Leaving Sweden behind, we are heading to Oslo, first stop in our challenge to travel Norway on a student budget.
Before boarding our train Stockholm -> Oslo we took the advice of locals, and hit the supermarket for groceries. We bought a full bag of food in Sweden, including the 'forbidden fruit' - butter, and brought it over the border into Norway. I'm really glad we did so, as the sky-high Norwegian prices are not fit for travelers on a student budget. Think € 7 for the cheapest pesto, and € 3 for a loaf of bread.
We hoped that at least salmon would be cheap in Norway, but to our dissapointment, salmon in its home-land costs the same as elsewhere in Europe. But it's fresher. Therefore, tastier.
In Oslo we were invited to stay with Marita, a true Oslo local, who kindly offered us the living room of her student apartment. Obviously, being a student in Oslo is not the same as being one in mainland Europe. Oslo student life means luxurious high-ceiling apartments, fruit smoothie breakfasts and salmon dinners.
As we started exploring Oslo, we found that it is easily walkable. The city, which population is only 586,000 has a very compact city centre, and very little to see. We were quite dissapointed with the museums and architecture, but there were certain destinations and activities that we found interesting and enjoyable.
- During the day, a visit to The Vigeland Sculpture Park is a must-do. It is located outside the city centre, and can be reached by tram 12, which stops just outside the main gate. You'll love it -the sculptures are so bizzare that I couldn't help calling it the penis-park. Afterwards, take the tram back and stroll down the docks watching the boats and enjoying a cup of coffee.
- In the evening, head out to the aquarium-styled Underwater Pub, which holds an opera night every Tuesday and Thursday. Just grab a local beer and enjoy a professional opera performance right there in the pub!
- Did you know the vikings invented the cheese knife? True or not, but you should try their brown cheese. An absolute delight on freshly baked rye bread! Your meal couldn't get more scandi, and you mustn't leave without trying it.