Viggeland Park in Oslo
Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943) was a renowned Norwegian sculptor. Many of his works are displayed in Frogner Park, which is also called Viggeland Park in Oslo, Norway.
Travelling Albania
Continuing the last photography series about Albania, in this one the focus lies on the beautiful nature and geography of the country. While being a relatively small country, it offers a mix of different landscapes, from Mediterranean sights to mountainous regions. On the coast, more and more centers of tourism come into being, while the center part of the country is still original and raw. Hence, the aim of this particular series is to highlight Albania’s diversity.
A Journey to Albania
Albania is situated in Southeastern Europe, just north of Greece. Due to its long periods of isolation and its status as the poorest country in Europe, it is not well known, and until recently, just a few travelers came to visit. This is changing in the last few years. More and more backpackers come and discover the beauty of this hidden pearl in the Balkans. At the coastline, more and more hotels are being built, and the infrastructure is growing. There are even talks of reactivating the railway, which was put out of use in the last decades. Albania is a multireligious country, you will find beautiful old mosques in the Ottoman style (picture 1), as well as orthodox churches and catholic monasteries (pictures 4, 8). The people of different faiths live together in peace, and no matter which cultural building you enter, you will receive the Albanian way – warmly and with a smile.
Oslo City Hall
The Oslo City Hall was built between 1931 and 1950 in a mixed modernist-historic style. On December 10th, every year, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in the main hall of the building (pictures 2, 4). While looking relatively unpretentious from the outside, the inner decoration of this brick building is pretty impressive. Over forty artists from Norway worked on wall paintings and sculptures to design a “palace for the people” (picture 5). The building is still in active use today. While the two towers house many city administration offices (picture 1), the city parliament meets on the first floor in the center of the building (picture 3). The city hall is open every day in summer from 09:00 to 18:00 and in winter from 09:00 to 16:00. Don’t miss it if you visit Oslo!
Undredal at the Nærøyfjord
Undredal is a small village situated at the majestic Nærøyfjord in Western Norway. Up until 1988, the remote settlement was accessible solely by water. Nonetheless, people lived here for centuries, cultivating the rich soil and living off sheep herding. It is famous for a delicious kind of cheese named Geinost, consisting of goat milk. Also, in Undredal, you can find the smallest Viking church in Norway; it has only forty seats (picture 6).
The City of Thousand Windows: Berati
Berati is situated in southern Albania and is well known for its history and architecture. Founded in the 9th century, it has always been a hotspot for different religions; up until today, Christians and Muslims live peacefully in the town. Though famous, Berati is mainly for its stone buildings, situated close to each other on a hillside facing the river Ishull. Visually striking are the large windows on these houses, so Berati also got the name “The City of Thousand Windows.”
Michael Hoffman Photography 