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| Monday, November 9th, 2009 | | 3:01 pm |
| | Friday, November 6th, 2009 | | 3:02 pm |
| | Saturday, October 10th, 2009 | | 3:02 pm |
| | Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 | | 3:05 pm |
| | Saturday, September 26th, 2009 | | 3:00 pm |
| | Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 | | 3:02 pm |
| | Monday, September 21st, 2009 | | 3:05 pm |
| | Friday, September 11th, 2009 | | 3:01 pm |
| | Thursday, September 10th, 2009 | | 3:00 pm |
| | Monday, September 7th, 2009 | | 3:03 pm |
| | Monday, August 31st, 2009 | | 3:02 pm |
| | Sunday, August 30th, 2009 | | 3:01 pm |
| | Saturday, August 29th, 2009 | | 3:01 pm |
| | Friday, August 28th, 2009 | | 3:02 pm |
| | Thursday, August 27th, 2009 | | 3:02 pm |
| | Friday, July 3rd, 2009 | | 9:47 am |
Question for all those really smart people out there (and the not so smart who have taken the GRE)
So.... I'm seriously considering taking the GRE/going back to school for a number of reasons (but that is a whole other post :) I've got no real grasp of what the GRE entails. I've started to look at GRE prep courses and they are EXPENSIVE!!! Most I've found are around $1000. My Alma mater does have a GRE prep course for $500. So, I've picked up the book they require and started to look at it. My questions are to those who have taken the prep course and/or taken the GRE. Are the courses worth it? Do they really teach you $500 worth of material? My biggest thing with the course is that I am a verbal/group learner. It seems like the GRE prep book is just a lot of memorization of word definitions, root words and math equations, so I wonder if learning/relearning this type of material (which is stuff I already know, just haven't looked at in 5-10 years) needs a $500 course. Can the course really help me with the written parts of the exam? I'm also thinking about taking the course just to get myself more grounded in what the GRE IS!!! and what it will look like/feel like to take it. Of course, the other thing is the money. I def. have the money for the course in the bank, but it's a big chunk of change that I could do other things with... Anyway, any hints/thoughts/suggestions on studying for the GRE, taking the GRE and the prep courses would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! | | Monday, May 5th, 2008 | | 8:13 pm |
Mom told me to post this ;)
So, this was a facebook post that I sent to my mom, dad, sister and brother. All of whom know the author of the book that I am refering to. In fact it was my brother and sister who introduced us to him. The book I'm refering to is called "Brother Astronomer: Adventures of a Vatican Scientist" by Brother Guy Consolmagno. When we made our family trip to Italy, we took an afternoon and had a tour of Castle Gandalfo (sp??) and had dinner with Brother Guy. These are my thoughts on the book right after finishing it. -------- So, I borrowed the book Brother Astronomer from mom when I was up in Boston and I just finished reading it. Wow... It reminded me how unique Ian and my experiences growing up have been. Having a "scientific" father and a "religous" mother has given me a different view of the world. Brother Guy's book is simple and humble, but from the point of view of someone who has taken numerous courses studying "the philosophy of science" it is also very profound. He talks about paradigm shifts through the history of science and how religion has influenced those shifts (Galileo, Grassi, Tycho etc). For myself and my education in this area, I had one major proffessor and she was very bias. It was evident that she has a bias against the Christian (nevermind Catholic) church. Because of her own prejudice (or whatever it was) she taught with the idea in mind that the Christian Church was stagnent and lacked the vision to embrace science and philosophy. It was very good for me to read his book and see how his two worlds blend for him. (I may have to send this prof. a copy of his book - try to show her a different point of view!) It reminded me that although I was raised (whether intentionally or not) that science and religion can be the same thing (in a very odd way) it is something that has to be worked at. To me, his ideas of blending religion and science have the makings of a new paridigm shift in the scientific and religious communities. One thing that his book got me thinking about is the idea of creationism or "elegant design" verses evolution. His book made me think about the ideas on a more complex, sophisticated level than what the mainstream public (especially here in Florida) thinks of. It was cool to read about his POV of the world. There was something very cool about reading his book, having met him. Even tho he is approaching the topic with a Christian POV, it still spoke to me in ways I'm still trying to figure out. So, mom, thanks for letting me borrow the book. Ian and Lis, thanks for introducing us to him. He's a very cool Guy ;) | | Sunday, May 14th, 2006 | | 9:46 am |
Dear Mom...
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!Ok. I said it. :) Love you!!! | | Sunday, April 23rd, 2006 | | 1:07 pm |
Sorry if this is boring you... but here are some interesting things I've found out/things to do... 1. One final point: Oslovians love nature. They devote much time to pursuits in the forests and on the fjords. It takes only half an hour by tram to go from the Royal Palace to the 119m (390 ft.) Tryvann Observation Tower, where you can enjoy a view over Oslo Marka, the giant forest. The Krogskogen forest was the setting for many Norwegian folk tales about princesses, kings, penniless heroes, and the inevitable forest trolls. From this observation tower in the summer, you can look down on hundreds of sailboats, motorboats, and windsurfers among the numerous islands of the Oslo archipelago. 2.Taking the Ferry to Bygdøy -- The Bygdøy peninsula offers a treasure trove of attractions including Viking ships, Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki, seafood buffets, a sailboat harbor, and bathing beaches. At the folk museum are old farmsteads, houses, and, often, folk dancing. 3. Visitor Information--Assistance and information for visitors are available at the Tourist Information Office, Vestbaneplassen 1, N-0250 Oslo (tel. 22-83-00-50). Free maps, brochures, sightseeing tickets, and guide services are available. The office is open from June to August daily 9am to 7pm; May and September Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm; and October to April Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm. The information office at the Oslo Sentralstasjon (Central Station), Jernbanetorget 1, is open daily from 8am to 11pm. There's no phone. 4. The Oslo Card (Oslo-Kortet) can help you become acquainted with the city at a fraction of the usual price. It allows free travel on public transportation, free admission to museums and other top sights, discounts on sight-seeing buses and boats, a rebate on your car rental, and special treats in restaurants. You can purchase the card at hotels, fine stores, and tourist information offices, from travel agents, and in the branches of Sparebanken Oslo Akershus. Adults pay 180NOK ($24) for a 1-day card, 270NOK ($36) for 2 days, and 410NOK ($55) for 3 days. Children's cards cost 60NOK ($8), 80NOK ($11), and 110NOK ($15). The 24-hour Tourist Ticket (Turistkort) lets you travel anywhere in Oslo by bus, tram, subway, local railway, or boat, including the Bygdøy ferries in the summer. The Tourist Ticket costs 40NOK ($5.30) for adults, half price for children 4 to 15; children under 4 travel free. The ticket will be stamped when it's used for the first time and is good for the next 24 hours. 5. Restrooms-- Clean public toilets can be found throughout the city center, in parks, and at all bus, rail, and air terminals. For a detailed list, contact the Tourist Information Office. 6. Police-- Dial tel. 112 7. Safety-- Of the four Scandinavian capitals, Oslo is widely considered the safest. However, don't be lulled into a false sense of security. Oslovians no longer leave their doors unlocked. Be careful, and don't carry your wallet visibly exposed or sling your purse over your shoulder. 8. For information about tram and bus travel, call Trafikanten (tel. 22-05-70-37), located in front of the Central Station. For information about train travel, go to the Central Station or call tel. 23-15-00-00. 9. A Royal Pair: The Un-Fairy Tale Romance--Prince Haakon of Norway may be a direct descendant of Queen Victoria, but he shares little in common with this staunch monarch. Instead of going to Balliol College in Oxford, as did his father, King Garald V, Haakon was a fun-loving young man on campus at the University of California at Berkeley. When it came to taking a bride, as he did in Oslo on August 25, 2001, he shocked conservative Norway, challenging one of the world's most tolerant and enlightened societies. Crown Prince Haakon married Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby (whom he called, "the love of my life"), an unconventional royal pairing. The prince had never been married before, but the princess and future queen of Norway was a divorcée and mother. The couple lived together before marriage in the palace with her 3-year-old son by a previous marriage to a convicted cocaine supplier. 10. Båtservice Sightseeing, Rådhusbrygge 3, Rådhusplassen (tel. 23-35-68-90), offers a 50-minute boat tour. You'll see the harbor and the city, including the ancient fortress of Akershus and the islands in the inner part of the Oslofjord. Cruises depart from Pier 3 in front of the Oslo Rådhuset (City Hall). They run from mid-May to late August, daily on the hour from 11am to 8pm during the high season, less frequently at the beginning and end of the season. Tickets are 90NOK ($12) for adults, 40NOK ($5.30) for children. If you have more time, take a 2-hour cruise through the maze of islands and narrow sounds in the Oslofjord. From May to September, they leave daily at 10:30am and 1, 3:30, and 5:45pm; the cost is 165NOK ($22) for adults, 80NOK ($11) for children. Refreshments are available on board. The 2-hour fjord cruise with lunch runs from May to mid-September. It leaves daily at 10:30am and costs 295NOK ($39) for adults, 155NOK ($21) for children. Lunch is served at Lanternen Restaurant after the cruise. The 2-hour evening fjord cruise includes a seafood buffet, also at the Lanternen. It's offered from late June to August, daily at 3:30 and 5:45pm. Prices are 295NOK ($39) for adults, 155NOK ($21) for children. 11. H. M. Kristiansens Automobilbyrå, Hegdehaugsveien 4 (tel. 22-20-82-06), has been showing visitors around Oslo for more than a century. Both of their bus tours are offered daily year-round. The 3-hour "Oslo Highlights" tour is offered at 10am and 1:30pm. It costs 250NOK ($33) for adults, 130NOK ($17) for children. The 2-hour "Oslo Panorama" tour costs 170NOK ($23) for adults, 90NOK ($12) for children. It departs at 10am and 5:30pm. The starting point is the Norway information center, Vestbaneplassen 1; arrive 15 minutes before departure. Tours are conducted in English by trained guides. 12. [ Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<at [...] below,>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.] Sorry if this is boring you... but here are some interesting things I've found out/things to do... 1. One final point: Oslovians love nature. They devote much time to pursuits in the forests and on the fjords. It takes only half an hour by tram to go from the Royal Palace to the 119m (390 ft.) Tryvann Observation Tower, where you can enjoy a view over Oslo Marka, the giant forest. The Krogskogen forest was the setting for many Norwegian folk tales about princesses, kings, penniless heroes, and the inevitable forest trolls. From this observation tower in the summer, you can look down on hundreds of sailboats, motorboats, and windsurfers among the numerous islands of the Oslo archipelago. 2.Taking the Ferry to Bygdøy -- The Bygdøy peninsula offers a treasure trove of attractions including Viking ships, Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki, seafood buffets, a sailboat harbor, and bathing beaches. At the folk museum are old farmsteads, houses, and, often, folk dancing. 3. Visitor Information--Assistance and information for visitors are available at the Tourist Information Office, Vestbaneplassen 1, N-0250 Oslo (tel. 22-83-00-50). Free maps, brochures, sightseeing tickets, and guide services are available. The office is open from June to August daily 9am to 7pm; May and September Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm; and October to April Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm. The information office at the Oslo Sentralstasjon (Central Station), Jernbanetorget 1, is open daily from 8am to 11pm. There's no phone. 4. The Oslo Card (Oslo-Kortet) can help you become acquainted with the city at a fraction of the usual price. It allows free travel on public transportation, free admission to museums and other top sights, discounts on sight-seeing buses and boats, a rebate on your car rental, and special treats in restaurants. You can purchase the card at hotels, fine stores, and tourist information offices, from travel agents, and in the branches of Sparebanken Oslo Akershus. Adults pay 180NOK ($24) for a 1-day card, 270NOK ($36) for 2 days, and 410NOK ($55) for 3 days. Children's cards cost 60NOK ($8), 80NOK ($11), and 110NOK ($15). The 24-hour Tourist Ticket (Turistkort) lets you travel anywhere in Oslo by bus, tram, subway, local railway, or boat, including the Bygdøy ferries in the summer. The Tourist Ticket costs 40NOK ($5.30) for adults, half price for children 4 to 15; children under 4 travel free. The ticket will be stamped when it's used for the first time and is good for the next 24 hours. 5. Restrooms-- Clean public toilets can be found throughout the city center, in parks, and at all bus, rail, and air terminals. For a detailed list, contact the Tourist Information Office. 6. Police-- Dial tel. 112 7. Safety-- Of the four Scandinavian capitals, Oslo is widely considered the safest. However, don't be lulled into a false sense of security. Oslovians no longer leave their doors unlocked. Be careful, and don't carry your wallet visibly exposed or sling your purse over your shoulder. 8. For information about tram and bus travel, call Trafikanten (tel. 22-05-70-37), located in front of the Central Station. For information about train travel, go to the Central Station or call tel. 23-15-00-00. 9. A Royal Pair: The Un-Fairy Tale Romance--Prince Haakon of Norway may be a direct descendant of Queen Victoria, but he shares little in common with this staunch monarch. Instead of going to Balliol College in Oxford, as did his father, King Garald V, Haakon was a fun-loving young man on campus at the University of California at Berkeley. When it came to taking a bride, as he did in Oslo on August 25, 2001, he shocked conservative Norway, challenging one of the world's most tolerant and enlightened societies. Crown Prince Haakon married Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby (whom he called, "the love of my life"), an unconventional royal pairing. The prince had never been married before, but the princess and future queen of Norway was a divorcée and mother. The couple lived together before marriage in the palace with her 3-year-old son by a previous marriage to a convicted cocaine supplier. 10. Båtservice Sightseeing, Rådhusbrygge 3, Rådhusplassen (tel. 23-35-68-90), offers a 50-minute boat tour. You'll see the harbor and the city, including the ancient fortress of Akershus and the islands in the inner part of the Oslofjord. Cruises depart from Pier 3 in front of the Oslo Rådhuset (City Hall). They run from mid-May to late August, daily on the hour from 11am to 8pm during the high season, less frequently at the beginning and end of the season. Tickets are 90NOK ($12) for adults, 40NOK ($5.30) for children. If you have more time, take a 2-hour cruise through the maze of islands and narrow sounds in the Oslofjord. From May to September, they leave daily at 10:30am and 1, 3:30, and 5:45pm; the cost is 165NOK ($22) for adults, 80NOK ($11) for children. Refreshments are available on board. The 2-hour fjord cruise with lunch runs from May to mid-September. It leaves daily at 10:30am and costs 295NOK ($39) for adults, 155NOK ($21) for children. Lunch is served at Lanternen Restaurant after the cruise. The 2-hour evening fjord cruise includes a seafood buffet, also at the Lanternen. It's offered from late June to August, daily at 3:30 and 5:45pm. Prices are 295NOK ($39) for adults, 155NOK ($21) for children. 11. H. M. Kristiansens Automobilbyrå, Hegdehaugsveien 4 (tel. 22-20-82-06), has been showing visitors around Oslo for more than a century. Both of their bus tours are offered daily year-round. The 3-hour "Oslo Highlights" tour is offered at 10am and 1:30pm. It costs 250NOK ($33) for adults, 130NOK ($17) for children. The 2-hour "Oslo Panorama" tour costs 170NOK ($23) for adults, 90NOK ($12) for children. It departs at 10am and 5:30pm. The starting point is the Norway information center, Vestbaneplassen 1; arrive 15 minutes before departure. Tours are conducted in English by trained guides. 12. <At nearly all restaurants recommended below,> a 15% service charge and the 20% value-added tax are included in the bill. No further tipping is required, although it's customary to leave some small change if the service has been satisfactory. Wine and beer can be lethal to your final bill, so be careful 13. Vikingskiphuset (Viking Ship Museum, University Museum of Cultural Heritage) 14. Suggested Itineraries If You Have 1 Day--Arm yourself with a bag of freshly cooked shrimp and take a ferry to the Bygdøy peninsula. Explore the Viking ships, the polar ship Fram, the Kon-Tiki Museum, the Norwegian Maritime Museum, and the Norwegian Folk Museum. In the late afternoon, go to Frogner Park to admire the Vigeland sculptures. If You Have 2 Days--On your first day, follow the itinerary above. On your second day, take a walking tour, have lunch in a Norwegian restaurant, and explore the Edvard Munch Museum in the afternoon. In the summer, visit the Students' Grove, near the National Theater, for some beer and fresh air. If You Have 3 Days--For your first 2 days, follow the suggestions above. On Day 3, take another walking tour, eating lunch along the way. Explore Akershus Castle and the adjoining Norwegian Resistance Museum in the afternoon. By late afternoon, visit the lofty lookout tower at Tryvannstårnet and see the Skimuseet at Holmenkollen, taking in a panoramic view of the area. Have dinner at Holmenkollen. If You Have 4 or 5 Days--For the first 3 days, follow the itinerary above. On Day 4, head south on an excursion to the Oslofjord country, with stopovers at the Old Town at Fredrikstad; Tønsberg, Norway's oldest town; and Sandefjord, an old whaling town. Head back to Oslo for the night. On Day 5, see the rest of Oslo's major sights, such as the National Gallery, the Historical Museum, and the Henie-Onstad Art Center (11km/7 miles from Oslo), a major museum of modern art. 15. Other sights of special interest to children include the polar exploration ship Fram at the Frammuseet; the balsa-log raft Kon-Tiki at the Kon-Tiki Museum; the Ski Museum, Lookout Tower and ski jump at Holmenkollen; the Norwegian Folk Museum, depicting life in Norway since the Middle Ages; and the ancient Akershus Castle & Fortress on the Oslofjord. 16. Top Attractions If your time in Oslo is limited, you may have time to see only the top attractions. Here they are: Edvard Munch Museum -- This is a showcase of Edvard Munch (1863-1944), who painted The Scream and other works, and became the greatest artist in Scandinavia. The world-famous Scream, however, is in the Nasjonalgalleriet . Frammuseet -- Come here to see the polar ship Fram, built in 1892 and used by three of Norway's most famous explorers, including Nansaen, who sailed across the Arctic. Henie-Onstad Kunstsenter -- Lying on the beautiful Oslo Fjord, this is the largest collection of modern art in Norway. Kon-Tiki Museum -- The highlight here is the world-famous balsa-log raft that Thor Heyerdahl used in 1947 on his sail from Peru to Polynesia. Nasjonalgalleriet -- The national gallery of Norway contains the largest collection of Norwegian and international art in the country. Norwegian Folk Museum -- This outdoor museum consists of 140 original buildings reassembled on 14 hectares (35 acres) of the Bygdøy peninsula. Skimuseet -- At Holmenkollen, this is the most famous ski area in the world with Norway's greatest panorama. Vigelandsparken -- This park showcases 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943), who also designed the layout of the park. Vikingskiphuset -- This Viking ship museum shelters the world's two best-preserved wooden Viking ships dating from the 9th century.  excited | | 12:22 pm |
Walking Tour 2
Walking Tour 2 Start: National Theater. Finish: National Gallery. Time: 2 hours. Best Time: Any day when it's not raining. Worst Times: Rush hours (weekdays 7-9am and 5-7pm). The tour begins at Stortingsgaten 15, just off Karl Johans Gate near the Students' Grove in Oslo's center, site of the: 1. Nationaltheatret--Study your map in front of the Henrik Ibsen statue at the theater, where many of his plays were first performed and are still presented. The Norwegian National Theater (tel. 22-00-14-00), inaugurated in 1899, is one of the most beautiful in Europe. Facing the statue of Ibsen, continue up Stortingsgaten toward the Royal Palace (Slottet). Cut left at the next intersection and walk along Ruselokkveien. On the right, the Vika Shopping Terraces, an unattractive row of modern storefronts tacked onto an elegant 1880 Victorian terrace, used to be among Oslo's grandest apartments. During the Second World War it was the Nazi headquarters. Continue along this complex to the end, turning right onto Dronnings Mauds Gate, which quickly becomes Lokkeveien. At the first building on the right, you come to: 2. Ibsen's private apartment--Look for the blue plaque marking the building. The playwright lived here from 1891 to 1895. When his wife complained that she didn't like the address, even though it was one of Oslo's most elegant, they moved. Ibsen wrote two plays while living here. Turn right onto Arbinsgate and walk to the end of the street until you reach Drammensveien. At Arbinsgate 1 is the: 3. Ibsen Museum--In the first building on the left, at the corner of Arbinsgate and Drammensveien, you'll see an Omega store, but look for the blue plaque on the building. Ibsen lived here from 1895 until his death in 1906. He often sat in the window, with a light casting a glow over his white hair. People lined up in the street below to look at him. The great Italian actress Eleanora Duse came here to bid him a final adieu, but he was too ill to see her. She stood outside in the snow and blew him kisses. The king of Norway used to give Ibsen a key to enter the private gardens surrounding the Royal Palace. Everybody has that privilege today. Turn right on Drammensveien and continue back to the National Theater. Take Karl Johans Gate, on the left side of the theater, and walk east. On your left at Karl Johans Gate 47, you'll pass the: 4. University of Oslo--Aula, the Great Hall of the university,is decorated with murals by Edvard Munch. The hall is open to the public only from June 15 to August 15, daily from noon to 2pm. For information, call tel. 22-85-98-55. Twice a day Ibsen followed this route to the Grand Café. Admirers often threw rose petals in his path, but he pretended not to see. He was called "the Sphinx," because he wouldn't talk to anybody. Take a Break--The Grand Café, Karl Johans Gate 31 (tel. 23-21-20-00), was the center of social life for the literati and the artistic elite, including Munch. It was and still is the most fashionable cafe in Oslo. On the far wall of the cafe you can see Per Krogh's famous mural, painted in 1928. Ibsen, with a top hat and gray beard, is at the far left, and Munch -- called the handsomest man in Norway -- is seated at the second window from the right at the far right of the window. The poet and playwright Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson can be spotted on the street outside (2nd window from the left, wearing a top hat), because he wouldn't deign to come into the cafe. You can order food and drink, a big meal, or a snack. Returning to the street, note the Norwegian Parliament building (Stortinget) on your right. Proceed left and turn left onto Lille Grensen. Cross the major boulevard, Grensen, and walk straight to: 5. Akersgata--This street was used for Ibsen's funeral procession. Services were conducted at the Holy Trinity Church on June 1, 1906. Veer left to see the: 6. Birthplace of Ibsen's son--On your left, at the corner of Teatergata and Akersgata, is the site of the famous Strømberg Theater, which burned down in 1835. It was also a residence, and Ibsen's son was born here in 1859. Also on Akersgata is: 7. Trefoldighetskirken (Holy Trinity Church)--This church was the site of Ibsen's funeral. A little farther along Akersgata is St. Olav's Church. Turn on the right side of this imposing house of worship onto Akersveien and go to: 8. Damplassen--This small square -- one of the most charming in Oslo -- doesn't appear on most maps. Norway's greatest poet, Henrik Wergeland, lived in the pink house on the square from 1839 to 1841. Take a right at the square and head down: 9. Damstredet--The antique, wooden houses along this typical old Oslo street are mainly occupied by artists. Damstredet winds downhill to Fredensborgveien. Here, a left turn and a short walk will take you to Maridalsveien, a busy but dull thoroughfare. As you walk north along this street, on the west side look for a large unmarked gateway with wide stonesteps inside. Climb to the top, follow a little pathway, and go past gardens and flower beds. Pass a set of brick apartment buildings on the left, and proceed to: 10. Telthusbakken--Along this little street, you'll see a whole row of early Oslo wooden houses. Look right in the far distance at the green building where Munch used to live. Telthusbakken leads to Akersveien. On your left you can see the: 11. Gamle Aker Kirke (Old Aker Church)--Enter at Akersbakken, where Akersveien and Akersbakken intersect. Built in 1100, this is the oldest stone parish church in Scandinavia that's still in use. It stands on a green hill surrounded by an old graveyard and a stone wall. A short block from the church along Akersbakken (veer left outside the front of the church and go around a corner), you'll come to the north entrance of the city's expansive burial ground: 12. Vår Frelsers Gravlund (Our Savior's Cemetery)--In a section designated as the "Ground of Honor" are the graves of famous Norwegians, including Munch, Ibsen, and Bjørnson. Signs don't point the way, but it's easy to see a tall obelisk. This is the: 13. Tomb of Ibsen--His wife, Susanna, whom he called "the cat," is buried to the playwright's left. She died in 1914. The hammer on the obelisk symbolizes his work The Miner, indicating how he "dug deep" into the soul of Norway. To the right of Ibsen's tomb is the: 14. Tomb of Bjørnson--The literary figure Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1832-1910) once raised money to send Ibsen to Italy. Before the birth of their children, Ibsen and Bjørnson agreed that one would have a son and the other a daughter, and that they would marry each other. Miraculously, Ibsen had a son, Bjørnson a daughter, and they did just that. Bjørnson wrote the national anthem, and his tomb is draped in a stone representation of a Norwegian flag. To the far right of Bjørnson's tomb is the: 15. Tomb of Edvard Munch--Scandinavia's greatest painter has an unadorned tomb. If you're visiting on a snowy day, it will be buried, because the marker lies close to the ground. Munch died during the darkest days of the Nazi occupation. His sister turned down a request from the German command to give Munch a state funeral, feeling that it would be inappropriate. On the west side of the cemetery you'll come to Ullevålsveien. Turn left on this busy street and head south toward the center of Oslo. You'll soon see St. Olav's Church, this time on your left. Stay on the right (west) side of the street. At St. Olavs Gate 1, where Ullevålsveien intersects with St. Olavs Gate, is the: 16. Kunstindustrimuseet (Museum of Applied Art)--Even if you don't have time to visit the museum, you may want to go inside to the cafe. After visiting the museum, continue along St. Olavs Gate to: 17. Pilestredet--Look to the immediate right at no. 30. A wall plaque on the decaying building commemorates the fact that Munch lived here from 1868 to 1875. In this building he painted, among other masterpieces, The Sick Child. He moved here when he was 5, and many of his "memory paintings" were of the interior. When demolition teams started to raze the building in the early 1990s, a counterculture group of activists known as "The Blitz Group" illegally took over the premises to prevent its destruction. On its brick wall side, his masterpiece The Scream was re-created in spray paint. The protesters are still in control of the city-owned building, and they are viewed as squatters on very valuable land. It's suspected that if a more conservative government comes into power, officials will toss out the case, throw out the activists, and demolish the building. For the moment, however, they remain in control. At Pilestredet, turn left. One block later, turn right onto Universitetsgata, heading south toward Karl Johans Gate. You'll pass a number of architecturally interesting buildings, and will eventually arrive at Universitetsgata 13, the: 18. National Gallery--The state museum has a large collection of Norwegian and foreign art. Two rooms are devoted to masterpieces by Munch. Current Mood:  good |
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