My goodness it has been way too long since I last posted! I have been busy out on the road having amazing solo travel adventures; however anyone who has been following this blog for a while will know that I tend to post retrospectively, as I find it pretty impossible to sit down for long enough to actually write whilst travelling. I have just returned from an incredible journey through Iceland, Greenland and Scotland and am so excited to dish about the amazing things I have seen and done. So without further ado, regular posting will now recommence!
Flying from South Australia to Iceland is a pretty long journey and requires multiple stops. Usually these stops are so short that I am unable to see anything but the airport, but occasionally a person can luck out and get a stopover long enough to fit in a day of exploring. After spending 25 hours on planes and in airports I arrived in Oslo at around 12.30pm and since my flight to Reykjavik didn’t depart until 9.45pm, I decided to make use of the day!
After clearing customs and leaving my backpack in the airport left luggage, I caught the super efficient Flytoget airport train right into the city centre. I was conscious that I needed to be back at the airport by 7.30pm so I decided to just wander the city and see what I could find.
My first impression of Oslo was that it was an incredibly aesthetically pleasing piece of the world. The city boasts stunning architecture, a vast array of public gardens and literally some of the most beautiful people I have ever seen. This is not an exaggeration. If you are looking for an almost impossibly beautiful subset of humans, Oslo has got you covered. It’s creepy to photograph strangers though, so I will just be sharing pictures of the stunning city and not its stunning inhabitants.
Walking is my absolute favourite way to see a city. Buses, boats, ferries and trains are great, but there is something about exploring on foot that just makes me happy. Plus it’s the cheapest way to get around, and in an infamously expensive city like Oslo, any way to save money is a gift.
My wanderings eventually led me to Frogner Park; a public park famous for being the home of an array of sculptures created by Gustav Vigeland approximately 70 years ago. Not only is the park incredibly green and gorgeous, but the sculptures are truly beautiful.
I ended up spending most of my day in the park. It was lovely and relaxing, and the locals were extremely friendly and chatty. The park is also absolutely chockers with people walking dogs, and if you have heard of the Dogspotting Facebook Group, then you’d understand the massive appeal that a dog mecca holds.
As the sky began to lose light I realised it was time for me to head back to the airport for yet another flight. The walk back to Oslo Central station is a gorgeous walk, and it was the perfect way to spend a free day even when I was completely jetlagged and exhausted.
T H E L O W D O W N
Getting There: The Flytoget Airport Train runs regularly and a single trip to Oslo Central Station will set you back a pricey 180 NOK ($30 AUD)
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1 with 12-40mm lens and 52mm HOYA polarising filter
Remember: To be discreet when checking out all the Norwegian hotties
Budget: $60 AUD for a round trip on the airport train and $8 to leave luggage at Oslo airport