Holmenkollen Ski Museum & Jump
August 17th, 2017
Woke up this morning to a nice quiet sunrise. I was able to enjoy my coffee before anybody woke up!
Next we headed out to the Holmenkollen Ski Museum. This museum is the world's oldest museum dedicated to the history of skiing and is uniquely situated inside the base of the iconic Holmenkollen ski jump. The museum's exhibitions cover 4,000 years of skiing history, from Stone Age rock carvings and Viking-era skis to modern racing equipment and snowboards. They also had interactive exhibits where you can feel the thrill of a ski jump in the on-site ski simulator, and an activity exhibit called "Winter Joy".
Sculpture outside the Holmenkollen Ski Museum.
We took an elevator to take you to the observation deck at the top of the steel ski jump for a magnificent panoramic view of Oslo and the surrounding forest and fjord. From here, you can “zip-line” down to the bottom. Wendell and Grace took the zip-line down. Wendell went first, then Grace went. She decided to add some thrill to it and did the whole trip down upside-down! I chickened out and took the elevator back down.
We aalked to Karl Johans Gate is Oslo's main street, a bustling boulevard connecting the Central Station to the Royal Palace, filled with shops, cafes, historic buildings like the Parliament and National Theatre, street performers, and iconic statues, making it the city's central hub for shopping, culture, and people-watching. It's a key pedestrian thoroughfare, known for its blend of old-world charm with modern city life and extensive public transport access.
Then we walked over to the Oslo Opera House. The Oslo Opera House, designed by the Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta, is a striking modern landmark located in the Bjørvika neighborhood at the head of the Oslofjord. It is renowned for its unique, sloping, walk-on roof, which makes the building a public space and offers panoramic views of the city and harbor.
