"My Own Private Oslo" a Oslo Travel Page by yooperprof

A few years ago I realized that Oslo was one of "my" cities. It's a place where I feel a basic instinctive connection. It's not the most beautiful or cultured city in Scandinavia, let alone Europe, but it just feels "right" to me in a way that Stockholm or Paris do not. I'm comfortable here, in this climate and atmosphere, and with the people of this city, in a remarkable way. I'm not saying that I lived in Oslo (or Christiania) in a previous life. But don't ask me to be rational about this place. Who knows - maybe I'll live here in a future life - if not this one. So far I've only had short visits to Oslo, but if the opportunity ever arises for me to spend a more considerable period of time in the city, I would take it.

In accord with my sentiments, I've decided that I want to visit Oslo in every month of the year. So far I have seven out of twelve: February, May, June, July, September, November and December. A lot of people I know wouldn't consider visiting Oslo in the winter months, but "dommage" for them. I think I prefer visiting in the "off season" - Norwegians are natural winter folk. And even on those sadly short winter afternoons, there's a particularly beautiful light in Oslo, especially down at the harbor.

One of the most impressive things about Oslo is the quality of the sculpture and public art projects that abound in its numerous parks and gardens. The most well-known is the justifiably famous Vigelund Park, a short tram ride out from the center of the city. Who can resist the appeal of the mountain of babies?

Say "Norwegian" and most people will picture a tow-headed blonde. But not all Norwegians are tall Vikings - though to be sure many are. There are plenty of darker-complected, brown haired Norske - even if many of them have lighter color eyes than you would find in southern Europe (i.e. Italy). And in Oslo - and a few of Norway's larger cities - there are considerable communities of "people of color." (I believe that Oslo has about 60,000 "immigrants".) Like other countries across Europe, Norway is discovering a new identity in the 21st century as a multi-racial state.