Oslo, Briefly

We got to Oslo at 7 this morning on the night train from Stavanger. Thanks to our exhausting hike at Pulpit Rock yesterday, we slept quite soundly in a less-than-comfortable train.

We wandered the city until we could check in to our hotel, stumbling onto some interesting sculptures. Here are only a few of them.

Grassroots Square is made up of 1000s of little copper people of varying sizes, mostly sunk into ground.

The Oslo Cathedral was built in the late 17th century. Into its wall, they placed this relief from a much-older church ruins, St. Svalbards Church. This 900-year-old piece is called The Devil of Oslo, and it is a man being attacked by a dragon and a lion.

On July 22, 2011, 77 people were killed by a domestic terrorist in 2 locations in Norway. The man, a far right extremist, targeted members of Norway’s ruling Labour Party. When people laid roses at the Oslo Cathedral, several artists initiated a project which brought together smiths from around the world and survivors of the attack to create this memorial. It stands in the courtyard beside the Oslo Cathedral. 

This Oslo bookstore was dubbed the best bookstore in the world by the San Francisco poet, Allen Ginsburg. It's a great place to pass some time, with books, art, and more.

I don't know why this Hühner Brunnen (Hens Fountain) was created, but I like it. I think I'll dedicate it to my niece, Tiffani, who loves, and sometimes raises, chickens.