I arrived in Oslo on Wednesday and was met at the bus station by a friend who I had met on the Camino. What a wonderful feeling it was, to arrive and see a familiar face there to greet me, not have to figure out yet another public transportation system by myself or worry about anything. I actually met two people from Oslo on the Camino and they happen to be best friends; Linda and Hasti. I stayed with Linda in her tiny apartment Wednesday after a wonderfully filling one-pot Camino style meal. She lives right by the river that runs through Oslo and we had a lovely walk.

Thursday my friend Chelsea arrived from Vermont and we met her at the train station. Another familiar face!! And she brought me a small care package from my friend Kathleen back at home which was so sweet and welcome. Linda didn’t have to work so she showed us all around the city.

There was one thing that we recognized and she didn’t; Ben & Jerry’s ice cream! They had a Norwegian special flavor that I just had to try.

After walking down the main pedestrian shopping street she took us to the harbor and to see the old old city wall. There were a few museums we were interested in going in (including the National Gallery to see the famous “The Scream” painting by Munch), but somehow they were all closed or under renovation. The real insider experience came when we went to the famous Opera building. One of her friends works there and he showed us around the backstage and the costume areas! And then they got us in to see the strangest Opera I have ever seen (which, okay, was the only opera I’ve ever seen, but I assume they can’t all have giant heads coming out of the floor and eating people). We got the real Oslo insider experience! And the Opera House is beautiful as well.

The next day Chelsea and I went for a hike up in the mountain overlooking Oslo. We kind of just started walking in the “upwards” direction so I think we missed the good viewpoint by the time we found the right trail. But it was beautiful walking and good to stretch our legs.

Olympic Ski Jump!

Trolls are big here. They’re mostly friendly.

Now off to the West Coast to see the Fjords!!