Oslo, Norge

Country: Norway (Norge)

Location(s): Oslo, Oslofjorden, Sandefjord

Date of Visit: June 2007
Means of Transport: Ryanair

Norway Details
Population: 4,695,134
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Primary Language(s): Bokmål, Nynorsk
Primary Religion(s): Evangelical Lutheran
Currency: Norwegian Krone



Review:
Well this was one hell of a wild trip. A couple of months back I am surfing around the Ryanair website and bump into a deal that couldn't be missed. Return flights being offered for 2p to lots of destinations inclusive of all taxes and charges. This meant I had to get booking pretty quick as location after location kept getting sold out. I considered going to Milan and Bremen, but by the time I had logged on it was too late. Nevertheless, I was able to book flights to both Norway and Denmark for the day.

So, as a day trip to Scandinavia would most probably imply, this meant an early start to get to Stansted. Probably the only drawback to Ryanair is that its based in Stansted seeing as I live only a few minutes from Heathrow. Anyway, it wasn't enough of a deterrent to stop a 4am start to get a 6.30 flight to Sandefjord Torp. Check in was easy and before we knew it, we were on a plane headed to Norway. On the plane we met a nice woman, Christina, who advised us about certain things to look out for and also let me take her window seat so I could watch the descent into southern Norway. From the plane you could see the hundreds of islands just off of the mainland coast with maybe one house on each, a very bizarre phenomenon to me. Also the fjords became more evident as we traveled further along the coast.

We landed in a pretty small airport called Torp, which is actually a provincial airport and not really a hub for Oslo at all. With just a backpack for the day, we had no luggage to collect and it was quick getting out apart from the stare at the American passport that traveling in Europe always gets. First thing that hits us is the smell of Pølser (hot dogs), a smell recognisable from the numerous trips to IKEA. We then hop on a coach that takes us into downtown Oslo in about two hours. What is noticeable pretty quickly is the huge building of highways and the number of boats in water. Everybody must have a boat out there, like having a second car I guess.

We arrive at Oslo Sentralstasjon and head towards civilization. Of course, we have to deal with the numerous McDonalds on the very pleasant main street call Karl Johans Gate but manage to pick out some of the main buildings such as parliament and the national theater. A desperate urge to see some Nordic water, we head down to the port at Aker Brygge where we walk around the town hall plaza and see a statue of FDR amongst all people. Another observation, is the number of statues and fountains located in this clean, clean city. It really adds atmosphere and focal points to large and small areas. Something to take a picture of anyways.

What we notice from outside the town hall are tour boats. We run towards the dock as one looks to be leaving and for only 115NOK we were able to get a 50minute cruise around the Oslofjorden. We picked up some history and some details from a charming Chinese/Norwegian tour guide who spoke in English. The water had that glass/tablecloth quality about it, as I had noticed in Switzerland, but it was a deeper blue color than what I had seen before. The boat ride was timed just right as we were out in beautiful 85degree weather with sun and blue skies all around (apparently unusual for Oslo). All the houses on the surrounding islands all were either blue, yellow, red or green, a tradition that has been continued throughout Scandinavia. They also fly a Norwegian banner which is different to the flag itself, but more of a naval flag shape.

Looking at a time crunch, we figure we have just enough to hop on the metro called the T-bane, similar to Boston, and go outbounds to Holmenkollen, the Olympic ski jump. A long uphill trek from the metro station, you actually get to the Ski Museum and Jump and are confronted with breathtaking views of the entire Oslo bay and the surrounding islands and mountains. The ski jump itself is a feat of engineering which holds 110,000 fans at capacity and launches skiers into the air for 130meters. For only 70NOK I am able to gain entry to the museum which shows the evolution of skiing in Norway and the history of the 1952 Olympics as well as gaining access to the tower itself which offered even greater views of the city.

All in a days work, we start to head back to Sentralstasjon to get the coach back to the airport. The lack of AC anywhere is apparent, but the Norwegians, a fair people seem neither phased nor burned in the heat. We arrive at the airport, pick up some Pølser for 20NOK and hop on the plane back. We arrive back home at 12.30 GMT and its almost hard to believe we had just spent the day in Norway! I would thoroughly recommend day trips to Europe if the deal comes up.