Iforum - International Forum Oslo

F R O M T H E O F F I C E

June 26, 2020

Last year an invoice for renewing membership was sent to each member and this worked very well. When the time comes, this procedure will be repeated, so we ask you kindly to wait until then before … Read More

F R O M T H E B O A R D

June 26, 2020

It is not yet possible to foresee in what form our meetings will take place in the Autumn, but we are hopeful that we’ll be able to start up again, as restrictions are continually being eased. We … Read More

Creative ideas in “Corona times”

June 18, 2020

New ideas pop up all the time regarding how to prevent transmission of the Covid-19 virus. We bought for instance individual salt- and pepper shakers for each guest at our last dinner party. And, … Read More

Forum Singers choir

April 27, 2020

The Forum Singers choir is sad to announce that it is closing down. Our present conductor Eva Landro has been offered a position with the professional Edvard Grieg choir in Bergen, starting May 2020. … Read More

From the Board

April 7, 2020

The COVID-19 Virus Due to the Corona crisis, all IF activities have been cancelled until further notice. We strongly encourage our members to heed the safety instructions issued by the authorities. … Read More

There are no Special visits arranged for the time being, due to the Corona restrictions. On the other hand, there are many arrangements in Oslo and beyond that members can visit on their own. (The information bellow is copied from the June Newsletter 2020).

The Fortified Town of Old Fredrikstad

Visit northern Europe’s best-preserved fortified town, the old city of Fredrikstad, with its shops, galleries and cafés. Gamlebyen is one of Northern Europe’s historical treasures.

In well-preserved ancient buildings and along cobbled streets, you will find a living town with quaint shops, museums, galleries, theatres and charming cafés. People have shopped here since 1640! The shops are open all year, also Sundays. 9

The star-shaped defence walls and moats are perfect for picnics and strolls and for slowing your heart beat. The old town is a living part of modern Fredrikstad, and offers good food, attractive shops, art galleries and a unique atmosphere.

This site is about one hour and fifteen minutes from Oslo. Fredrikstad can also be reached by train. Bus 8 from the St. Croix underpass (20-minute ride).

Skibladner

Steamboat on Lake Mjøsa

The season starts June 23 and ends on August 23

Skibladner has been in regular traffic between Eidsvoll and Lillehammer since 1856; in the beginning as an extension of the railroad service, which ended at Eidsvoll. It is the world’s oldest paddle steamer still in service.

The ports of call are Hamar, Kapp, Gjøvik, Moelv and Lillehammer. You can start your trip at any of them, and disembark at any of them. If you sail from Hamar to Lillehammer, make sure to order the second seating in the restaurant. Then you can enjoy the wonderful landscape of Nes, Toten and Gjøvik before reaching the forests south of Lillehammer. That’s when the second seating starts.

The medieval church at Nes

Kapp (Toten)

Because of the current Corona situation, the paddle steamer will sail with 50% passenger capacity all summer, as the operators wish to follow the rules of hygiene and social distancing. Tickets must therefore be purchased in advance. The persons purchasing tickets must also be able to supply contact information about their fellow travellers, in case Covid-19 tracking becomes necessary.

For information about tickets and prices, please see https://www.skibladner.no/travel-with-us/departure-times-and-prices or call 61 14 40 80. Please note that this year all passengers must order a meal. The traditional meal served is Norwegian steamed salmon and strawberries. The boat has its own labelled white wine.

For tickets, please go to https://www.skibladner.no/reis-med-oss/booking-og-bestilling.

Lillehammer Art Museum

The trip with Skibladrer may be combined with a short visit to the Lillehammer Art Museum, which is a 20-minute walk up from the steamboat pier. The museum is not far from the train station, for a one-hour ride back to Hamar, if that is where you embarked on the boat. The current exhibition features a new and exciting presentation of the vast art collection, including more than 300 works ranging from the era of Romanticism to the present day. Two hundred years of art collection presented in a new way!

https://lillehammerartmuseum.com/utstilling/have-we-met-before/?lang=en 11

Avaldsnes Historical and Viking Center at Karmøy

Kong Augvalds veg, Avaldsnes. Follow Route 47 south from Haugesund

The museum is open from June 19 to August 13

Avaldsnes is Norway’s oldest royal court both before and during the Viking age, as shown by the hundreds of burial mounds in the area. This royal ‘seat’ controlled most of the commerce along the coast of Norway from very early on.

Harald Fairhair (c. 850-932) chased the local King Hjør Halfsson and made the estate his main residence after he won the naval battle at Hafrsfjord in the year 872, which resulted in the unification of Norway into one kingdom.

It was also at Avaldsnes that Olav Haraldsson (later Saint Olav †1030) and the mighty Erling Skjalgsson met. Erling fought for the traditional small, autonomous kingdoms and the Þing system, against the reformists of the Fairhair family line. King Håkon Håkonsson built Avaldsnes Church around 1250.

Concerts, exhibitions, guided tours of the sites of historical events and a Viking market are some of the activities on the program of the annual Viking Festival at Karmøy.

For information about activities and tickets, please go to https://avaldsnes.info/en/historiesenter/apningstider/