Norway was one of Europe's more disadvantaged countries until the discovery of offshore oil in 1969. Now the UN repeatedly ranks it the best country in the world to live in. The UN Development Programme bases its annual ranking on an index that measures wealth, education levels and life expectancy. Norway once again ranked first in 2013. It is expensive, but Norway has more per capita $ millionaires (one in every 85) than any other country in the world. They paid off their national debt in 1995 and now have a Government Pension Fund of $750 billion ethically invested overseas.
Feel better for that? Probably not if you live in the UK.
We had dinner last night at a Vietnamese Restaurant which was great value at 330 NK including drinks (11.68NOK = £1). Excellent chop sticky food.
Up and walking down to Karl Johans Gate, the Champs Ellyse of Oslo. Couldn't resist a look in the Michael Kors handbag shop a snip at £350. Further on we passed
Stortorvet the house of parliament.
The Grand Hotel, where Ibsen had his lunch every day.
The ice rink which becomes a fountain in the summer.
The National Theatre with Ibsen before his lunch.
The Princess outside the Royal Palace.
This is the Nobel Peace Centre, a great interactive museum celebrating all the Peace Prize winners since 1901 when it was first awarded. It was a really inspiring visit. It was also here where we bought our Oslo passes. Although 67 is the pensioners age here the man said that if you are a pensioner in your country then you are a pensioner in ours. The card covers all city transport, museums and discount in some restaurants. Very welcome here as you can imagine. Next on the bus to the Viking ship museum.
The 3 ships in this museum are burial ships for Viking kings who died around AD 890. They were excavated in the 19th century but probably plundered for precious metals within 100 years of burial. The Viking Empire's influence which lasted from about AD 800 until 1100 is easy to under estimate. In this time they explored, traded with and to an extent conquered from North America to the Black Sea. The purpose built museum is in itself a star. Next it's the bus back to the city centre and the National Gallery. This should be a real scream.
And some more of Munch's famous and in two cases, stolen images.
Apart from the first which we all know, they are entitled Madonna, the Dance of Life and the Day After. Next is a painting we both thought depicted Norway well. It is called Summer Night.
After coffee and cake we took a tram back to the hotel for a freshen up before dinner at the Scotsman. Tasty lamb shank.
Finally two more images from the Peace Centre. The first was designed by Gerald Holtom in 1958 basing it on the letters N and D from the flag semaphore alphabet to make the CND symbol we all know and love. The second speaks for itself.
