Oslo, Norway (part 2 of 4)
We didn’t have much of a plan for Oslo. It looked like it would start pouring rain any second and we only had 6 or 7 hours. Since it hadn’t started raining yet, museums were expensive (at $15+ per person), and public transportation was also pricey, we decided to start walking through the city center with the eventual goal of reaching Oslo’s famous park, Frogner Park (in tomorrow’s blog entry).
The city center was nice. It was a Saturday morning before 10 a.m. so there were few people to be seen. Although I enjoy the architecture of Copenhagen, it was nice to see something different. Oslo’s buildings aren’t radically different (having been under Danish rule for large parts of their history), but they are unique nonetheless.
We went by the parliament (Storting), down Karl Johans gate, by the royal palace, and through the Slottsparken. Along the way we saw the National Theater, above, and many other sights including the King’s Ceremonial Guards. Later we went through the Akershus Slott grounds (although the views were mostly blocked by cruise ships), Aker-Brygge, and by Oslo City Hall.
Once back in more residential neighborhoods I noticed more similarities in the housing to San Francisco, California than to Copenhagen. Some streets had what looked like Victorians that you’d see in The City. Some places looked similar to Copenhagen but were made out of materials other than brick.
The kids were getting tired of walking so we stopped at a park with a play area near a flea market. The above kids aren’t mine, just some Norwegian kids that were happily playing. Everything was very green in Norway. If I were to become a billionaire the first thing I would do is go on an extended vacation in Norway, exploring every bit of it.
I went to check out the flea market. The prices weren’t what you normally find at a flea market. Of course, this is Oslo, Norway, the most expensive city in the most expensive country on the planet.
Plates, trinkets, and other items you might find in grandma’s attic that you find at garage sales or flea markets in America usually go for 50 cents or a dollar each. Here in Oslo the prices seemed to start at about $5 and quickly go up from there. I’d pick something up and think, “I would possibly buy this for a dollar at a garage sale in the U.S.” Then I’d flip it over to see that they were asking $50 or $100 for it.
We actually didn’t spend a dime in Oslo or convert any of our money to Norwegian Kroners. We had a big breakfast and dinner on the ship and took snacks to eat. We did go into a McDonalds to use the restroom. A McDonalds salad will set you back US$16 in Norway. A hamburger, fries, and drink discount deal? US$19. You can’t pay me to eat at McDonalds anywhere so there was no temptation to eat at McDonalds in Oslo.
Our friend from Australia ate lunch in Oslo. She had a salad, a beer, and a coffee. The bill for lunch? AUS$50.
We went in one clothing store. T-shirts were “on sale” for only US$100. I saw a baby’s bib going for US$35 and a nice onesie that may fetch up to $15 in the U.S. available for just US$60. The wages in Oslo must be incredible.
While we did see some nice, Nordic-style buildings, I wanted to see a Stave church. Unfortunately, there aren’t any in Oslo except one at the Norse Folk Museum. The Norsk Folkemuseum was too far of a walk and the high admission cost was another reason we didn’t venture there.
The library had a most unusual fountain in front of it. I’ve never seen one like it. The fountain disappears when trams come down the street and cross over it.
We didn’t get hit by a drop of rain so we were feeling most fortunate by the end of our Oslo adventures. As we headed back to the cruise ship there was even some blue sky. The temperature was also much higher than the promised 62. I’m guessing it may have hit 72 or more. The views of the bay and fjords were spectacular as you can see from the above picture.
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