Tigerstaden Adventure

Oslo, Norway – Tiger City.

Must admit, this city wasn’t on my destination bucket list. Yet, after viewing a good friend’s incredible photos of her adventure in Tigerstaden, I decided to explore this Nordic land. 

Jodi, thanks for the inspiration.

Though Jodi’s Winter Wonderland photos inspired me, they left me feeling cold. Real cold 🥶.

I shivered and reached for my electric blanket just thinking about a Nordic Winter Wonderland.

The warmer summer season was the best time for my adventure. I decided to do a ‘Best of Norway’ tour, and Oslo was the starting point. 

I was jealous of one thing Jodi experienced on her adventure that I did not – the darkness of night.

My first night taught me why Norway is the Land of the Midnight Sun. 

GETTING HERE:

Believe it or not, I actually considered taking a train to Oslo. A co-worker suggested the train because he enjoyed his experience. I did my research and discovered the average train ride from my location to Oslo is 19 hours.

Yikes! That’s too much of my adventure time spent trying to reach my ‘starting point.’ 

Another option on the table was to do a Stockholm Weekender. I would then take the train from Stockholm to Oslo. Average train ride duration is about five hours. Unfortunately, work-related duties forced me to eliminate the Stockholm weekender, thus the train to Oslo option was completely scrapped. 

Bummer, I know. But hey, this lady gotta earn a living, right?

There is a silver lining. It was still a few months before my tour’s departure date, so airline prices hadn’t exploded to astronomical levels yet. I found an early morning flight at a reasonable cost, with checked luggage included. The relief I felt at this discovery was palpable. I always try to get the first flight of the day because, in my experience, most flights after 9:30 a.m. experience delays of some kind. 

The remainder of my trip planning went off without a hitch. I booked a Welcome Pickup ride to the airport as the train system in my city was experiencing significant issues with cancellations and trains not arriving on time. 

I also did something I should never have done, and will never do again. I booked my ride to arrive at the airport 75 minutes before departure instead of my steadfast 2.5 hours before departure. This left me anxious and irritable. Not a good way to start the adventure.

Thankfully, there were no long security lines or any disruption preventing me from making it to the gate on time. The flight was okay – though I slept through most of it. I arrived in Oslo safely and headed toward baggage claim.

Forty-five minutes later, I met my driver outside and enjoyed the nice hour-long drive to the hotel.

THON HOTEL OPERA

The Thon Hotel Opera were the accommodation for the two-night stay in Tiger City.

Overall, it was a comfortable two-day stay here. One of the reasons I’d selected Globus Tours was because their hotel selections met my standards.

The customer service was excellent. The room showed some wear and tear, but nothing unexpected. The carpet, however, was really stained and showed its age. The bed was okay for a good night’s sleep.

The blackout curtains were necessary, but there was a slit in the middle that allowed sunlight to brighten the room during the evening hours.

The hotel’s breakfast was fantastic, with many tasty and filling choices. If a guest couldn’t find suitable selections, then that’s their fault.

CITY TOUR

Upon my early arrival, I found that my room was not ready. However, luggage storage was included with the tour, so I decided to go on a city tour instead of waiting for my room. I popped open Visit a City, and headed toward Oslo’s famous Opera House, which happened to be across the street from the hotel.

Well, duh Candy – Thon Hotel Opera. 🤦🏽‍♀️ 🤷🏽‍♀️

The Opera House is a stunning example of architecture and won the 2009 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture. Visitors are encouraged to walk up to the roof, where they can enjoy magnificent views of the city and Oslo fjord.

Next, I journeyed to the Munchmuseet, a museum dedicated to the life and works of the Edvard Munch. 

Never heard of Edvard Munch before my adventure. I do know of the painting The Scream, just never knew the artist. 

Despite that, my museum visit was intriguing. Just like with the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, most visitors headed directly to the fourth floor, where a version of The Scream is displayed.

The museum has three versions of The Scream – a painting, a drawing and a print. However, only one is displayed at a time. Apparently, none of them can be permanently displayed, so the museum displays them in rotation during the day.

The version I saw was the crayon on cardboard drawing. I wasn’t too enamored, but as my friend Laura later told me, “At least you saw it with your own eyes.” 

I enjoyed the interactive components more than staring at the paintings. The Up Close exhibit was my favorite. A selection of Munch’s woodcuts are displayed, which are very neat to see.

However, the fun came from creating my own print using the ancient technique of frottage – making a rubbing with a pencil or crayon. Reminded me of the fun days in preschool.

Oslo has more than 50 museums – quite a variety of museums to appeal to the explorer in you.

The Norsk Folkemuseum, aka Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, is one of the world’s largest open-air museums. I’d planned to visit, but it is very popular, so pre-purchase tickets if possible.

Sadly, the Viking Ship Museum is closed, reopens in 2027 as the Museum of the Viking Age.

The Viking Planet is a passable alternative. The exhibit uses VR-technology, holograms, interactive screens and 270-degrees films to immerse visitors into the Viking experience. At $25, it was a nice experience, but aimed more for the younger crowds who want to role-play their favorite warrior video game.

However, I didn’t get to see any additional ones during my initial city tour. My room was ready, and I had to attend the mandatory tour orientation.

On my next Oslo Adventure, I’ll make sure to get an Oslo Pass. I’m making plans to visit the following:

– The Mini Bottle Gallery (Open to the public Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 to 16:00)
– The National Museum
– Kon-Tiki Museum
– Popsenteret (free entrance with Oslo Pass)
– Oslo Transport Museum (free entrance with Oslo Pass)

Yet another reason why I love solo adventures. Not roaming freely as I would love to do is one of the downsides of doing a organized group tour.

VIGELAND SCULPTURE PARK

I visited Frogner Park’s Vigeland installation the following day. The installation showcases over 200 statues by the Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland, who also designed the Nobel Peace Prize medal.

Vigeland dedicated his life to creating artwork for the city of Oslo. The building where he worked eventually became the Vigeland Museum.

Among the many statues, my favorites were the Angry Boy and the Fountain.

The Angry Boy elicits laughter because we’ve all had ‘one of those days.’ Additionally, everyone can relate to seeing a child in the midst of a temper tantrum, finding it amusing because it’s not your child.

The Fountain depicts men holding up the bowl at varying levels of difficulty. Some appear to do the majority of the work, while others seem to exert minimal effort. This serves as a representation of life’s unfairness and the unequal distribution of responsibility.

The park’s tranquil atmosphere allows visitors to appreciate the installation, leaving them in awe of the artist’s meticulous attention to detail and extensive body of work.

DEICHMAN BJØRVIKA

My exploration of Oslo would not be complete without a visit to the Deichman Bjørvika, Oslo Public Library, which conveniently was located across the street from my hotel.

As a passionate reader, I’ve discovered my love for books and storytelling transcends borders. Whether I’m in a bustling city or a quiet town, I always find myself drawn to the local bookstores or libraries. 

The Deichman Bjørvika is impressive. While its architecture is not as remarkable as the Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart’s, the library still captivated me with its extensive book collection in multiple languages, a movie theatre, media workshops, gaming zones, lounges, and a restaurant.

Here, I found myself immersed in a book for two hours. Apocalypse Cakes is a delightful recipe book that not only provided interesting recipes but also a unique perspective on the end of the world. The book completely captivated me, and the joy of reading is a treasure I always find on my travels. 

Solo traveling is my preferred way of exploring as it allows me to set my own pace and delve into my interests without the exhaustion of group tours. Spending time at the library was a great way to unwind.

It’s hard to grasp how an adventurer finds enjoyment in a library. I understand, but conventional travel activities like clubbing, pub-hopping, festivals, and Tinder dating don’t appeal to my adventurous spirit. 

PHOTO SAFARI

Oslo is a wonderful city and a return trip is warranted to explore the sights I didn’t explore because of the tour schedule. Until then, a quick photo safari will have to suffice. 

Best of Norway