16th July: The journey comes to an end...

Risør (B)

2 hours away from Oslo, my radius of activities was somewhat limited. So, I drove to Risør because I wanted to visit the local aquarium. However, my parking spot was on the local mountain, Risørflekken. But that was not bad at all, because I got a wonderful view of the town, which is also called Trehusby (Wooden House City), I wonder why? Like the other cities, it had the characteristic white wooden houses lining the harbor.

Risør is also known as the "white city by the sea" and gained its wealth in the 16th century through the export of wood. The city was also crowned the most beautiful wooden city in Norway, a reason for the many tourists who like to travel by boat, to take a look at the city with barely 7,000 inhabitants and stay there.

The aquarium itself was boring and made especially for young children who wanted to feed and touch the fish.

Henrik Ibsen Museum Skien (C)

In the afternoon, I had booked a tour at the only Ibsen museum that is currently open. It mainly deals with his childhood, before the man who was to become one of the world's most famous playwrights went to Grimstad.

There I also learned that he had been a small man (1.58 - 1.60 m) and wore heels to gain more respect. The family's summer house, in which they also lived after a financial crisis, could be visited, and it is located a little outside Skien, namely in Venstøp. As it turned out in correspondence, Ibsen hated this place and never visited it again after he left for pharmacy training. At first, I received a private tour, but later two Norwegians joined our small group and had no problem with the tour being in English.

Afterwards, I made my way to the campsite, where I set up camp among long-time campers and took a walk by the sea. It was warm, 23°C, and I actually wanted to go for a swim, but when I stood in the water up to my knees, I found it too cold.