Exploring Oslo

Getting ready for the world.

Got on the subway, westbound.

At Majorstua we were greeted by this frozen fellow.

Our first destination: The Vigeland Sculpture Park! 

It looks like snow, but it is a wool bow in my hand!

We fed the birds from the bridge.

Sinnataggen! This pose is mandatory... :)

Oh, the joy!

 Next stop: The Opera House!

The stairway on the roof was all ice and snow!

But we conquered and won!

Precious winter sun.

A plastic bag served as a snow sled down the "slope".

Geórgia joined us and increased the percentage of Brazilians in our group.

One troll, two trolls!

And so the sad moment of departure and goodbyes...

But also a moment of true gratefulness for the perfect time we got to spend together! 


And thanx to Andreas K for following us like paparazzi, documenting all our fun with such great photos.

In from the cold

When we got back from skiing Mina had lit these lovely ice lanterns in the yard of her and Nikolaj's gorgeous house. 

 We were happily greeted by Xavi, the huge Alaskan dog.

 Max sets the table.

 Xavi joined us in the kitchen. Big as a wolf, sweet as a child.

 The old pals reunited, after 17 years! Nikolaj and Humberto.

 After loads of fresh winter air, skiing and a great meal, we were all a little mellow.

We had the most terrific day and evening with Nikolaj and his family. What a treat it is to meet and spend time with good people. 

Precious visitors

Last Friday we had a couple of very special visitors arriving in Oslo. My darling friend Humberto and his precious daughter Tama! They live in Brazil, but were i Brussels, Belgium visiting family. The weekend trip to Oslo was Humberto's Christmas gift to Tama - and also to me, I felt. ♥ Last time we met was February 2010, in Brazil.

Saturday morning we had real Norwegian breakfast, with "strange" things for 11-year old Tama to taste.

I rubbed my eyes more than once that morning,  to make sure I was not dreaming. Beto and Tama in my kitchen!! Oh,  the happiness!

We set out for Kongsberg, a city one hour by car southwest of Oslo. An old friend of Beto's, Nikolaj, lives there, and our mission was reuniting long lost friends -and skiing! Neither Beto nor Tama had ever had skis on their feet, so it surely was the only right thing to do.

 Getting all the equipment right... 

Beto was excited, though a bit skeptical. I'm sure the carefully chosen outfit we presented him was quite the confidence booster!

 Go Norway!

 Let's do this!

 Loving it!

 Tama turned out to be a natural. 

 No fear whatsoever, climbing and descending hills with bravure and confidence! 

Like a baws!

We played in the forest until the sun set behind us with spectacular colors. For me it was a valid test drive of my brand new skiing equipment, purchased the day before. Approved!