We found our way to Oslo as part of a mini-cruise special. The cruise ship – and it was a cruise ship, not the ferry I expected – left Copenhagen at 4PM in the afternoon, steamed over night to Oslo and then disgorged us near Oslo’s famous opera house on a cold January morning. The deal was a fun one – $4.50 for the entire cruise. The catch? We had 7 hours in Oslo before we needed to be back aboard and steaming back to Copenhagen.
As we made our way up the final leg of the Oslo fjord we were treated to an incredible sight. Blanketed by clouds, the early morning light that surrounded us was a foggy gray. On the horizon, where the water met land and the clouds broke, golden morning rays were visible. It was one of the strangest, and slowest, sunrises I’ve seen. As the weak winter light fought against the thick, low hanging, coastal clouds the light slowly worked its way closer and closer to Oslo. A progression that mirrored our own voyage. Then, as we disembarked and wandered the city – eventually finding our way down to the harbor which is where this photo of the Helena was taken – the light finally started to fall across the city, brightening it.
Though it was now late-morning the nature of the Nordic light made it difficult to tell if it was mid-day, just after sunrise, or just before sunset. None of which really mattered to us, as the view and the sun’s hues were stunning.
Would you like to see previous Friday Photos? View past travel pictures here. This photo was taken on a Canon T3i (600D)
