Scandinavia 2008 - Day 16
Saturday morning started off easily with a trip to the Vikingskiphuset. I road over to Bogdoy Peninsula on a short ferry boat ride. From there I walked the mansion lined streets to the museum. Of what little is actually in the Viking Ship museum, it is all interesting. I loved the boats. I really want to make one, sail it somewhere, and raid a village.
From the museum I walked some more, not quite sure where I was really at or going, but I did manage to find where I wanted to be. Taking a short walk through a park where people barbecued at tables or played volleyball, I emerged out onto a beach. Hulk Beach is split into two parts. One half clothing optional, one half bare and free. The two beaches were split by a small cove across which each side constantly watched the other. I found the only bench under a shade tree, withdrew from my shoes, and stuck my toes in the sand while drawing, napping, and watching the sea kayakers for nearly two hours. Ready to move on, I walked approximately 100 feet to my left and then laid down in the grass to get some sun. I laid there for another hour before going back to my hostel.
Like the previous evening, I rested until it was very near the golden hour, then I road the metro to Gustav Vigesland's Frogner Parken. The city park in Oslo, Frogner Parken contains much of Vigeslands life work, and all throughout are many of his brilliant sculptures. The majority of which are found along a large bridge that leads to a tiered fountain at the top of which is a large obelisk of twisting contra posto figures.
When I arrived I still had some time till until it was the golden hour, so I made a brief stop at the park café where I had a tall cool pint of beer on a tree shaded patio and relaxed, reveling in the sweet life I was living (I find that whenever I manage to find time to stop and savor the sweet and beautiful life I have I almost always have a large cold pislner in hand.).
When the golden hour arrived I began making my way up the grand lawn to the bridge, tiered fountains, and sculptural obelisk, photo by photo. When I finally reached the pinnacle of the park, the sun was nearly down and to the East the moon began to rise again. Bigger and whiter than the night before, the moon raised nearly straight up out of the axis of the main lawn with its grand fountains and statuary. Relying almost exclusively on my new lens filters I was able to take some magnificent photos that were properly exposed. After three hours of shooting I packed up my gear; it had been to date, the most enjoyable photography experience I'd ever had. The weather was perfect and there was a wealth of interesting subject matter that could be shot from many angles. I rode back to my hostel on a tram, smiling as the tram rocked from side to side. At the hostel I watched the hookers and pushers lazing about in the street below, before opening my window a crack and falling to sleep in my deeply comfortable bed.
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