Three years ago we were spending our first full day in Norway.

It was Syttende Mai, (May 17 — see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Constitution_Day ), 2008, the national holiday, and due to Arlin’s high-level family connections, we got a place in the square right in front of the royal palace.

It was also the coldest Syttende Mai in 50 years, and it had snowed (lightly) overnight. There were showers during the morning parade, but the weather cleared and the afternoon was very nice.

We watched the parade with Arlin’s distant cousins Kari Mette and Unn Kristin, and then walked around Oslo to see Frogner Park (with the sculptures of Gustav Vigeland) and the old fortress.