Oslo, Norway

On July second, we took a detour from our summer RV travels and flew across the pond. We left our motorhome at the new National Indoor RV (NIRV) in Nashville and flew to Oslo. We booked a two-week ocean cruise leaving from Bergen, Norway, and ending in Reykjavik, Iceland. We chose to begin our trip with a pre-cruise, two-night stop in Oslo. After arriving in Reykjavik, Iceland, we spent an additional twelve days touring Iceland via the Highway 1 "Ring Road".

We had a direct British Airways flight into London Heathrow Airport and then connected to Oslo, Norway.

We upgraded to Premium Economy, which on British Airways is the same as Business Class. We had private cubicles with lay flat seats along with a gourmet menu for the long-haul segment of our trip.

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel in Downtown Oslo, homebase for two nights.

From our hotel window we could see the Oslo downtown district including the Train Station, from which we would travel to Bergen.

FROGNER AND VIGELAND SCULPTURE PARK

The park has more than 200 Sculptures from Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943) in bronze, granite and forged iron. This one is named the Monolith.

The theme of the sculptures attempts to communicate the "Circle of Life," both the joy and the struggle of life.

A rose garden as well as many plants and trees were planted among the sculptures.

NORWEGIAN MARITIME MUSEUM

Within the museum is a workshop to build ships as the Vikings did over a millennium ago.

This Viking boat dates to about 900 AD.

Bow Figurehead

Polar ship Fram one of Norway's national treasures. This ship broke all the previous records of farthest north and farthest south. 

Gjoa, the first ship through the northwest passage.

Mess Hall Inside of Gjoa

We returned to the Oslo downtown district via a 10-minute ferry ride across the harbor.

The Fram museum was built around the ship.

Pots full of flowers adorned the streets of Oslo.

OSLO-BERGEN TRAIN

The next morning, we walked five minutes from our hotel to the train station and boarded for the seven-hour train journey over the mountains to meet the awaiting Viking Cruise Ship, Saturn. 

We ascended over 4,000 feet crossing the Hardangervidda plateau.

We got out at the top for a quick stretch.

This is considered one of the most beautiful train rides in the world.

We watched the snow decrease as we entered the green valley east of Bergen.

The train passed by the bridge over a fjord just outside of Bergen.

 

Blue Ridge Parkway

After getting our rig's oil changed and annual maintenance at the Freightliner Chassis factory in Gaffney, South Carolina, we drove to Wilkesboro, North Carolina. We had a shady campsite at Bandit's Roost Corp of Engineer Campground on the W. Kerr Scott Réservoir. While in the area, we drove a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina between Mile Marker 276 and 325. Between the towns of Deep Gap and Linville Falls.

MOSES H. CONE MEMORIAL PARK - Mile Post 294

This 3600-acre park is near Blowing Rock, North Carolina, on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Moses H. Cone made his money in the textile industry, selling denim to customers such as Levi Strause. The Cone Mills Denim Factory in Greensboro made the Cones one of the largest producers of denim in the world.

Moses and Bertha built this 14,000 square foot summer house called Flat Top Manor in 1901.

LINN COVE VIADUCT - Mile Post 304

The Linn Cove Viaduct is one of the most complicated concrete spans ever built. The quarter mile bridge skirts the rugged perimeter of Grandfather Mountain.

A hiking trail leads under the viaduct for a close-up view of the construction.

Hiking the boulder field at Grandfather Mountain.

LINVILLE FALLS - Mile Post 316

We hiked to the upper Linville Falls as well as the narrow spot where the river flows through to the lower falls.

The Linville River

The Biltmore Estate

Recognized as America's largest home, The Biltmore House was built in 1895 for George Vanderbilt and his future wife, Edith. This 250-room chateau took over six years to complete by over 1,000 laborers.

Originally Vanderbilt acquired over 125,000 acres of land to build his mansion.

 

A pair of lions grace the sides of the main entrance.

The glass roofed Winter Garden and fountain is the center of the home.

The Billard Room is where houseguests played dominoes or billiards on tables weighing over two tons.

The Banquet Hall with its impressive seven-story-high ceiling included live musical entertainment on a pipe organ. Many meals featured up to ten courses and as many as five wine pairings.

The Library houses about half of Vanderbilt's 22,000 volume collection. He was an avid reader and read books in 8-10 different languages. The Chariot of Aurora, painted in the 1720's by the Italian artist Giovanni Pellegrini is mounted on the ceiling.

George Vanderbilt's Bedroom

Edith Vanderbilt's Oval Shaped Bedroom 

Third Floor Guest Living Room

Center stairway leading down from the 33 guest rooms to the main floor.

In the basement was the Main Kitchen where most of the prep work and cooking occurred. Down the hall housed the Pantries, Walk-In Refrigerator, Laundry, Servants' Quarters, Rotisserie Kitchen and the Pastry Kitchen.

House guests enjoyed the two-lane Bowling Alley. Pin setting and ball return were done by servants.

The 70,000-gallon heated pool no longer holds water.

The Stone Hallway is at the foundation of the home. Foundations and footings extend down about 29 feet.

This covered back porch offers views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and beyond.

George Vanderbilt hired Frederick Law Olmsted to design the grounds and the six gardens for the Estate. Olmstead is the architect of Central Park in New York City.

The Conservatory houses tropical plants and exotic orchids, ferns, cactus, and palms.

Statue of Diana overlooking the front of the home from high on the opposing hill.

In 1914 George Vanderbilt died from complications of an appendectomy at the age of 51. His family still owns the estate today and monies from tours and events help to cover the cost of the upkeep.