Oslo, 4.1
Unless you happen to have be riding the night train into a city arriving at 22:30 on a Saturday is not fun. After traveling for sixteen hours I want a shower and a bed not to have to deal with a city of drunks and beggars. That's the initial opinion I had when having to walk along Karl Johans Gate, dodging packs of drunks and rose sellers, buskers, beggars and whatever else is spawned late at night.
Hotel, blah, blah, blah. Think of a standard hotel and it was that. It had a shower which I relaxed in. It had a bed and I slept in it. It had a breakfast and I broke the night's fast.
Next day was sunny. One of those slow build days where the sun rises early but it's still cold when you venture out. Walked through the Slottsparken and saw the palace and located the Kulturhistorisk museum. Some of the display was aimed at kids but the larger pieces in the Medieval section where very good. Several Stave Church portals like i had seen at Urnes as well as an intricate chest and lock. If i'd known that had allowed photography in this room I would have brought my camera!
Went to the National Gallery but not before seeing a queer sight. Children where sliding down/out of it, interpret as you see fit...National gallery is full of national gallery things; Munch being the most famous for Norway, but also a Van Gogh, some Monet and a huge array of smaller artists.
Finished being cultural and needed Coffee.
Walked the short distance down towards the Town Hall a nice brick structure from the 20's. Statues of workers lined the area from the same period. I'm a fan of this 'industrial' architecture and general period of design and it is prevalent in many countries across Europe (except of course the UK). It is often linked closely to the socialist movement of the period and rise of 'the worker' in status in the industrial world.
Spent a good part of my afternoon walking around the Akershus Festning. Traditional late period fortress with large earthworks in a star-like formation with various cannons and artillery. In complete contrast to that most of the evening was spent in a Vegan buffet place making use of the 'all you can eat', making it probably the best value place in the entire country! Tasty and in large quantities.
That night I also had my first pint in a pub without a meal. Tasted ok and cost 5 pound 50 pence. Didn't finish it, pub was cold and drafty and I was stuck in a dingy corner. I think holiday fatigue was beginning to set in (bit like writing fatigue is now...)
Hotel. Sleep. Breakfast. Rainy morning.
Checked out and put my bag in the train station locker, something which UK train stations should also do but as there are terrorists around every corner here it seems unlikely. Headed out towards the harbour to get a ferry across to the Bygdøy, a peninsula nearby with several museums on it. This morning was definitely a 'end of holiday morning' as the rain started, slowly at first, and by the end of the morning it was throwing it down. Walked through the rain from the ferry to the Viking ship museum. Interesting displays of burial ships. Trudged back in the rain. Was rained on while going to the coffee shop. Rained out while wandering outside the coffee shop...Slowly the rest of day ebbed away. Got the train, got a plane and was back in Edinburgh.
That's probably the main reason I went to Norway. It takes such a short time to get there. I think with good planning and maybe some local knowledge you could stay very cheaply in Norway, especially if you pool costs with several other people.
One final social comment which I have to mentioned, particularly as a nasal american student girl had just proclaimed her knowledge of European welfare programs. According to this worldwise traveling student, Sweden has no homeless and Oslo lots. Sweden look after their homeless. One part of my Oslo trip I hadn't mentioned was that I tried to go for a wander to the Munch museum to the North East. Map was not so good and I was winging it. The area changes from Typical city centre wealth and high street chains to small shops, foreign shop keepers and local people doing local things. I don't know what the demographic breakdown by ethnicity is, but similar to some parts of any big city a large number where 'non-local'. It's just the way of big cities. They attract people who are looking for work often from countries where it's difficult or poor paid.
I keep walking and realise i'm none to sure as to which bridge i've reached. Decide to follow the Akerselva river back down to the harbour area. Along the way there was a lot of what would be termed in the UK 'Asylum seekers'. Like much of Europe there are people who have fled from dangerous area, oppressive regimes or other troubles and end up being on the bottom of the heap here.
Making a statement based on casual observations, whether by me or by an day tripping student, are bound to be flawed. The snapshot of a place is just that, it is not a cross-section of the society but fragments from what you see and who you meet.
And now I need to look at jobs.
Hotel, blah, blah, blah. Think of a standard hotel and it was that. It had a shower which I relaxed in. It had a bed and I slept in it. It had a breakfast and I broke the night's fast.
Next day was sunny. One of those slow build days where the sun rises early but it's still cold when you venture out. Walked through the Slottsparken and saw the palace and located the Kulturhistorisk museum. Some of the display was aimed at kids but the larger pieces in the Medieval section where very good. Several Stave Church portals like i had seen at Urnes as well as an intricate chest and lock. If i'd known that had allowed photography in this room I would have brought my camera!
Went to the National Gallery but not before seeing a queer sight. Children where sliding down/out of it, interpret as you see fit...National gallery is full of national gallery things; Munch being the most famous for Norway, but also a Van Gogh, some Monet and a huge array of smaller artists.
Finished being cultural and needed Coffee.
Walked the short distance down towards the Town Hall a nice brick structure from the 20's. Statues of workers lined the area from the same period. I'm a fan of this 'industrial' architecture and general period of design and it is prevalent in many countries across Europe (except of course the UK). It is often linked closely to the socialist movement of the period and rise of 'the worker' in status in the industrial world.
Spent a good part of my afternoon walking around the Akershus Festning. Traditional late period fortress with large earthworks in a star-like formation with various cannons and artillery. In complete contrast to that most of the evening was spent in a Vegan buffet place making use of the 'all you can eat', making it probably the best value place in the entire country! Tasty and in large quantities.
That night I also had my first pint in a pub without a meal. Tasted ok and cost 5 pound 50 pence. Didn't finish it, pub was cold and drafty and I was stuck in a dingy corner. I think holiday fatigue was beginning to set in (bit like writing fatigue is now...)
Hotel. Sleep. Breakfast. Rainy morning.
Checked out and put my bag in the train station locker, something which UK train stations should also do but as there are terrorists around every corner here it seems unlikely. Headed out towards the harbour to get a ferry across to the Bygdøy, a peninsula nearby with several museums on it. This morning was definitely a 'end of holiday morning' as the rain started, slowly at first, and by the end of the morning it was throwing it down. Walked through the rain from the ferry to the Viking ship museum. Interesting displays of burial ships. Trudged back in the rain. Was rained on while going to the coffee shop. Rained out while wandering outside the coffee shop...Slowly the rest of day ebbed away. Got the train, got a plane and was back in Edinburgh.
That's probably the main reason I went to Norway. It takes such a short time to get there. I think with good planning and maybe some local knowledge you could stay very cheaply in Norway, especially if you pool costs with several other people.
One final social comment which I have to mentioned, particularly as a nasal american student girl had just proclaimed her knowledge of European welfare programs. According to this worldwise traveling student, Sweden has no homeless and Oslo lots. Sweden look after their homeless. One part of my Oslo trip I hadn't mentioned was that I tried to go for a wander to the Munch museum to the North East. Map was not so good and I was winging it. The area changes from Typical city centre wealth and high street chains to small shops, foreign shop keepers and local people doing local things. I don't know what the demographic breakdown by ethnicity is, but similar to some parts of any big city a large number where 'non-local'. It's just the way of big cities. They attract people who are looking for work often from countries where it's difficult or poor paid.
I keep walking and realise i'm none to sure as to which bridge i've reached. Decide to follow the Akerselva river back down to the harbour area. Along the way there was a lot of what would be termed in the UK 'Asylum seekers'. Like much of Europe there are people who have fled from dangerous area, oppressive regimes or other troubles and end up being on the bottom of the heap here.
Making a statement based on casual observations, whether by me or by an day tripping student, are bound to be flawed. The snapshot of a place is just that, it is not a cross-section of the society but fragments from what you see and who you meet.
And now I need to look at jobs.