft with a little shed on it. Looking closer we could see the shed was actually a sauna. Sauna then cold plunge!

Continuing our stroll we passed plenty of partying folks in the cafe at the base of the opera 

And as we walked along the quay facing the opera we happened across this small group celebrating independence day in their own special way:

Even though the sun was still high in the sky it was time for us to make our way home and prepare dinner. A fine day for us, Berenice and for the Norwegians.

Tomorrow we're off to explore Oslo!