Impressive architecture, sparkling waters, and savory fish that melts on your tongue. These are three things you will experience when you visit Oslo, Norway! During my study abroad I was fortunate enough to travel to this beautiful capital city. A few friends and I explored the city, walked on the roof of the opera house for a bird’s-eye-view of the harbor, learned about the history and culture of Norway at the armed forces museum, and explored Akerhus Festning – an active military fort on the North Sea. We tried Norwegian cuisine at “Harald’s Vaffle.” They serve traditional waffles with Scandinavian brown cheese and fresh berries. It was delicious! We were also lucky enough to visit Vigelandsparken-a statue garden constructed by Gustav Vigeland-at sunset. The effect was breathtaking. The statues were intricately designed and precisely placed. We had some fun snapping photos with them and wandering through the surrounding park.
We also went on a hike along a local mountain trail. It was roughly a 45 minute Uber to the trail head and an hour trek to the top. The summit provided a scenic overlook of natural waterways and flourishing woodlands.
Another cool experience was the National Library of Norway: six stories of intricately designed levels and hundreds of books, translated collections and original Norwegian works. The public transportation system was easy to use and punctual. We were able to travel in the city and the surrounding area with street cars, buses, and trains. Overall, it was a great trip and I was so happy to check Norway off my bucket list!
