July 22, 2011 Memorial

Unfortunately the memorial to this tragedy was close for renovation when I visiting. I really wished I could have visited it. I read a lot of excellent review of the memorial. Hopefully the renovated memorial is just as moving.

Akershus Fortress

"Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect and provide a royal residence for Oslo, the capital of Norway. The castle has also been used as a military base, and is today a museum, open for public."  Per Wikipedia

Castles, boats, ships, water, sailing, mid-evil era were the highlights of my Scandinavian Capital Tour,  along with the amazing cloud formation.

Vigeland Sculpture Park and Museum

Viking, Kon-Tiki, and Fram Museum

The only reason I visited all three of these museums was that I got the Oslo City Day Pass. With the cost of the pass the entrance was included. Each of the museums seems to be very similar. The only one that stood out was the Non-Tiki Museum. It had an interesting story to tell.

Oslo City Tour

If I had to rank Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki as tourist destinations. I'd rank Helsinki first because it seemed to be the most modern of the three and less stuck in the past, then Olso next, and last Stockholm which seems to be stuck in the past wishing to relive it's days when it was an empire. 

Opera House

Art Sculpture     

Royal Palace 

Maaemo

The entire dinning experience was excellent, but what stood out was their commanded of temperature and texture. On a single plate there could be multiple temperatures and noticeable complimenting textures.

Focusing on traditional Norwegian cuisine, many of the dishes highlighted seafood, dairy and reindeer. Memories of Geranium were summoned. I originally assumed it was the dinning experience, but later remembered the geographical location and history of the two restaurants are very similar.

The wine selections were very unique, and reminded me a lot of the wines I tasted at Mirazur early this year. The wines also had varied temperatures which was not always expected, but always seem appropriate. Maaemo was ranked 35th in the world in 2018, but slide a bit to 55th in 2019.

Highlights and Observations
- As stated above the textures and temperatures were spot on
- Wine selection was exceptional
- While the server referred to them as "spring" peas, they were not. They were much more mature peas, but the texture was unique.  But I noticed the description refers to them as "summer" peas, which is much more appropriate.
- Roasted chicken skins were interesting approach to a sandwich starter.
- Oyster was a bit too strong.
- Rømmegrøt” Porridge was by far the most unique dish and highlight of the tasting menu. I probably tasted nothing like it before. It reminded me of tangy, overly fermented yogurt. It's a traditional dish of the area.
- Frozen blue cheese was very original.
- The dessert made from salted butter from Røros was like eating cream. 

Layers of yeast and flowers rhubarb and morel

Sheets of celeriac apple and lingonberry

Roasted chicken skin and our caviar 

“Rakfisk” fermented trout with leek and horseradish

Emulsion of oyster warm sauce of mussel and dill

Scallop from the west coast aquavit and burned onion

Smoked belly of wild salmon and jasmin summer peas, verbena and white asparagus

Tender king crab perfumed with smoked reindeer 

Fresh rolls out of the oven baked with chamomile and fermented honey our own churned butter with seasonal herbs and flowers

 “Rømmegrøt” porridge of very sour cream and freshly milled wheat 

Sweetbreads chanterelles and black currant wood

Frozen blue cheese with pickled black trumpet mushroom

Rhubarb sour milk and whey

A dessert made from salted butter from Røros 

Strawberry and rose tart 

Waffles in aged beef fat rømme and just ripe berries crushed with sugar

Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art

Contemporary art at it’s finest. A country’s progressiveness can be gauged by visiting its contemporary art museum, to determine if it's progressive country or country stuck in the past.  Formaldehyde cow and calf, “crucified” sheep carcasses, butterfly collage, a golden white pop star and bubbles, etc.  Clearly this museum holds true to “art is what you can get away with” ~ Andy Warhol