Europe 2010, Day 1: Oslo, Norway

In Oslo today, the first day of a two-week European rail tour extravaganza.  Got about two hours of sleep on the flight over, between the two meal services and assorted other distractions, so a seriously jet-laggy day all around.  A whole lot of coffee and a relatively early turn-in should take care of that.

One thing I was looking forward to on this trip was escaping US politics for a couple of weeks--so naturally, the first place we go here is the Nobel Peace Center, currently decked out in giant images of the sitting US president.  The exhibit was well done, showing the evolution of race relations in America from the days of segregation and the rise of Martin Luther King, Jr. through the election of President Obama.  The permanent exhibit was good too; I liked the display of Nobel’s will, which outlined the charter for the prizes that bear his name, and the LCD wall with pictures and bios of past winners.  One thing that struck me: the degree to which some Peace awards stretch he scope of the prize, as if the committee wanted to honor people whose great works didn’t fit the scope of the other prizes Nobel assigned.  Normal Borlaug’s work was a triumph of biology, for example (he developed dwarf wheat and arguably helped feed millions) but there’s no Nobel prize for Biology. 

Dinner was at Brasserie 45, on the way back to the hotel.  Catfish: good.  White chocolate mousse with mixed berries: fantastic.

Random observations:

• Lots of unfamiliar candy brands in the airport stores, including some unusual gum flavors (Eucalyptus and Salty Licorice, hmm.) 
• Lots of winter sports on TV.
• Oslo may be one of the most expensive cities in the world, but it hasn’t hit me yet; dinner was pricey, but I wouldn’t say more so than a nice tourist friendly restaurant anywhere else.  Maybe it’s rent that makes it pricey.
• Overall first impression: Minnesota with mountains.

Tomorrow: Vikings.