Göteborg to Oslo: Sweden to Norway

Another cracker of a day! Already 18 deg C. early this morning.

After a yummy (!) breakfast we walked to the Stenpiren (pier) for the färjan (ferry) to Lindholmen on the other side of the river - it's a free service! Great river views.

We have a wander around - interesting architecture (!).

We then took the ferry back again.

Then enjoyed a good (‘normal’) coffee and a relax at da Matteo. And a delicious cinnamon bun.

So it is back to the station (again!) - this time for the train to Oslo (capital of Norway).

Some sleuthing was required to find our train platform as a ‘technical problem’ (?) means we have to take a bus midway through the trip so the information board (unhelpfully) does not state the destination as Oslo nor does it show our train number RE20 (rather it displays as 388 going to Öxnered …).

Fast, very comfortable train; very relaxing.  We change to the bus which travels from Öxnered for 143 kms and just before Halden, we cross the border at Seläter into Norway. Then back on the train again.

Finally arrived into Oslo a bit after 5 pm  - pretty warm; chock-a-block with people. The area around the station was bathed in sun and there were statues, play areas for kids, cafes, restaurants - it was all happening - very vibrant.

A bit of rubbish here - you notice it straight off; very different from Gothenberg which was squeaky clean!

We changed out of our travel clobber at our hotel and set off to check things out. 

First off: a drink at the nearby Queens Pub - waiting for the edge to come off the heat (OK - any excuse for a drink!) plus it looked interesting. We sat outside and watched people passing by: cyclists, scooterists, families walking, lots of immigrants.

We set off down to the harbour (Oslo fjord) to visit the Opera House. This new building has a marble-covered roof that slopes up from ground level and is designed for visitors to walk on for views of the city from various angles.

Down below we could see the new Munch Museum (opened in 2021) - its recycled aluminium cladding glistening in the late afternoon sun.

Hundreds of people. SO many attractions: tourism on steroids.

So, for dinner I had decided it was to be about simple traditional everyday food (called ‘Husmannskost’).

We worked hard for it - we walked miles and miles (MF was ready to kill me!).

After an enormous walk (through some interesting, gritty areas) we arrived at a sidewalk kiosk - Syverkiosken - which is one of the last hotdog kiosks in Oslo and is legendary apparently. You get sausages prepared the traditional way, in lompe, a flatbread made from potatoes: Pølse i lompe.

The kiosk has been here for 86 years - this guy has been here 33 years - his father started it.

Then off to Haralds Vaffel for waffles: freshly made with ice-cream and jam and I had chocolate also with mine; MF had strawberries.

Yum! Plenty to eat - and quite cheaply. 

Very pleased to get back to the hotel though, as our feet were so tired.

Walked 17.3 kms today (probably half of them in Göteborg this morning).