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The Incredible Ski Jump of Holmenkollen, Norway

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  As we head up the mountainside, the fog starts to thicken. Soon we head off into the mist for our hike to the ski jump. On our last full day in Oslo, we planned to hike to the Holmenkollen ski jump. When this was first suggested to me to add to the itinerary, I have to admit, I had to look up what the big deal was about this place. As someone who didn't grow up following skiing, I had never hear of it. And even for ski race fans that do exist in the USA, most of them have never paid much attention to ski jumping, other than every four years at the Olympics, when we see Europeans flying for hundreds of meters off these huge jumps. But I will say something, when you are standing in front of this thing, this Holmenkollen Ski Jump, it doesn't matter what your background with skiing is, you will be in awe. First off, it is a modern engineering marvel. The top of the ski jump looks like it magically floats off the ground, heading up diagonally into the heavens. The encompassing mis...
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Exploring Oslo, Norway

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  One of my favorite photos from Oslo. The famous Munch museum, Oslo opera house, and the Deichman library all visibile in the background, while a young man jumps off the roof of his floating sauna in the foreground. I didn't really know what to expect from Oslo, Norway's capital and largest city. I had always heard such good things about Scandanavian cities, but being more of a wildlife and wilderness type person, I hadn't really done a deep dive into what a traveler might experience in a place like Oslo. However, thanks to planning this trip, I'll get a first hand view of life, history, and adventure in Norway and Sweden. Once called Christiana, the modern city of Oslo is often among the top five best cities to live in, having been chosen #1 several times. It has come a long way from its Viking stronghold roots, however there is a lot of history soaked into your surroundings as you walk around the city. It is also one of the world's most expensive cities as well. ...
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