Survivor Ellesmere

Ok, I may have misunderestimated my efficiency at visiting museums. Despite their shortened winter hours, I have managed to get most of what I wanted to do in Oslo done. And, because there is only one daytime train a day to Stockholm from here, and it leaves at three in the afternoon, I should have time to learn about the Sami tomorrow. Then I will have done Oslo.

And what have I done in Oslo? Mostly art. Of all kinds. And mostly free art. Many of the museums here are free anytime of the year, and many of the ones that aren't are free during the winter. So, another benefit to traveling in the winter. Having said that, spring is definately in the air today, as it didn't rain (my first rain-free Norway day! And the only day I had my umbrella!), the Sun was shining, and I could go most of the day without wearing my hat. Though I still think I have perma-hat head.

My favourite part of Oslo was the Fram Museum, something I feel I couldn't have convinced any conceivable traveling partner to visit. It was a half hour bus ride out of the centre, and devoted to the Fram. Which is the ship that has travelled the furthest North and South of any ship ever. It's been further north than me. And south. (But that's not hard to do, at least until I somehow get myself to the South Pole.) The museum was devoted to Norwegian explorers, and their penchant for traveling to the poles. Most of it was an Amundsen love-in, and that was fine by me. Since I know no one else is as fascinated by polar regions as I am, I will spare you the details of all the voyages. But my favourite story is that when Amundsen set out to go to the South Pole (he was the first one to get there) it was meant to be a trip to the North Pole, but since Peary beat him to it, he decided to do something new. Except he didn't tell his crew until they had set sail. In fact, he didn't tell them until they got to Spain. Apparently they were all very confused as to why they were headed south. Then he basically sent Scott (who had set out that way a few weeks earlier) a "race you" telegram. Now that's an explorer for you.

The other highlight of Oslo was the couple making out at the table next to me at the café I had dinner in the other night. Okay, this wasn't the highlight part, but when they went to the washroom to have sex (I presume), and she came back to grab her cell phone, THAT was funny.

I'm halfway through the post-conference section of my trip, and despite the fact that I really haven't been home since mid-February, it hasn't felt like I've been traveling all that long. Except for that my legs are starting to get sore from all the walking I've been doing. The day on the train tomorrow should do me some good.