I heard of Oslo in Norway for the first time many years ago when I was house sharing in Melbourne with my theatre nurse friend Nancy. She specialised in anaesthesiology and was sent to Norway to earn more about this field in medicine where Norway is a world leader. She also sent me postcards (there's the age hint) from Stavanger and Bergen on the west coast known for its magnificent fjords. So a curiosity seed was planted for me to visit this northern land one day.
Even the tramways are grass
Slow and careful descent for me and the bicycle
No cars here
Very aesthetic designs
Nobel Peace Institution
Oslo is the home for the Noble Peace Prize institution and in more recent times the Oslo Accord strategy for dealing with climate change. This makes sense given the country’s drive (oops pun again!) to become a world leader for adopting an aggressive electric car policy. They've achieved a mind blowing 50 percent target of registered cars being electric and 95 percent sourced by hydropower thanks to Norways massive mountains and waterways.
Easy tram commuting
View of campsite hill - a very steep ascent but worth the effort
This intelligent and progressive nation doesn’t just talk about deliverables, they actually do it. A smart incentive to help the takeup of electric vehicles is that fossil fuel cars in Norway are much more expensive to buy and run. One negative for my cycling journeys relates to diesel fumes that I have to endure while riding where the older cars do not have the technology to capture those noxious gases. I can smell them instantly like old trucks.
View from campsite hill
It was summer holidays on full steam with families everywhere but I still managed to find space in the camping park amongst French and Dutch folk. The park was only a few kms from the city so no need for an expensive hotel - yes Norway is an expensive country to travel in - I still paid A$52 a night for a patch of green but all the facilities were there. The last time I paid that much was in Byron Bay on Australia’s mid east coast. I don't do 'couch surfing', 'hot showers' or hostels as I've grown older I've become quite precious about my space and privacy and except for friends I don't like reciprocal arrangements with strangers arriving on my doorstep. Oslo has been awarded the title European Green Capital 2019 due to its environmental efforts and will host a number inspiring events.
A visit to the Viking Ship museum and the Viking Planet with some exhibits dating back to the 9th century was on my list including two new tyres for the bicycle. Oslo of all places had two of the exact brand and size tyres I use in Australia but located in two different stores across the 'green' capital. It was a good way to explore the place and enjoy a nordic fish meal on the way. I found a wonderful space called SALT a nomadic art project and cultural village with wonderful wholesome snack-sized meals by the jetty and an interesting art exhibit.
Stavanger village
Stunning journey
No visit to Norway should exclude fjords which means travelling to the west coast cities of Stavanger and/or Bergen. Bergen is a more popular destination for fjords but with many tourists so I chose Stavanger. I caught the overnight train on my third Oslo day that took me all the way across to the port of Stavanger. From here I took the ferry to the fjord village of Preikestolen. I then hiked for two hours to a geological site with a 604 metre steep cliff called Pulpit Rock. The weather for the whole journey was perfect and the scenery breathtaking. It's quite a workout because the path is all rock steps not a gravel or forest floor surface. I couldn’t believe the number of people that only wore sneakers.
View from the Pulpit rock
Pulpit Rock
Ancient forests like the remote southwest Tasmanian wilderness
and southern Fiordland of New Zealand
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