7/3
Sleep in until almost noon, very tired, legs still hurting, back a bit stiff. Walk down the main drag to the Royal Palace, then get a bit lost looking for City Hall. It is hot, and I am hungry. I find City Hall, then walk down by the harbor looking for someplace affordable to eat. Oslo is absurdly, just silly expensive, these places want the equivalent of like thirty US dollars for a sandwich. I settle for goddamn McDonalds, but even here the prices are hidden and there is a long line. Finally I find a place that is sane, wandering in in a bad mood but soon I settle down. The Norwegians are fond of burgers and kebab. I have a beef stew with curry and chat with the bartendress, who gives me ideas of things to do. After lunch, I wander down to check out Akershus castle, a cool little fortress overlooking the water. The Norwegian military has a presence here. After this, I walk across town, spot a pool hall and shoot pool for a while (badly once more, I just can’t shoot no mo). Buy a bottle of water for about $250 at the convenience store, then go back to the hostel to rest. More cheerleaders everywhere. Upon reflection, I think the Norwegians are a pretty friendly and open lot, but there seems to be something of a tough guy routine going on here as well, I don’t know, a remnant from the Viking days or something. I go back out again around seven to try to find some dinner. The prices are just outrageous; I go past restaurant after cafe after bar with no luck. I find a kebab place that is affordable. “Do you take credit card?” I ask. This is another challenge, as I don’t have any hard currency (since I am leaving countries so quickly). “Yes,” he says. He runs the card, it doesn’t work. Apparently it is not the right type of card. Exasperated, I locate a place that is pricey but not insane, with a terrace view of the streets. The waiter is a guy previously from Minnesota, real nice guy (as mid-westerners tend to be). We talk for awhile, he fell for a Norwegian girl years ago and now lives here with her and a kid. He sympathizes when I complain about the prices, and tells me that even in Europe, Norway is considered expensive. I have a few tacos and a beer. I leave, walk past a park where I see an overweight homeless woman squat down amidst a crowd of people and urinate in the grass, drawing shocked stares. Later, I see a fight break out on the lawn in front of a church, a bunch of dark-skinned guys just start going at it out of nowhere. There is definitely a rough edge to the place – perhaps there is a substantial income gap between the haves and the have nots. Head back to the hostel, grab a beer and go to sleep.
Tags: europe, norway, oslo, Travel
hound33