View of the Oslo Opera House from the ramp that leads to the roof

Oslo was a whim. I read an article about how Norway was on the uptake due to its income from oil several years ago, and it stuck in my head. Norway is actually the fourth largest oil producing country in the world. Who knew? Well I guess the Scandinavians. At the time of the article, they were building one of the top opera houses in the world, and I put it on a mental to-do list of things I thought I’d never actually see.

Oslo and I got off to a rocky start due to my hostile hostel situation (blog post to come). But we recovered nicely, and I fell in like with the city.

As I did with Reykjavik, I spent the first night walking all along, until I was too tired to go any further. (For concerned family members reading at home, I turn around if it starts to feel too deserted.) I love getting lost in each new city. Which is convenient, as I can’t read maps very well, and am not able to use my iPhone easily. There is something about walking along cobbled roads glistening with rain and around every corner is a cathedral or courtyard or…H&M. In this case, you can take Karl Johans Gate, a pedestrian road, from the main train station to the palace, which isn’t gated. Then I walked to Aker Byrgge, a redone shopping complex on the edge of the shipyard. People are still sitting outside, cuddling up in fur skins with candlelight, and it looks cozy.

Hansel and Gretel came out and served me cookies at the Norsk Folkemuseum

Day two was touristville. I hit up the Norsk Folkemuseum. Think Colonial Williamsburg, with less Colonialists and more Norsks. It recreated all these different houses and periods of living from before the Vikings to current. The tour guides say to spend half a day here. Let’s Go Elaine says spend an hour if it’s winter and muddy, and no one else is around. That said, Stave Church (a type of Medieval wood and beam Church) was an incredible sight to see. The second

And then at the Norsk Folkemuseum Vikings came out and plundered Hansel and Gretel (ok, not really...)

stop was the Viking museum with ships dating from 900 AD. I have no idea how they actually plundered villages with those boats. No motors to be seen. I then walked down the rest of Bygdoy Peninsula to the Ron Tiki museum. To discover the Ron Tiki museum was closed. *Shakes fist*

The Norwegian bars close at 3:30 am, so the fanny back brigade and I owned the streets of Oslo, when we hit the streets at 9:30 am on Sunday. Nary an authentic Scandinavian in site. I spent the morning at the Askershus fortress overlooking the harbor and then got very lost en route to the sculpture park. And then got very lost in the sculpture park.

And then I did a very American thing before the ballet. I went to National Gallery with 45 minutes before closing, and I asked to see The Scream. I hate when people tear into art museums trying to check off pieces of art off a to-do list without seeing anything else. I don’t intend to do cultural drive bys frequently, but it was a dash-and-see or miss seeing it forever. Fun fact: two versions of The Scream have been stolen and recovered.

Oslo Opera House

Norwegians treat the Opera house as an all-hours playground, which is because you can walk up a giant ramp to the roof and walk around. The roof holds 8,000 and they hold performances there as well too. After the performance, the mist was rising from the harbor and the opera house was aglow. It was one of the most romantic activities I’ve ever undertaken. By myself. And I should know, since I’m single a lot, I do a lot of romantic activities. By myself.

The performance I attended was, “A Evening of Dance With Nacho Duato.” The title

Wall Inside the Oslo Opera House

seemed akin to a movie Will Ferrell would star in, along the lines of Blades of Glory. And…the opening sequence began with dancers in near tighty-whities and ended with the dancers pouring sand on themselves and the stage. But, the ballet dancers were beautiful and incredibly athletic. Even if it did veer a little too close to performance art for my unsophisticated taste. Needed less sand, more Jon Heder.

The next morning I got to a later start then I meant to and had to forgo the ferry ride I planned on taking. But I got to have coffee with a college friend, Erin Riley, who is currently living in Oslo. I only found out about a week ago that she was in Oslo, and unfortunately, she was at an Athens conference for most of the weekend. But it was great to catch up and grab travel tips.

I wish I had more time to see the outer cities of Norway.