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Before this trip was a thing, I just assumed that Norway had multiple parks in it. And of course it does, but it really only has one major thrill park: Tusenfryd. Which is a shame, because I would've liked to have spent more time in the country and visited some other places. But of course, it also makes sense, as Norway has a far smaller population than say, Sweden or Denmark. 15: You Can't Put Shoes on a Shark Tusenfryd's iconic escalators that connect the entrance and exit to the park proper. "Gunball" They don't make much of it, besides this statue, but the park's mascot is a centipede. 100% No notes. The park's newest coaster is "Storm - The Dragon Legend." Seemed like it was having quite a few problems before and after our visit. But unfortunately, it was running while we were there. Haha! I joke. But let's just say that reviews were mixed. What did I think? I think I was wise to make Smisty ride first. And she recommended that I pass. Which I did. So, really, I have no idea what I'm talking about. Maybe it's great. What are they all looking at? Did I take a photo of the wrong thing? Tusenfryd is quite hilly, and the log flume really takes advantage of the uneven terrain in order to somehow still not be very interesting. But that's okay, they have a much better water ride that we'll get to later. The food in the park was mostly substandard, but they did have this! Loopen. It's a Vekoma, but not a New Vekoma. Tusenfryd doesn't really have a "Main Street," but one end of "Route 66" is fairly close to the escalators, so I guess that kind of works. You can tell that the park trying to transition from a traditional amusement park to more of a theme park. I'm quite proud of this photo and I just realized that it has some TPR people in it. HuriHuri is a Zamperla compact spinning coaster, and I thought it was decently fun for a kiddie/family coaster. Weird troll-filled outdoor walk-through thing. Den Aller Minste (aka, Teeny Weeny) claims to be the world's smallest roller coaster. We are not proud. Thundercoaster Who's more interesting: me, or Robb? Well, Robb by sheer numbers. But at least Shane and Smisty chose me. I don't care for Timberliner trains. Just a bit downhill to the Tusenfryd's viking section, which contains my two favorite rides in the park. Hey, this looks pretty sedate. Nope! The rapids ride is named Ragnarok and it's great. The trough itself is a bit concrete-y, but the rest of the scenery is well done, and the layout and pacing are top notch. I love when there's a map of the ride. My new favorite rapids ride. (Sorry Popeye & Bluto's.) One more shot of Ragnarok. It was a tad wet, but I rode thrice. *ahem* Thor's Hammer It's an "Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man"-lite dark ride built in a legitimate cave. A bit talky--an opinion I believe I would still hold even if I spoke Norwegian--but still really good. The entrance and exit of Thor's Hammer. Um...guys, that's a sword. A portable roller skater...? This part of the park was mostly closed by the time we got to it. Possibly because it's unpopular? Apparently there's some similarity? I was asked by Elissa and Smisty to pose as though someone had just served me vegetables. The park's signature ride, Speed Monster. But unfortunately.... MORE BAD TRAINS I spent most of ERT taking photos. So, good dark ride, great rapids ride, a lovely wooded hillside setting, and very kind staff and management. But, none of the big coasters were really for me, a lot of the other rides that would normally appeal to me (log flume, car ride) were substandard, and the food was unremarkable at best. Erik's score: 5

Day 11: Tues, June 13th, evening. Sightseeing in Oslo! (PG-13 rated) a slight warning (for those that may be looking at this on a work computer) - a large part of this update was a stop at Frogner Park, the largest Park in Oslo. the central area of this park, contains a very large installation by Gustav Vigeland (a Norwegian sculptor likely best known worldwide for his design of the Nobel Peace Prize). the installation is called "the Circle of Life" and includes over 212 Bronze & Granite figures - all of them nude. if you'd like to find out way more about this park/sculptures. . check out Wikipedia's entry for "Frogner Park" ok. . . onwards to pics after settling into the room, many of us headed right back down into the lobby where some folks stayed in a group to do stuff, and some of us broke off on our own. . as noted above, I was very curious - and interested - in going to the Vigeland sculpture installation, and Jon & Jason were gonna join with. But before we grabbed a taxi (could have figured out more public transportation to get there, but we only had so much time this evening after a full day of Travel, and I was willing to pay just to get there direct via taxi). in the square, just outside the hotel, were Pride flags. (we were there during Pride Month) a better look at Thor's Hammer yes, not only was our hotel attached to the Grand Central train station, but the Mall of Oslo was right next door too. what's that big sculpture tho? ahhhhh. Glad there's a sign! (and hey, I know how to say "Tiger" in Norwegian now ! interesting clocktower in the plaza. . . so looks like it's about 7:30 pm a better view of our hotel from the plaza out front. (and yep, per the clock in the center, it was ~7:30) a large fountain out on the size plaza, and I was confused why the guy had a flame on his head. but moving closer? it was a Pigeon. HA.. . those birds crap on statues world wide. crossing over towards the bay, you get a fantastic view of the Oslo opera house. and this thing - one of many. What, exactly, is it? ahhhh. . . a Sauna. and there were lots of options available. never did get the name of this piece of artwork, but it did light up at night, and looked lovely. because we were connected to the train station, all it took was a short walk up some stairs for the Taxi station, and we were on our way for a shortish ride to Frogner Park. he didn't drop us off at the main gates, but just to the left, near the Vigeland Museum. as you can see from this map, it's a very large park, with the whole "central" area (numbers 1-4 & 9/10 being the Vigeland installation) but there are bronze casts of some of his sculptures all thruout the park - although not part of the main installation, still in similar theme. as could tell from the map. . very large park. We made our way towards the front gates. coming up the side, and near the entrance to the area of the installation called "the Bridge" one of the coffehouses dotting the park. standing with my back to "the Bridge" and the whole Vingland installation, and looking towards the main gate to the park. looking towards the installation over the Bridge (the sun was in this direction and wasn't my friend, but tried to get around it) in this pic beyond the statues on the Bridge, you can see "the Fountain", & "the Monolith" ("the sundial" and "the wheel of Life" - where the installation "circle of life" is supposed to start - are back behind the monolith and can't be seen in this pic) Starting at the main exit sculptures for the installation . . one of the rare, few, clothed figures. I walked the bridge and took pics of most of the sculptures. which seem to follow the "storyline" of a family and the generations within. (honestly, the images don't really carry the "weight" of seeing them live..they are stunning). here's the famous "Angry Child". . . pretty much center of the bridge. hmmmm. . . . if I post this on Facebook will I get thrown back in jail under promoting pornography again? looking ahead pas the main axis, in this pic you can just make out the sundial behind the monolith. the whole area is just so beautiful going back down the other side of the bridge to snap pics of the sculptures on that side. moving on from the bridge, and into the Fountain area. . but not before looking back, as from this side, the sun is lighting it up beautifully. Jon and I enjoying the park, in the Fountain area. . . not sure where Jason ran off to. (think he was still taking pics on the bridge) damn. . even the Fountain is covered with intricate sculptures. . stunning. I didn't realize there would be STAIRS involved. . oy. . . but I wanted to go to the Monolith and beyond. . so deep breath. (spoiler, I'm so glad I did, as at the Monolith is where the sculptures mostly go from bronze to Granite, and they are just incredible up close) a couple more pics of the Fountain area, showing off the lovely inlaid pattern in the bricks. and .. up the stairs we go. these cast iron gates were just amazing (the gate with women is on the opposite side of the plaza as you exit to the Sundial) from up at the base of the Monolith. . just an incredible view. and turning around. . managed to get a pretty people free pic of the actual piece. hard to do, as this area is where many of the Oslo jogging clubs meet up, and there were a lot of sweaty folks finishing up runs here - along with a handful of tourists. that main pillar? is sculpted from one massive piece of granite! amazing. Absolutely worth the effort to go see in person if ever in the area. I mean. . . what's not to appreciate??? the "Women's gate" entrance to the Monolith area looking forward, that's "the Sundial" mid picture, and on top of the hill is "the Wheel of Life" using my "finger magic" to hide a runner in a neon orange sweatsuit. . who sat on the stairs, and even tho saw I was waiting to take a pic, just chose not to move. so I "fingered" him out of my picture some of these at the base of the Monolith are just breathtaking. while others are a bit more "what/huh?" Jon checking his phone, while I get an amazing pic of Oslo and the park/installation. I mean. . . .I HAD to. . .right? headed up to "the Sundial". . the Astrological symbols are etched in the base. I'm a Taurus, so grabbed a pic ' headed to the Wheel of Life, and looking back at where we've come from the Wheel of Life (from the sunny side) and attempting to get the whole installation into one pic.. (but you can't see the fountain due to the elevations) LOVE this pic. and yeah. .I do believe he was peeing.. . didn't notice that until AFTER I took the pic. (and then discovered they charge to use the toilets in the park - i paid, but I guess that's why he's not the only person we saw peeing in a bush) headed back towards where we were dropped off - hoping to get a coffee, but the cafe in the park was closed. so instead took some more pics as we headed back to call our cab drive (who had given me his card and told us to call when we wanted to head back) this trail here, at the end of the bridge, leads down to an area called "the Children's Playground". . so of course we had to check it out. looking up at the bridge from the path down there are 8 more bronze statues down in this area. . most of them looking more fetal than children able to play. . .but interesting area. and the animals in the lake came right over to see if we had any food to give them. back at the parking lot where we were dropped off, I called the driver and then wandered across the street to check out the sculptures in front of the Vigeland museum (which was closed for the day) our driver showed up, and he took us the "scenic" way back. . which I didn't mind, as got to see more of Oslo. he also brought us by a Gay Bar that he said had recently been firebombed - and then finished off the ride on a nice offensive tirade about gay people and "why do they have to flaunt it". . while we sat quiet and Jason & Jon glanced at me uncomfortably, wondering if I was going to say anything. I actually did NOT..stayed quiet, let him rant, and took pictures while he drove. back at the hotel, I had to run up to the room as my phone was at less than 2% (it had been a long day and had drained it and the backup battery) so I needed to charge it and would do that while we decided where to grab something to eat as late as it was (I believe close to 10) Pic of the terminal station mostly shut down this late, as I headed to the room. Plugged in my phone, invited AJ to join us - and bumped into David on way back out and he joined us, and we found a great Mediterranean restaurant closeby the hotel. the food was really good, and there was a lot of is, and we appreciated that the owner stayed open for us to eat and didn't really rush us out. oh, we also saw a bunch of police cars and police tape, and an ambulance (heard someone whispering about a murder).. . first actual police I'd seen the whole trip. no pics of the food (or the police action) because my phone was in the room. but Jason did take the following pic for me, as I decided I REALLY needed a pic of me tickling her armpits and that's my day in Oslo! tomorrow? up early, and out, as our park is Tusenfryd . . to check out the newest coaster, Storm-the Dragon Legend, and the famous Speed Monster!