Hello Oslo

 Wednesday 

18 September 

Day 80

16 to go

Paul said we pulled into the port at Fredrickshaven at around midnight, but it was only a quick stop and we continued sailing north. He was again alerting me to the sun rising. The alarm went off at 7am. Along with the captain sounding the fohghorn. We wandered down for breakfast at 7.15am, happy to find we were in the Commodore’s restaurant, which was lovely. Really, we could have skipped breakfast, as we were still digesting our massive dinner. 

We returned to the room, spoke to Jaden and watched land skirt by the window. It was still foggy outside but it was lifting in parts.

We stood out on deck for a better view, but it was chilly. I needed my gloves and beanie. It was very pretty, but the warmth of the room was beckoning and we spent some more time just looking out our large cabin window instead. We did return to the deck at 9.40am. We were pulling in to the    Oslo port and I wanted to see the city buildings. As the boat began turning toward the dock, we returned to our room, packed up our things and when the call to assemble on the 5th deck came, we made for the elevator. We could barely move onto the deck, it was so crammed with the other guests. It was a little dangerous really. 

Once the gate was open, we piled out, found the lift and then made our way through passport control, the first time officials have actually checked our passport since we entered Rome! Sadly no stamps were added. 

We then made our way from the ferry terminal to bus 60, boarded and waited to depart, all the while more people squeezed in. We were glad to get moving and happier still, when most got of at the first stop, the train station. We were next, exiting at the bus port and then walking the remaining 250m. 

We couldn’t get in to our apartment until 12noon, so we dumped the bags in storage and then walked around the neighbourhood. We stopped at a supermarket across the road and then did a loop, passing the Gronland Church and then along the train station and up to the Akerselva canal. We stopped at the Elgparken, before buying a salad to go with lunch and retuning to our apartment. 

We took our bags to our room, 203 and then settled in. We had a great, spacious room, with everything we would need. We ate lunch, then slothed about, both of us feeling a little weary. It took a concerted effort to pull ourselves off the couch at 3pm and head out again. 

We followed google maps to the Botanical Gardens and Natural History Museum. We wandered around the grounds, checking out the buildings and plants, before finding a gate and continuing to make our way around the streets. 

We eventually ended up at the Akerselva canal again, so we decided to walk in the opposite direction. We wandered along the fast flowing stream, before heading up a slight hill and spying a sign for a brewery. Once at the old building, we realised that it was quite old and was occupied by a number restaurants. We did locate the little microbrewery, but it was yet to open, so we continued to walk around the area. 

We turned down a busy shopping street, completed a large loop and then made our way back to the Schouskjelleren Mikrobryggeri. The brewery is underground and reminded us of the brewery in Tartu, with its brick ceiling, but it was nowhere near as cavernous. Paul enjoyed a couple of brews and then we made our way back. We stopped for some dinner things and then made our way through the streets. We noted that our apartment is within the Islamic district of Oslo. There are many restaurants to cater for Arabic and African populations, as well as interesting shops and mosques. 

Once back, we made our dinner and then sat back in the lounge, happy we had ventured out for the afternoon, but looking forward to a good night’s rest.