A day out in Oslo

As it turns out, I got to be here for the first snow!  You couldn't really see it on the ground until that night when my new Norwegian world became a fairytale overnight, but the air definitely tasted and smelled of snow as we moved around town and explored the fantastic alpine Opera House (see below.)

This is just a popular local shopping district.  I got over being a tourist fast as I stood with my phone held high over everyone's heads snapping pictures from the middle of the street.  

At the very end of the road is the Royal Palace.

I love the pigeon sitting on the man's head.

The Opera House.  It's very hard to capture from up close as it resembles a giant glacier.  

Even inside, the Opera House has angles everywhere and slate windows adding to the feel of ice and sea.  Apparently, the local Norwegian firm who built the stunning building intended to make it as accessible as possible since opera was traditionally seen as elitist.  Now, because of this building, there are kids sliding up and down the walls in their socks indoors, and people climb up and down the roofs outside every day.  During the summer, people apparently use the waterside access as a beach! 

About 100 feet away is a structure threatening "iceberg ahead."  I think it looks like a scrambled version of the Louvre's glass pyramid.  

The view from the front doors of the Opera House.

...up we go

Norway is doing quite well as seen in the construction everywhere.  I guess they're not too worried about the snow.  

From the roof of the Opera House

I love the grassy lined tram lines! 

This is the other side of the Central Train Station, another comical piece of art from the same artist as "Cameltoe."

Norwegians say outdoor seating is good year-round.