Hello from awe-inspiring Norway!
The legion of spine-tingling and heart-stirring views my husband and I have encountered so far since stepping foot in Oslo has surely been plentiful and abundant. Truly this city is for those who like to relax and breathe easy. One can sail on the waters in the morning, enjoy glorious views from mountain peaks in the afternoon, and finally tuck into a traditional Norwegian seafood feast come sundown (we propose supper by the water’s edge at Tjuvholmen Sjømagasin on the island of the thieves).
Upon cruising through Oslo aboard the Celebrity Cruise Line, we couldn’t help but notice a towering structure shining under the sun by the nearby mountains that almost could be seen from every corner in the city. It was the Holmenkollen Ski Jump Tower which offers incredible views of the Oslo fjords.
We decided to take up on the adventure and started our ascent by train to the mountains to Holmenkollen. We purchased a 24-hour public transit ticket at the guest relations office at the Oslo main train station. The woman who helped us was very friendly and welcoming. We took the No. 1 train service, which actually goes through most of the key places of Oslo, to get to Holmenkollen. It was a short 40-minute ride from the city center. The trains were clean and offered glorious views while it continues to scale upward along the mountain. We couldn’t help but stay still in quiet harmony as we peeked through the windows and appreciate the blues and the greens of the Norwegian landscape. Wow, everything in the city seemed to gracefully be in place, immaculate and unblemished in its Scandinavian simplicity.
Though the train ride to the Holmenkollen station was short, please note that one must be prepared to walk uphill upon arrival. It’s a quick brisk hike, about 15 minutes, to the entrance of the Holmenkollen Ski Museum but the views that will welcome you will certainly leave you breathless. The air was crisp and fresh, the trees were a myriad of green hues, and the seascapes are as crystal clear as it can get. Expect picture perfect panoramic views.
Our tour started with getting to know the history of ski jumping in the region. Skiing is such an engraved activity and truly part of the daily lives of the Norwegians. Both men and women were encouraged at a young age to participate. Thus, a skiing culture was engraved at the very core of the people in Norway. We saw photographs depicting the early skiers of the region as well as of recent celebrity ski competitors. The skis of the greats were even proudly displayed in an array of colors. What a thrilling sight!
As Holmenkollen is a true interactive museum, there were some neat features like the ski jump simulator, numerous interactive video games, and the peak of the site housing the Holmenkollen Ski Jump Tower. It was used by the Olympians in the 1952 Ski Olympics and gives an authentic feel for the ambiance of what it was like to participate in such an intoxicating and intriguing event. This place has also hosted the Holmenkollen Ski Festival since 1892 and the Nordic World Ski Championship held in 2011. It is amazing how one could have seen the ski jump on TV but seeing it in real life can genuinely capture the wonder of this engineering and human marvel. It was impressive to see the steepness of the ski jump. What courage one would need to be able to take that leap!
Thanks to Holmenkollen | Skiforeningen | Kongeveien 5, 0787 Oslo, Norway | +47 916 71 947