I took a short trip to Oslo with my roommate Isabell and two classmates Mi (from Mongolia) and Chris (from Shanghai) and met two other classmates there.
Oslo is about an hour flight from Copenhagen, and is the third largest city in Scandinavia (#1 CPH #2 Stockholm). On the way to Oslo once we reached Norway, we were taken back by the snow-covered vast wilderness - no human life, only nature. The airport is located about 50km/30 miles from the city centre.
Oslo is at the northernmost end of the Oslofjord and there are 40 islands within the city limits. A fjord/fiord is a long, narrow bay with steep sides. "A Fjord is formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley through abrasion of the surrounding bedrock by the sediment it carries."
Fun facts:
-Norway is not a part of the European Union, because they are reluctant to give up its fishing and oil rights and be regulated by the EU.
-Oslo is at the same time the 3rd most expensive city also the 3rd richest city (2006)!
Views of Oslo from the plane window - all wilderness
At our hostel: Mi, me and Chris
The Royal Palace was built in the first half of the 19th century as the Norwegian residence of Norwegian and Swedish king Charles III and is now used as the official residence of the present Norwegian Monarch.
At the sea: Mi, Chis, Isabell and me
Out in Oslo: Svenja, Mi, Chris and me
Vigeland Sculpture Park is a part of Frogner Park, and is about 3 km northwest of the city centre. The park covers 80 acres and features sculptures created by Norwegian sculptor, Gustav Vigeland. The theme of the sculpture park is the circle of life and the happenings of life or "typical human pursuits" of daily life such as two couples in love or fighting, a group of boys playing and an old couple clinging to life together. The most vandalized statue is of the screaming baby - and he has been stolen a few times.
The Viking Ship Museum at Bygdøy is hosts grave finds from Tune, Gokstad, Oseberg and Borre. The museum has three ships that were excavted from the late 1800s and early 1900s. When you first enter, you immediately face the Oseberg Ship and the sheer size of the ship leaves you speechless.
Other sight that we saw on our bus tour:
The Holmenkollen ski jump, is the world's second oldest ski jump competition still in existence. It has hosted nine different nordic skiing and biathlon world championships, including the 1952 Winter Olympics The ski jump will serve as host to the 2011 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships after the ski jump gets rebuild according to safety standards. The views from this area are amazing, you can take in the beauty of the Olsofjord.
My overall impressions of Oslo:
-Very small and can see the sights in one day
-Charming
-Expensive
-Don't really go there to experience the city, it's all about nature and snow
-Booming nightlife, we ended up having to go to many bars to find a place that the 6 of us could fit
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