Tagged: Oslo
Utkast
Crappy connection back from Oslo today. I managed the 28 minute transit in Munich with a few minutes to spare, but my luggage didn’t.
Annual visit to Oslo means an annual visit to this sculpture, Utkast, by Kåre Groven at Oslo Gardermoen Airport. The playfulness of the massive piece always puts a smile on my face.
Below are a few snaps of the piece from previous visits. More pics from Oslo are here.
Oslo City Hall
If you’ve already watched Barack Obama’s Nobel acceptance speech today (if you haven’t, at least give it a read), you probably caught at least a glimpse or two of Oslo’s stunning City Hall. I attend an event there each summer, and can’t ever get enough. At first glance, it’s not an inspired piece of architecture from the outside, but it grows on you. Inside is a visual feast.
Everywhere you walk you’ll face fabulously massive murals. The first one below, in a reception room, is one you won’t find in any city hall in the USA. At bottom are two of several reliefs on the exterior near the main entrance.
More pics of Oslo City Hall here, and more pics from Oslo here. A little more about visiting Oslo (last updated in 2007) here.
Oslo City Hall, originally uploaded by pirano.
Oslo (and other) city bikes
I see quite a few offerings like this for municipally-run bicycle rentals. Pick up the bike at a typical station, like this one in Oslo, and drop it off at another. Any idea that really needs to spread. Everywhere.
Rates in the Norwegian capital – NOK 80 (EUR 8.85/USD 12.37) per day, with a three hour limit per bike. For Oslo residents, same rate for a full year.
Makes parking fun!
Spotted…
June Pic(k)s
I had the better part of a day to kill before heading to the airport, and stumbled upon a city-wide music festival in Oslo. Stumbled is the wrong word, since anywhere you went near the harbor you were either lured or chased by music. Several stages were spread out about town near the harbor, each whistling its own genre. These guys, tucked into a Death Metal Alley, were by far the most enthusiastic of the four or five groups I listened to. Anyone know who they are? They totally rocked, dude!
Other June personal favorites from Vienna, Berlin and of course, Ljubljana, where I (very) gradually settled into my new digs.
30 Second Oslo Advisor
A few observations after a few days in the Norwegian capital.
- I’m sure that somewhere something here is relatively inexpensive. I doubt I’ll find it in my lifetime.
- I don’t know about weekends, but it’s absolutely impossible to find a restaurant whose kitchen is open after 11 pm. Rather annoying in a major European capital. If you don’t believe me, at least you’ll have a decent on foot tour of the city while on your search.
- I’ve been here a few times before, but am still amazed at how well virtually everyone speaks English. Much better than a lot of Clevelanders I know.
- This is a great city for public art!
- You’re an absolute fool if you don’t take the airport express train into town. About 20 minutes from airport to Central Station, 160 NOK (19.80 Eur), departures every 20 minutes in both directions.
A few must visits:
- The Munch Museet (Museum), once again home to The Scream after it was recovered in late 2006 following its theft in August 2004. It’s next to the Toyen Park, a sprawling lush botanical garden which also is a required stroll.
- The City Hall. At first glance, not an inspired piece of architecture from the outside, but it grows on you. Inside is a visual feast. Plenty of groovy murals depict Norwegian history. (I’ve been here a few times for private events, but there are regular visitor hours.)
- If you plan to spend at least 24 hours, get the Oslo card, which gives you free travel on public transport (buses, trams and metro) as well as free admission to just about all museums. 210 NOK (26 Euro) for 24 hours.
More pics here.
