I am back from my short trip to Europe. I left on Wednesday evening and arrived at the Oslo Sentralstasjon at 2.30pm on Thursday. The flight to Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam was 11,5 hours and then it was another 1,5 hours to Oslo Airport.
I caught the train from the airport to Oslo Sentralstasjon:
Contrast (shadorma)
Tall column
Of writhing bodies
Contorted
Beseeching
Pitiful degradation
Contrasting with light
You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2024/05/30/on-board-the-delta-pearl/
roberta-writes.com 
I love your pictures of Oslo. What is the meaning of the tower of human bodies? Glad you are home, safe and sound.
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Hi Darlene, the inscription said Tower of Human Bodies but the internet calls it The Monolith. You can read about it here: The Monolith consists of 121 figures,… | Vigeland Museum and Park
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It is amazing. Thanks for the link.
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My pleasure
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Lovely photographs Roberta 🤗
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Thank you, I’m delighted you enjoyed this post.
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My pleasure 🤗
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Stunning photos Robbie❤️😊
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I’m so glad you enjoyed these pictures, Michelle.
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In the photo they look great, but honestly from Sweden rather than from South Africa. 🙂 Thank you for shared the impressions of your trip, Robbie! Best wishes, Michael
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HI Michael, I really liked Norway. Such a beautiful country and so clean and fresh looking.
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You packed a lot into a short stay, Robbie. I’ve enjoyed your photos and short videos. Thanks for sharing these with Thursday Doors.
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Hi Dan, I’m pleased to know that. I have lots and lots of doors to share. I stockpiled – haha!
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That is great news, Robbie. I have one week off coming up later in June, and one in August. Otherwise, we’re open for business.
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Fabulous, Dan.
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beautiful pics, Robbie….and you look so lovely too🤍🌷
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Hi Destiny, thanks for visiting and for your lovely compliment.
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most welcome 🌷🤍
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Great photos, Robbie. That tower of human bodies is impressive. It must have been quite the experience.
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HI Tim, Europe is such a contrast to South Africa with its rich art, architecture and history.
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Looks like such a good trip, Robbie. Your pictures were amazing!
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Hi Kymber, it was very busy and we saw a great deal. I’m delighted you enjoyed this post.
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Great photos of doors, cityscapes, nature, and sculpture, Robbie! Sounds like a wonderful, full trip despite it not being super-long.
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Hi Dave, it was a very good trip. We walked 100,000 steps in those 5 days and they were TCs steps which means I walked nearly double. I loved Oslo and if we leave SA, that is where I’d like to go.
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Wow!!! An amazing amount of walking!
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I know, pretty amazing.
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The Tower of Human Bodies definitely fits my recent interest in dystopian.
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I love dystopian fiction. This park was packed full of amazing sculptures – 200 to be exact. I will be sharing more.
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It seems like you had such a great trip, Robbie!
I had to read up on the monolith and Vigeland. He was quite a controversial figure.
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Hi Merril, the description at the park called it The Tower of Human Bodies but I saw that its officially called The Monolith. I don’t know why it’s different. Anyhow, the artist did create some very hectic sculptures. This is just the beginning. It was a good trip.
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Welcome home, Robbie and wow, that was a flying visit! Your poem perfectly captures the dichotomy of the light of the sunshine with the very dark and unsettling subject matter. A lovely photo of you on your travels! xx
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Hi Annika, so nice to see you. I really loved Norway. I’d like to live there. Maybe it will happen …
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When we stay in Sweden, Oslo is less than two hours drive away and we enjoy visiting there. It is a beautiful part of the world and I can thoroughly relate to wanting to live in Scandinavia. xx
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Yes, I am investigating further.
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What an extraordinary place. Thanks for bringing us along, Robbie. Hugs.
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Hi Teagan, I’m really glad you enjoyed this post. It was extraordinary.
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Amazing.
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Thank you, D
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Sounds like a great trip! I enjoyed the photos you posted on Facebook. The Tower of Human Bodies is just so odd! I need to look it up and learn more about it.
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It was called that on the tag in the park but is called The Monolith on the internet. You can read a bit about it here: https://vigeland.museum.no/en/vigelandpark/monolith
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What fun you are having.
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It was terrific. Short but super.
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Wonderful images of your trip, Robbie! I enjoyed your Facebook posts. I didn’t realize it was a short trip but looks like you made the most of your time there.
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Hi Terri, my trips are always short. I am not a long time away from home person. We always pack ’em!
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What fun Robbie. I’m so glad you made it home safe and sound. 💟
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It really was fun, Colleen.
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It was good for the two of you to get away. I loved all the art work! Thanks for sharing the photos and videos. 💖
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My pleasure. I have a lot more to share.
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Great. I look forward to it!
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Hugs
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A quick trip but filled with great images – thanks for taking us along!
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My pleasure, John. I have a few food and drink shots for you which I’ll share in due course.
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I loved following you on Instagram, Robbie. You opened many wonderful doors and I enjoyed following your footsteps.
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Hi Rebecca, I am pleased to know that. I have so much more to share.
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I find the art installation disturbing (echoing your poem) and a remarkable artistic achievement.
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Hi Liz, I spent ages at that particular sculpture. There are many more equally amazing and disturbing.
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I can see why!
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Amazing photos! You look great!❤️🙏🏻
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Thank you, Melissa.
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wow ! that tower of human bodies is amazing, Roberta ; your shadorma does it justice —
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HI John, I am so glad you liked the poem and the pictures. I was very taken with the sculptures in this park.
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yes, they are astounding —
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Those are great photos. We visited Oslo two years ago. we visited Sweden and my hometown and we visited my brother and other relatives and we also took a trip to Oslo. In Oslo we visited the Vigeland Sculpture Museum so I recognize your pictures. The Norwegians make some weird statues and my daughter was cracking jokes.
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HI Thomas, I loved the sculptures in Vigeland. They are different and I thought form Norwegian or Scandanavian mythology. I have a lot more to share.
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I am looking forward to it.
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Wow! Those are terrific shots of Oslo. It looks like a wealthy country, very first world.
The sculpture of bodies is amazing, and you look simply marvellous!
Welcome back! 🌹❦
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Thank you, Resa. Oslo is very first world and I loved it there. I want to live there and am working on hubby. He travels all the time any way so it doesn’t much matter where his home base is. I love South African wildlife but the politics is a right mess.
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Politics.. sigh.
It’s messy in the US right now. Everything American eventually spreads to Canada. Canada is going through a bunch of stupid stuff of its own.
Norway sounds fabulous, and I’m sure there are animals there that need your help. I think anywhere Robbie lives is good for the animals!
I could use to learn about nature there, too! 💙
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HI Resa, yes, animals everywhere need help. I spoke to a man in Oslo about the wolves that are threatened. I spoke to a man in Amsterdam about the cougars and mountain lions that are threatened in South America. I have their contact details and will look them up online. I always find causes for animals, wherever I go. Smile! Poor hubby just stands nearby and waits for the exciting and animated conversations to finish.
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“Nature Chaos” is a global reality. I know wherever you live that it will always be something you care deeply about.
We cannot go back on what we already know, extra so once taken to heart.
LOL.. Sounds like you have a terrific hubby!
❦🌹
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My husband is a very good man. I look after him and he tolerates all my (numerous) mad passions. We are a match made in heaven.
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I like that!
Me & mine are different, still a match made in heaven…in a different way.
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There are lots of different perfect matches.
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Yes!!!
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Quite an interesting sculpture. The clouds add just the right atmosphere for your poem. You had a full trip! (K)
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HI Kerfe, we did. It was packed and I have several poems to share.
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Glad you’re safely back from your travels, Robbie! The photos are terrific, giving a glimpse of Norway to those of us who’ve never been there. The Tower is simply astounding. I have no idea of its histroical context, but there’s something so sad and stifling about it, the human struggle in all its glory and its defeat.
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HI Dora, thank you. We had a marvellous 5 days. I spent 2 1/2 in Oslo and 2 1/2 in Amsterdam. There is more to come. That sculpture is truly amazing.
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So enjoyed this, Robbie. Brilliant photos , as well! x
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Looks like you packed a lot into a short trip. I saw the comment about all the walking. I’d be exhausted.
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I’ve seen pictures of the Oslo library before. That a thrill to see it in person. You must have gone from travel exhaustion to excitement in a heartbeat. Thanks for sharing the doors, Robbie.
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Hi Jennie, thank you. It is easier going there. Excitement does keep you going. Luckily, coming home I had a whole row of seats to myself on the plane. I could lie down and sleep.
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Thank goodness!
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It was very lucky.
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Brilliant photos, Robbie you certainly packed a lot in on your short visit 🙂 xx
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Haha, yes, that is us. Pack it all into a short period. I don’t like long trips. We walked 100,000 of TC steps (nearly double for little old me)
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Good photos thank you for sharing
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My pleasure, I’m glad you enjoyed this post
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What a great place!!
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It is. I would like to live there and am going to work towards getting there by the end of 2025.
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Wow. Good luck!
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I’ve enjoyed seeing your pics on IG and FB too, Robbie. Great doors and wonderful photos! It looks like a fabulous trip. 💗
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Hi Lauren, it was very nice and I liked both cities very much, especially Oslo.
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I would love to visit the statue park in Norway. But I think some of the statues would be especially disturbing to see in real life.
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HI Priscilla, they are quite intriguing and disturbing statues. Completely fascinating.
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I greatly enjoyed Olso. Thanks for retaking me there!
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I’m delighted to know that. What a fabulous city.
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Well what an amazing trip Robbie…the weather looks quite warm as you did not have a coat on. Fabulous monolith.
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HI Willow, it was very warm in Norway. in the mid twenties. Amsterdam alternated with patched of cooler rain.
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It would appear you had a most interesting trip. That monolith is mind-boggling. I clicked on the link and watched your video, and now I need to know more. It seems very grim to me, but I’m not sure it’s intended to be. Thanks so much for contributing to my continuing education!
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Hi Maureen, it’s lovely to see you. I am glad you enjoyed this post. The artist was an unusual man (aren’t they all?) and I don’t think this sculpture was intended to be really dark. More thought provoking.
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two great cities so glad you had good weather 💜
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Very lucky.
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Hi there, your interpretation is interesting. I am glad you see so much positivity in this sculpture.
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PS, it wasn’t the nudity that I was referring to with the use of the word degradation. It was the suppression of the human spirit. I saw this piece as an expression of anguish and lack of hope.
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Each to their own.
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Great photos and a wonderful poem from you as well! Thanks for sharing, Robbie!
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Hi Bette, I am so pleased you enjoyed this post. Have a lovely weekend.
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It’s a lovely city isn’t it? We love Oslo although it’s rather expensive!
Helsinki is great too!
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Hi Kim, I have been to Helsinki too. I preferred Oslo but both were interesting experiences. I agree the Oslo is expensive, but Amsterdam was also expensive.
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We must have gone to very different places in Amsterdam! Mind you- I don’t need hotels in either city as we have friends in both. So that helps. 😎
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Hhmmmm- thinking about it some more…. our Norwegian friends complain that everything is expensive and our Dutch one don’t. That probably colours my perceptions of cost! 🙃
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Yes, I always measure the costs against the Pound. It’s the same or a % more or less. Everything is expensive for South Africans.
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