Norway is a very smoothly-functioning country. The train station was immediately accessible from the cozily-heated airport and I had no trouble getting a ticket or finding the right platform, with friendly staff on hand to help. I boarded a commuter train to the delightful suburban town of Eidsvoll, where the Norwegian constitution was written in 1814. After a good sleep at my host’s house, we headed into Oslo itself. Over the next few days, we were treated to a series of delicious meals and trips to some of the celebrated sites and hangouts of this beautiful city.
Royal Palace
The architecture of the city is a striking combination of old and new, with ornate eighteenth century grandeur sitting alongside ancient wooden houses and glassy minimalist modernism. Some of the most pleasant moments we had in Oslo were spent simply walking the streets and drinking in the history of the place, as revealed by its buildings. A praiseworthy feature of town-planning: the municipality have let street artists decorate the more functional and otherwise boring facades with colourful and creative murals, some expressing social messages and others simply expressive.
Bar Life
Bar life in Oslo is very active, with most venues boasting stunning interior design and staff trained in cocktail ‘mixology’. Norway has a strong brewing culture, with many bars having their own unique brands of beer. Watch out though – drinking in town can be ruinously expensive, with beers costing between $7-12 a bottle! At least this is one way to achieve moderation.
Explore the CountrySide
Finally, a word on the countryside. Many tourists visit Norway solely to see its incredible, wild landscapes. Explore national parks, trek through dense pine forest, and see the incredible beauty of the country.
Norway has a law that entitles its citizens free and easy access to wilderness – expanses of untamed, unfarmed countryside – which is an enlightened piece of legislation. During your holiday stay in simply furnished with benches, a fireplace and basic kitchen utensils. These log cabins are apparently an important feature of this wilderness culture, allowing nature-lovers to come and sleep in the forest, without having to carry all their kitchen equipment with them.
