Hello from Oslo, Norway!  The cruise so far has been incredible.  We arrived around 9 in the morning on Saturday and immediately boarded a bus through the beautiful English countryside to Southampton where we boarded the QE2.  We were all jet lagged, but in good spirits. (Now that we are in Norway, we are 7 hours ahead of Charlotte).

The ship is incredible.  Most importantly, the food is divine.  We are all raving about the seven course dinners and five course lunches.  Breakfast is great as well.  All served with a smile and impeccable service.

We did hit some slightly choppy waters Sunday evening, and some of the group were under the weather, but most are doing fine now as we are on land.  Especially since the weather is gorgeous: bright blue skies, beautifully warm sunshine and a nice breeze ruffling the multitude of trees and flowers that are everywhere.

Oslo, Norway is immaculate.  The city is one of the quietest cities I have ever heard (or not heard). It is also very clean.  This morning my mother and I toured the highlights of Oslo, including where the 1992 Olympics were held.

After a gorgeous mountain view overlooking the Oslofjord and the city, we traveled to Vigeland Sculpture Park where we saw the famed Circle of Life.  The immensity of size and number of statues was overwhelming.  The closest place in likeness in the states would have to be Brookgreen Gardens in Myrtle Beach, SC.

This afternoon my mother will experience the Viking Ship Museum on Bygdoy Peninsula while I travel with Dr. Leanne Pupchek and the Master of Organizational Communication class to TeleNor for a tour of their telecommunication organization.  I will email more later.  We are all having a fabulous time.

— Keith Byrd