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Published: October 25th 2006
Bergen
On NavadWell what else do you do, than decide on a whim to go to the most expensive country in the world?
I decided while I was sitting by a boat in Stockholm that I would head off to Norway while I was here, this was helped by the fact a guy at our hostel had just been there and said it was well worth it.
So I got into Oslo at around about 10:30pm, and hadn't eaten since about 10:30 in the morning, so I decided I should get something quick and cheap. So low and behold there is a McDonald's near the hostel that I am staying at. So I purchase a Quarter Pounder meal, and as I do my sums I realise for this meal (exactly same meal as at home) I am paying just over $16 Aussie!
Enough of all that. I had a 4 bed dorm all to myself which was unexpected. My travels around Oslo had me walking down the main street, St Johanns Gate, which leads directly to the Royal Palace. Along the way there were police, ambulance and fire crew everywhere, with lots of people in a state of panic, then
Holmenkollen
And from the bottom of the jump all of a sudden press people came from nowhere and I saw all these people rushing out of the subway being helped by paramedics. It was a little frightening and with everyone yelling in Norwegian it had seemed there had been an explosion or something like that in the subway. After asking a press lady there I found out what I had suspected, that it was a rehersal for a terrorist attack on the subway, but at first its a little off-putting seeing people running around and screaming in a foreign language with all the hoopla there.
Form there I walked down the main street towards Oslo University and the Royal Palace, otherwise known as Det Kongelige Slott. The parklands were good walking around, and you could see immediately the standard of living is pretty impressive, this would be proven later. I then toured the Nasjonalgalleriet, or National Gallery, which houses some paintings by Norway's most famous painter, Edvard Munch. His most notable painting is ''The Scream'' of which the original hangs here, as does ''Madonna'' which also stood out. Some Picasso works, Matisse etc. They seem to have a lot of these painters works in many European museums.
Snow on the Bergen rail
As the snow falls. We are here at Finse station I took the T-bana (tram system) up to Nordmarka (North Woods) for some good walking treks that were pointed out to me. It was absolutely freezing, I think the weather was 5 degress celsius that day, but up on top of that mountain it felt even colder! The treks were good though, covered in clouds, and not many people around, allowed for an enjoyable time. The tram trip up and down showcased how many Norwegians live, there are so many homes that are two story lodges basically. The houses look very impressive and they are everywhere. Norway does have the highest standard of living and its quite easy to see as opposed to how many other countries live.
I wandered more streets of Oslo after this, and come across a venue that said INXS were playing there that night, so I thought I would see if I could get tickets, however apparantly they had cancelled, which was a bit of a bummer.
What else I noticed about Norway is that, just like Sweden they have equally beautiful women! It is crazy! And once I again I was able to fit in, as I was asked 3 times
for directions! What can I do? In all seriousness, even those don't seem to be good looking, are in fact good looking, just opposed to the others the seem normal! ... Also there are heaps of 7-11's without actually selling slurpees! Whats up with that?
The next day I was off to a town called Bergen, on the west coast of Norway, this was recommended by the Lonely Planet as one of the greatest train journeys in all of Europe, and it didn't disappoint. We travelled through such various landscapes, from the towns and farmlands, to all of a sudden being hit by snow!!! I saw snow falling for the first time in my life!!! It was awesome!! Just travelling on a train and there it all of a sudden became white. With a few of the stops along the way allowing some time for a break, a few of us got out to take photos and play in the snow, low and behold it was a bunch of Aussies getting out and getting involved, and I got in a snow fight (so soft was the snow) with some other Aussies on the train. We could see the local
Nordanska
Where I trekked in the woods above Oslo Norwegians on the train looking at as in bemusement, probably thinking ''its only snow!'', but we were loving it, and it was a great experience. The stop at Finse is the highest altitude along the track, and this is where we had our big snow fight.
From there you gradually pass through more snow covered hills and fields, before some lakes appear, some were partly frozen over, and then before we knew it the snow has dissipated out and we were hit by fjords! These lakes with huge mountaneous walls towering above them, looked fantastic and as we were getting closer to Bergen they stood out more and more. It was a great train trip! Bergen looked impressive as we pulled in, the Lonely Planet suggests that although it may be Norway's second largest city, it still maintains a village like look and atmosphere, and that seemed entirely correct.
After getting out at the station I was approached about a room for the night. Apparantly it is common in Europe that you will be approached at train stations with accommodation, so after taking some time to myself and making sure the price was firmly in place I decided
Nordanska views
It was so calm there, and nobody around to check it out without agreeing. The place was my only little flat, with bathroom, bed and kitchen facilities, all for $1 or more than I would be paying a hostel, so I took up the offer. With this I checked out some of the rain drenched town, taking in the old historic site of Bryggen, before deciding that with my own kitchen and facilities I would cook up myself something I had been craving for a while ... a chicken parma. Still not cheap, but a bit cheaper than normally the case, a chicken parma was brilliantly consumed along with the worst tasting beer I have ever had! It was shocking and I forget the name to warn anybody off, so sorry about that!
My time in Bergen was spent taking in much of the city, the historic site of Bryggen as these buildings that were contrustructed when the town was first founded and only the fronts are still used as cafes and restaurants, the backs of the buildings maintain a shell of how it used to be and there is a whole 1km area dedicated to this by the banks of the water (Vagen). I also took
Taking it in
After trekking around, you just stumble on a place like this all to yourself the furnicular up the steep hill and did some treks up on top of the hill. It was very enjoyable being out there and taking in the clean air. Some of the tracks were also ski trails for when its snowed over, however when walking on them, most of it is marshland and before you know it you are walking in icy cold water! It was colder in Bergen than in Oslo, I am sure it was below 0! But it was fun and reminded me of my time in Scotland, getting drenched as we walked around. I then made my own way back down the hill, down the very steep hill, but walking through all the side streets and checking out all the impressive housing was well worth it! I then headed off and checked out their local castle, which wasn't too much to it.
Travelling a lot, and travelling a fair bit by yourself allows you a lot of time to think and muse over different things, and this is no different for me now. Sometimes it can be easy and other times it can be hard going around by yourself, perhaps its a bause of, or
Voss
Where the Voss brothers come from consequence of - but it does make you think and realise many things.
With an overnight train awaiting me, I decided to try and pass some time away reading and have a few drinks to help me sleep. However one drink cost me over $12 Aussie and I thought that would be it. As I arrived at the station and boarded the train, it seemed the teller who booked my reserved seat for a fold out seat, allowing me to stretch out, had got it wrong. I was sitting across from these 2 American girls who were largely overweight!!! My face dropped and as I got into my seat and they stretched out to take over the seat beside be and in front of me, I knew it was going to be a long journey ..... and it was!!!
Getting back into Oslo, I had a few a hours to waste away before heading back to Sweden. I used these wisely with a trip out to Holmekollen, which is one of the most famous ski jumps in Europe. I had never seen a ski jump before and its a huge site! A trip through the museum and up
Bryggen
Brygeen Museum area to the top showed how high the jump is and I don't envy being a ski jumper! At the top it also began to snow, which was great, but the ski jump remained out of season and when the snow really falls in a month or so, is when it will come into proper use!
Norway is a beautiful looking country and well worth the visit, but watch the purse-strings.
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Shinz
non-member comment
The world needs me!
Enjoyed reading your blogs once again. I did have to smile at your seat being taken up somewhat by the large girls. I really should get you a business card, you can go doing some marketing for me. Well good luck re-cooperating the bank balance. See ya.