My Adventures in Traveling

My Adventures in Traveling

Author: Penelope

  • Vigeland Sculpture Park

    Vigeland Sculpture Park

    The Vigeland Sculpture Park is located in Oslo, Norway. It’s technically an outdoor scultpure musuem but it feels more like a huge city park. There are many different areas to the park which allow visitors plenty to see. However, you need to allow a good deal of time to visit the entire sculpture park as it is a linear park. You have to walk the whole park to get to the next section. It’s not broken up into individual areas spread out around the park.

    The park culminates with the huge Monolith up on the hill. This column statue is carved from one piece of stone with the carvings being of humans in various poses.

    In the pictures below, you can see various areas of the Vigeland Scultpure Park. The top left photo shows the view from the Monolith back towards to rest of the park. And the photo below it shows the various sculptures seen on the steps leading up to the Monolith. The top right shows the bridge of bronze sculptures of men, women and children in various poses. The top middle photo is a view of the Monolith from this bridge. The bottom right photo shows what is called ‘The Angry Boy’ scultpure which is also found on the bridge. And finally, the bottom center photo displays the Fountain sculpture which showcases the many stages of human life.

    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, The Angry Boy, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, The Angry Boy, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
    Vigeland Sculpture Park, The Angry Boy, Oslo, Norway
  • Canal Villages

    Canal Villages

    All throughout the Netherlands, or as it’s commonly referred to, Holland, you will find canals. Amsterdam is completely made up of them. But often what many don’t realize is that there are entire villages around Holland that were built around a canal. Most of these towns or villages can only be accessed by the waterways or by walking paths. People with cars have to park the car in a lot outside of the village.

    Canals of Holland

    These little villages will include everything from homes, schools, churches, to your favorite local eatery or pub (often the same place!). There are also bridges crossing the canal(s) speckled around the village as it’s often built up around both sides of the waterway.

    Canals of Holland
    Canals of Holland

    As you can see in the photo above right, they also still sometimes use the thatched roofing system often seen in the Elizabethan areas of England.

  • Giant’s Causeway

    Giant’s Causeway

    The Giant’s Causeway, located along the far northern coastline of Northern Ireland, is a natural wonder that cannot be missed. It falls along the coast and runs for several miles. It’s made up of thousands of basalt columns that can both be seen along the waterfront and in the cliffsides above. Some of the columns you see are like steps leading out to the water. While the others are almost like basalt trees coming out of the ground. You must explore as much of it as possible because you never know what new thing you will see around the next corner.

    Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
    Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
  • Geirangerfjord

    Geirangerfjord

    All through Norway, especially in the middle and northern areas of the country, one will run across the fjords, or lakes to those outside of Norway. These fjords are often some of the most beautiful locations within Norway. They are made up of snow-covered mountains, no matter the time of year, and many, many waterfalls. You can take cruises or ferries around the fjords so you can not only see all of the amazing vistas but also visit some of the towns reachable only via the water.

    Seven Sisters Waterfalls

    Along our ferry ride through the Geirangerfjord, we passed what is known as the Seven Sisters Waterfalls. They are seven streams of water cascading down the mountains very close to each other. Depending on the snow melt off and what season you are visiting, these waterfalls can provide quite the display along the moutainsides.

    Geirangerfjord Seven Sisters Waterfalls Norway

    Geirangerfjord

    We travelled by ferry reaching this small town at the bottom of several mountains along the Geirangerfjord. This part of the fjord is very famous as many areal photos have been taken of this vista. There are also many rock formations along the mountains that allow those who are brave enough to walk up to the edge for amazing photos.

    Geirangerfjord Norway
  • Oslo

    Oslo

    Oslo is the capital city of Norway and is located along the southeastern portion of the country. It is a city the provides insight into the history of Norway, the Vikings, and it’s people. It’s also a very modern city with so much more to offer today’s visitor.

    Port of Oslo / Waterfront

    One of the most vibrant sections of Oslo is the waterfront as seen in the photo below. Along this walkway you can find all sorts of shops, restaurants, and well as being a fabulous place to just peoplewatch – or in this case view interesting local artwork. This is also where one would find the cruise ship ports.

    Port of Oslo Riverfront Walk

    University of Oslo

    From the Oslo city center, there is a hill one can walk up with what looks like a palace at the top. Having visited London and therefore Buckingham Palace before, this was what I was assuming when I was walking up to visit. Instead, I found out that this is actually a part of the University of Oslo. From up here you have a view of a good portion of the city center.

    University of Oslo

    Vigeland Sculpture Park

    This sculpture park is located within Oslo as well. It’s a linear park showcasing various statues made of bronze and stone. These are for the most part made up of human beings in various states and ages. You can read and see more about Vigeland Sculpture park in this other post.

    Vigeland Sculpture Park Oslo Norway

    Viking Ship Museum

    The Viking Ship Museum is located just across the waterway from Oslo city center. This museum offers everything Viking. Not only can you see historical remains of ships, as seen in the photo below, but you can see all sorts of other Viking objects. There are also replica ships showcasing what an actual ship would have been like. The museum seems to be closed currently for renovations but will reopen in 2027. It’s definitely worth a visit once it reopens.

    Viking Ship Museum Oslo Norway
  • Cliffs of Moher

    Cliffs of Moher

    The Cliffs of Moher are famous sea cliffs located on the western side of Ireland running for several miles. There are several places to stop and visit along the cliffs providing dramatic vistas, even in fog like seen below.

    Cliffs of Moher Ireland

    O’Briens Tower

    The area where we visited the cliffs included a visitor’s center. Once you walked out to the cliffs, you can see for miles in either direction. To the north, at the top of the highest hill along the cliffs, we could see O’Briens Tower. You can follow a path up the hill to visit the tower as well. It was actually built in 1835 to be a visitor’s viewpoint along the cliffs.

    O'Briens Tower, Cliffs of Moher, Northern Ireland