Happiness Is a Warm Gun

The Tralle family's last two days in Oslo included a visit to Akershus Fortress, the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum, the Munch Museum and Frognerseteren.

Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo.

The fortress was also used as a prison.

The first construction on the fortress started around the late 1290s, by King Haakon V.

Prisoners at the fortress could be rented out for work in the city.

In front of the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum (Forsvarsmuseet).

Checking out a periscope in the World War II exhibit.

This museum was clearly my dad's favorite. I can't even guess how many gun pictures he took!

Dad said, "Here Layne, put your head in this!" And I did it...

Jake enjoying all that the museum has to offer.

Because of the World Ski Championships, the Munch Museum offered free guided tours and extended opening hours, so we checked it out! It was really interesting to learn more about Munch and I enjoyed seeing the latest exhibit.

On August 22, 2004,  during daylight hours, masked gunmen entered the Munch Museumand stole two paintings: Scream and Munch's Madonna.

Two years later, it was announced that both paintings had been recovered.

Madonna suffered several tears on the right side of the painting as well as two holes in Madonna's arm.

On my family's last day in Oslo, we went up to Frognerseteren and planned to walk down the mountain to snap a few photos of Holmenkollen despite not being able to get close because of the World Ski Championship. Unfortunately, the fog was so thick lower on the mountain, we couldn't even make out the shape of the ski jump!

In 1865, banker Thomas Heftye bought the land around today’s Frognerseter. At this time the place was a ”Seter” (high pasture) under Frogner farm hence the name.

There is an outdoor museum of re-erected Norwegian buildings that is accessible in the summer.

Enjoying the sunshine (and a beer) in front of Frognerseteren.

Unfortunately, fog blocked the view of Oslo...

... but we were happy to bask in the sunshine!

You can see the fog in the background.

Jake enjoying a cold Aass.

The only picture of the five of us and my eyes are closed! Ugh!

A tame reindeer was in the parking lot as we were leaving...

... and Mom wanted to get a picture-- she didn't care which end was featured!

More to come tomorrow...