Viking Vibes to Modern Marvels

The inlet of the Skagerrak strait, connects Oslo to the North Sea. It stretches about 62 miles from the city to the open sea. About halfway down the fjord is a narrow passage near the town of Drøbak. At the Drøbak Narrows is the Oscarsborg Fortress, built in the mid-19th century. The fortress gained fame during World War II when, on April 9, 1940, its forces sank the German heavy cruiser Blücher. This action delayed the Nazi invasion of Oslo, allowing the Norwegian royal family, government, and parliament to evacuate the capital. Our captain pointed out the exact spot where we were traveling over the sunken German warship. Breathtaking views accompanied our journey to Oslo, while crisp, cool air and sunny skies provided a beautiful backdrop for our entry into the port.

This is our second visit to Oslo, Norway whose history dates back to the middle Ages. The Oslo Fjord area played a crucial role during the Viking Age (793-1066 AD). Viking homelands includes modern day Norway, Sweden and Denmark. This is wehre language, religion and customs originated but Oslo and the surrounding area was not a Viking Settlement, as shown on the following map.

We had intended to visit the Viking Museum on this trip, however it was closed for renovation. While Oslo wasn't founded until after the Viking Age (around 1040 AD), the city and its surroundings bear the cultural and historical imprint of Viking civilization. Yet the town has a reputation as one of the world's most modern cities. The Opera House, for example, has a striking design that invites one to walk on the roof.

Modern glass skyscrapers were interspersed among the city's historical sites, parks, restaurants, and sea-faring vessels docked along shore.

Though our visit was brief, it offered a tantalizing glimpse of a city that seamlessly weaves its Viking past with a progressive future.