Expløring Øslø

Either I'm improving, finally learning from past experiences, or most likely, I didn't plan this trip right after school got out. Whichever excuse I use, I was somehow packed and ready to go BEFORE I had to leave...it's true! I even had time to take a nap and clean my room before leaving (usually I am throwing last minute items into my bag as I rush to barely make the bus). Well that was a first. Another first was packing only a carry-on backpack! It was a bit of a challenge, but I managed to do it and so far I haven't had issues with my secretly/slightly overweight carry-on. :)

My roommate graciously dropped me off at the flyaway, there was no traffic, easy and quick check-in/security, plane left on time, I napped here and there, plane landed on time, I effortlessly found the train that took me to the center of Oslo, but things were just going too well to last. My airbnb hostess had given very clear directions except for one very small detail. I was supposed to turn left onto a hill. I went up a hill, but I didn't fully understand which hill and therefore took a long detour. I asked a few very friendly Norwegians who pointed me back in the direction I figured I should go but wasn't sure how it would all add up. It finally added up and I realized my mistake. Seven flights of stairs later (loving my carry-on at this point) and I had arrived!!! It is a lovely flat with a great view (the flights of stairs are totally worth it!) 

View of Greenland from the plane as we passed over:

Seated across from me on the train

Passing the time on the metro. :) and also proof that I only took a carry-on..

I was given the short tour, some water, and a bike pass with a map. Even though it was  almost 9:00pm by the time I left, there was still plenty of daylight left. Plus, I was eager to move around after the long flight, and I don't have much time here so I wanted to make the most of my short stay! The bike system here is easy: there are check points where bikes are borrowed and returned (you have a maximum of three hours, but you can always return it and immediately borrow another one). I borrowed my bike and rode about 20 minutes to a famous park called the Vigeland Sculpture Park (named after Gustav Vigeland who designed all the statues). It was a beautiful park with lots of greenery and trails to walk, run, or ride (I saw a LOT of runners in the city), however Gustav has an interesting taste in sculptures because they were all naked. :/

Being that the park was so big, I was thankful for my bike (squeaky as it was). However, I didn't know how to change the gears so it stayed on 2 the entire ride. At one point, I was really pushing to get up a steep hill. A man at the top said something to me in Norwegian. I was so excited he thought I was Norwegian! I do have the blonde hair going for me. (Oh yes, the people here seem to be mostly blonde, blue-eyed, and gorgeous!) On the other hand, I did feel slightly conspicuous because it seemed to me (or maybe I was just being a self-conscious tourist) that a lot of people were sending prolonged glances as I rode by. So much for blending in. 

Bike station

Look Dad! Clay courts! Apparently they need to be watered?

The park

Pretty much the only appropriate pic I could take...

Abe Lincoln? What are you doing here!? (Apparently North Dakota presented this to Norway on July 4, 1914)

Uh oh..

After the park, I wanted to see the Opera House (built by the same company that built the 9/11 memorial). I knew the direction it was in and decided to explore different streets on my way over. I knew it was on the harbor, so I followed a path that took me past different boat yards, docks, fancy  and a variety of fun restaurants, I stopped to get an ice cream from a cute Mövenpick ice cream stand, I watched the sunset as I rode on, and finally reached my destination. It was nearing the end of the sunset (11:00pm) but there was just enough left to enjoy the city from the roof of the Opera House. Yes, you can walk up a ramp to the top (I also dragged my bike...probably a funny sight). It was designed to resemble an iceberg! I did ask a couple people (from Turkey) to take a jumping picture of me. :) 

The sky at 10:17

Exploring the streets...next time I'll be staying in the top room with the cute balcony. :)

Yum!

Opera house from afar

Got my jumping pic in! :)

It was darker and late by that point so I started back "home." I didn't want to go over my three hours of using the bike, so I switched it out. On the bright side, I figured out how to change the gears! But this new bike only worked in gear 1 or 3. If left in 2, it would merely decide which of the three gears it liked best and would then change its mind intermittently. Most of the ride home was uphill, so it was actually good that I was able to just use the first gear. My legs got their workout in!

Characteristics I noticed of Oslo:

Clean

Quiet

Beautiful (scenery and people)

Orange (a lot of orange accents: trains, sculptures, benches, houses, etc...)

For example:

Safe

Did I mention clean? :)

My plans weren't supposed to include Norway this trip, but I'm really glad it worked out the way it did!